G OVERNMENTS
OF THE
W ORLD
L EARNING TARGETS

What is government?

What are the major types of
government?

How is power distributed within
these various governments?

What is the role of the citizen in
the various types of government?
W HAT
“ GOVERNMENT ”
ANYWAY ?
IS
The people & groups
of people that have
the power to make
the laws & see that
they are obeyed.
C AN
YOU FIGURE OUT THE MEANING OF
THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS ?
L ET ’ S
BREAK THE WORDS APART !
Part of Word
Meaning
Arch
Root
Chief, most important, rule,
having authority over
An-
Prefix
without
Mon- (mono)
Prefix
One, single, alone
-cracy
Suffix
Rule or government by …
Theo -
Prefix
god
Demo -
Prefix
People
-cratic
Suffix
A person who takes part in
or is a member of a form of
government
Auto-
Prefix
Self
Olig – from Greek oligos
few
C AN
YOU FIGURE OUT THE MEANING OF
THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS ?
L ET ’ S
BREAK THE WORDS APART !
Part of Word
Meaning
Anarchy
An + arch
Without + chief / ruler
= without chief / ruler or
government
Monarchy
Mon + arch
Single + chief / ruler
= single chief / ruler
Democracy
Demo + cracy
People + government by
= government by the people
Theocracy
Theo + cracy
God + government by
= government by god (or
those given authority by
god)
Oligarchic
Olig + arch
Few + chief / ruler
= government by a few
W HAT ARE THE MAJOR
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT ?
 Anarchy
 Dictatorship
 Communist  Theocracy
 Republic
 Democracy
 Monarchy
W HAT ARE THE VARIOUS
TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS ?
 Now that you have a
basic knowledge of the
various types of
governments, let’s look
a little further …
ANARCHY

There is no government

This can happen after a civil war in a
country, when a government has been
destroyed and rival groups are fighting to
take its place

Anarchists - people who believe that
government is a bad thing b/c it stops people
from living their own lives

Example … Rwanda during the genocide
COMMUNIST

A system of government in which the

state controls the economy

a single party holds all the power

Head is usually a dictator

Citizens

have no rights or voice in government …

sometimes even told where to work &how much to get
paid

Economic system – communist

Example … Vietnam
REPUBLIC

A form of government in which


people rule through elected representatives
Citizens

have a very active role in government …
through elections (VOTING!!)

help make governmental decisions

Economic system – Mixed / Market

Examples - US
DEMOCRACY

A government that


receives its power from the people
Citizens

have a very active role in government
through elections

help make governmental decisions

Economic system – Mixed / Market

Examples … India, Canada
2 FORMS OF DEMOCRACY
Parliamentary

The head of the gov. is the leader
of the legislature – usually called
the Prime Minister

Presidential

Leader is an elected president –
chosen in a separate election
from the legislature
Parliament – representatives of the
people

Legislature – representatives of
people
Prime minister – elected by
members of the parliament – NOT
the people!

President – elected by the
people

People vote – lots of citizen
participation

People vote – lots of citizen
participation

Example - Israel

Example – US

D ICTATORSHIP

A form of gov in which


Head – dictator –


absolute power is controlled by a dictator
can be elected then become a dictator OR head of
military force that takes over gov.
Citizens

may or may not enjoy a few rights, but have no voice in
gov.

Economic system – Command

Example … North Korea
THEOCRACY

A government


ruled by a religious leader
Head – ayatollah

by attaining a congregation of followers

Citizens enjoy some rights and can vote on
some issues

Economic system – Mixed / Market

Example … Iran
MONARCHY
Absolute
Monarchy

A gov. in which the royal
ruler has total control

Head – king or queen –
usually hereditary (next in
line)

Constitutional
Monarchy

A system of gov. in which the
power is shared between the
monarchy and an elected
branch of gov.

Head of gov. is usually the
head of the elected branch …
usually the monarch serves a
more symbolic role

Citizens have rights an can
vote

Market (or mixed) economy

Example – England
Citizens enjoy many rights,
such as where to work

Mixed economy

Example – Saudi Arabia
(very rare to have an
absolute monarchy today)
L IMITED V. U NLIMITED
G OVERNMENTS

What do you think a limited
government is/means?


Which of the govs. do you think are
limited governments?
What do you think an unlimited
government is/means?

Which of the govs. do you think are
unlimited governments?
L IMITED V. U NLIMITED
G OVERNMENT
Limited
 Leaders are LIMITED
in their power /
authority
 Leaders have to
OBEY the laws!
 Example –
democracies,
republics
Unlimited
 Leaders have
unlimited power –
no limits on their
authority!
 Leaders to NOT have
to obey the laws!
 Example –
monarchies,
dictatorships
A ND YET … ONE MORE ASPECT OF
GOVERNMENTS WE NEED TO
DISCUSS !
H OW IS POWER DISTRIBUTED
WITHIN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF
GOVERNMENT ?
Unitary
• Central
(national) gov.
possess MOST
authority /
decision making
powers
• Examples –
South Africa,
Sierra Leon,
Rwanda
Confederation
• Local gov.
possess power /
authority /
decision making
powers
• Examples – US
PRIOR to
Constitution –
under the
Articles of
Confederation
Federal
• Power shared
between central
(national) and
local govs. In
authority /
decision making
powers
• Example - US
O KAY … NOW THAT WE KNOW ALL
ABOUT GOVERNMENTS , THAT ’ S
THE END RIGHT ?
One more thing … what is the citizen’s role in each
of these governments?
Do citizens enjoy the same rights and privileges
within each of these governments?
Do citizens help establish the rules and laws in
each of these governments?
W HAT IS THE CITIZEN ’ S ROLE
IN VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS ?
Autocratic
• In gov – one person
possess unlimited
power
• Citizen has little – if
any – role in gov
• Examples
• Dictatorship
• Absolute monarchy
Oligarchic
• Gov – by very few –
small group who
govern – usually for
selfish & corrupt
reasons
• Citizens – have very
little – if any, role
• Very rare – b/c usually
1 person will assume
control and then
becomes autocratic
• Example –
• South Africa during
apartheid
Democratic
• Gov – elected by the
people
• Citizens have very
active role – elect
representatives
• Examples
• Republic
• Democracy
• USA
W ORDS

Autocratic

Oligarchic






TO KNOW
Democratic
Unitary
Confederation
Federal
Absolute monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
…

Parliamentary
democracy

Presidential democracy

Anarchy

Communist

Republic

Democracy

Dictatorship

Theocracy