FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Forms of Government
Type: Direct Democracy
Def: government in which all citizens have equal power
in decision making
Pros: 1.) Every Citizen has equal power.
2.) Everyone is involved in decision making.
3.) Broad base of loyalty and support.
Cons: 1.) Only works with small # of people.
2.) Time consuming – All citizens must give input and debate.
• Example:
Modern Day
Switzerland
Attempting
Venezuela
Type: Representative Democracy (Repbulic)
Def: government in which people elect
representatives who hold the decision making
power.
Pros: 1.) Citizens involved in decision making
through representatives.
2.) Reps are aware their job depends on
meeting the needs of their constituents.
3.) All elements of the population are
represented.
4.) Reps are highly educated and can
devote time to matters.
• Cons:
1.) Decision making is time consuming.
2.) Desire of reps to please everyone can
cripple system.
3.) Reps may not always agree with the
people the represent
4.) Lack of citizenship involvement may
allow special interest groups to influence
or dominate reps
• Examples
America
Australia
Iraq
Canada
DOES DEMOCRACY REALLY
EXIST?
• “A true democracy has
never existed and
never will.”
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Society has too many
limits on people behavior
to be truly free
• Believed Community
should be placed above
indivudual freedoms.
Forms of Government
• Type: Dictatorship
• Def: a country ruled by a single leader. The
leader has not been elected
•
- In a military dictatorship the army
is in control
Pros: 1.) People united in loyalty to a dictator.
2.) No competition for trust and
affection.
3.) React quickly in emergency,.
Cons:
1.) People afforded little or no individual
liberty.
2.) Policies suit dictators needs only.
3.) Decision making has a narrow base-
• Examples
Adolf Hitler –
Nazi Germany
Saddam Hussein – old Iraq
• Fidel Castro-Cuba
Died Dec. 2011
Kim Jong-il
– North Korea.
- Communist dictatorship
Kim Jong-un
- Currently threatening the
world with nuclear weapons.
Communist
• In a communist country, the government
owns property such as businesses and
farms.
• Provides its people's healthcare, education,
and welfare.
• Typically, communist governments end up
with dictators.
Forms of Government
• Type: Autocracy
• Def: single person having unlimited
power;
- can be a president, prime minister, or
king,queen, or tsar.
• Example
Russian TsarsCatherine the Great
Forms of Government
Type: Oligarchy
Def: power is in the hands of a few persons
or a small group
- have the combined power of a dictator.
Pros: 1.) Decisions can be made relatively
quickly.
2.) Provides expert leadership
3.) In theory, the most educated
members of society.
Cons: SAME AS DICTATORSHIP
(Needs and wants of the people are not
necessarily considered.)
Pros: 1.) Can rule quickly in an emergency.
2.) efficient
3.) Total control
4.) intelligent
Cons: 1.) Ignores others needs
2.) can be irrational
3.) no tie between leaders and doers
4.) use of force or threats.
Examples:
BCHS
Principals
- There are only 3 of
them.
- They are highly
educated.
- They meet to make
important decisions
Type: Theocracy
Def: a religious group of officials that are in
charge.
- claim to rule on behalf of God of higher
power.
Pro’s:
1.) High morals
2.) High social welfare – wealthy
Con’s :
1.) Rule with fear
2.) Not everyone has equal voice.
3.) Could be based on superstition
4.) No diversity.
Example:
CurrentIran
Vatican- Pope
Type: Monarchy
Def:
government ruled by a king or queen.
- Position held for life.
- Ruling position can be passed on to heirs.
Absolute Monarchythe ruler has absolute (or total power)
destined by God’s grace.
* Very rare today.
Constitutional Monarchya democratic government has the real power.
Monarch’s power limited by constitution.
Pros: 1.) consistent
2.) No political bickering
3.) Clear line of succession.
Cons: 1.) dictatorship can be easily imposed.
2.) quality of hereditary
3.) difficult in modern world.
Examples:
Closest to an absolute
Saudi Arabia
Constitutional Monarch:
England
Type: Anarchy
Def: no government
- results after Civil War
- Anarchists believe government is bad
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Pg. 94
Key terms – define
1-4
Due at end of class
Capitalist
• In a capitalist or free-market country, people can
own their own businesses and property. People
can also buy services for private use, such as
healthcare.
• Capitalism is not a true form of government, but is
a form of economy that can only exist in a
democracy.
• But most capitalist governments also provide their
own education, health and welfare services. These
are not true capitalist societies, but mixed market.
Revolutionary
• If a government is
overthrown by force, the
new ruling group is
sometimes called a
revolutionary government.
• Soon, the new government
establishes itself as one of
the main forms of
government (or starts a
brand new category)