Governments
Political Geography &
Governments
What is Political Geography?
The study of governmental
systems from around the world

What is Government?

An organization that
people set up to
protect their
community and to
enforce its rules

Roles of the
government:
 To protect lives
 To protect liberties
 To protect property of
members of the
community
 To provide services that
the people cannot provide
on their own
What are the different types of
governmental systems?
Monarchy

Ruled by a family headed by a King
or Queen
 The ruler inherits their power - when the
ruler dies, power is passed to one of the
monarch’s children or close relative

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These monarchs (kings, sultans,
emperors) surround themselves with
followers and advisors who help
them govern
Pros – Stability
Cons – Limits on Power
Constitutional Monarchy


Monarchs share power with
an elected legislature
 Parliament
Usually the monarch serves
as the symbolic head of state
while elected members of
Parliament govern the country
▪ Example: United Kingdom,
Saudi Arabia, Jordan
Qaboos Bin Said Al
Said – Sultan of
Oman
Queen Elizabeth - United Kingdomconstitutional monarchy
Imperial household of
Japan (ko shitsu) oldest
continuous hereditary
monarchy in the world.
Akihito.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah. Kuwait is a
constitutional monarchy
Mswati III of Swaziland,
Africa’s last absolute
monarch in the world.
Cambodia-Sihamoni
Cambodia is a
constitutional monarchy
Republic

A republic is a government without a king or a
queen.
• Usually when a country overturns its monarchy
it will become a republic.
• Republics can be democratic, theocratic, or
parliamentary.
• An example would be the United States, which
is a Democratic Republic
Branches of United States
Government
Democracy

Government authority is based on the will of the
people.
• People either vote on issues directly, or they
elect representatives who make government
decisions for them.
• People have certain rights – whereas they can
criticize the government freely.

There are two types that we see:


Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy
Direct Democracy

The very first known
democracy was in ancient
Greece in the 5th c BCE.
• Democracy is Greek for
“people-power.”
• Citizens assembled to
make decisions for their
city-states.
• They voted on these
issues directly.
This is where the term
direct-democracy evolved
from.
Representative Democracy

It is a democracy where
different social groups elected
their own representatives,
who then met in assemblies.
• Nobles were represented in
the Senate
• Government power was
divided between two
branches and voting was
on various issues.
• Romans were the first to
develop the representative
democracy.

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Direct Democracy - in which citizens have
direct and active participation in the decision
making of the government.
Representative Democracy - citizens remain
the sovereign power but political power is
exercised indirectly through elected
representatives.
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Dictatorship

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One individual holds complete
political power
The leader either seizes control
by force or is placed into a
position of authority by others
the citizens have no influence
over governmental policy and
do not have the right to choose
their own leaders
Pros – easy, quick to makes
big changes
Cons – corruption, dissent is
not allowed

What do you think the colors of the map tell us about
government(s) around the world? What do you think
each color represents?
Countries marked in dark colors are authoritarian, and
most often dictatorships. Most of current dictatorships are
in Africa and Asia.

Communism
•
The state plans and controls the
economy and a single - often
authoritarian - party holds power
•
the elimination of private
ownership of property or capital

Example: Cuba, People’s
Republic of China, North Korea
Pros – Classless Society
Cons – lack of Freedom
•
•
Theocracy
•
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Government run by religious
leaders. It is an old form of
government, like a monarchy.
Government claims to be
directed by God or divinely
blessed.
No legal separation between
church and state
Citizens of other faiths are
often excluded or expelled.
Ancient times rulers were often
priests.
Examples of Theocracy throughout
history.
In the Middle Ages, the
The Byzantine Empire was ruled
head of the Catholic
by an emperor who was also head
Church, the Pope, ruled
Pharaohs of ancient
of the church.
extensive territories in Italy.
Egypt were believed to be
Iran, has both a
gods.
theocratic and
democratic
government. The
President and
In early colonial times,
representatives
Puritan ministers helped
are elected but
govern Massachusetts.
are controlled by The Supreme Leader is
the Supreme
an Islamic cleric
Leader.
appointed for life.
“Anarchy” or “Failed State”
•Nobody in charge, only gangs and warlords.
•Fueled by drugs or desire to control resources.
•Happens when a country collapses.
•Example: Somalia, parts of West Africa
Video: Write down 5 NEW things you learn or find
interesting as we celebrate our rights and freedom
using the following:
The United States Bill of Rights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8JClfNVhug
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Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
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Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated
militia.
No quartering of soldiers.
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double
jeopardy.
Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.
Right of trial by jury in civil cases.
Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
Other rights of the people.
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