Government
Review
Distribution of Power and
Citizen Participation
2-21 Topic: Which to choose?
As a review, write down what you remember for the
following:
oOligarchy
oAutocratic
oDemocracy
oFederation
oConfederation
oUnitary
Unitary
• One central Authority
Controls EVERYTHING!!!
• Power is not shared
between states,
counties, provinces
• They can give power to
a legislature….and
then take it away
• Assigns powers to
areas
• Could choose the
governor or mayor
Countries with Unitary forms
of Governments (2007)
Unitary Government
Unitary System
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Central
Authority
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Confederation
• Voluntary by nature it has
a weak central
government.
• Very little power because
members must agree on
decisions that are made.
• Decisions made may not
be actual laws, unless the
majority agree.
• They are not common in
the 21st century.
• There’s no true way to
enforce laws.
• Some Examples:
o United States (1777 –
1778
o Iroquois League
o Switzerland
o OPEC
o EU
Confederation
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Central
Authority
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Federation
• Power is divided
between both the
Central and Regional
(states) authorities
• Usually a Constitution
describes the duties of
both authorities.
• Powerful Central but their
power is limited
o Can’t dissolve states
or choose leaders of
states
• Many countries use it to
distribute the power
Countries considered to have
a Federal Government
Federation
Federal Government
Federal System
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Central
Authority
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Oligarchy
• “Ruled by a Few”
• Country or nation
controlled by a small
group of people
• Average person has little
say or right in the
government
• Decisions can be made
quickly
• Poor/selfish decisions
made by leaders can
work against other
citizens well being
Examples:
• South Africa (during
much of the 20th
century)
• Communist China
Autocracy
• “Self Rule”
• Single ruler with
unlimited power
• Decisions can be
made quickly
• Needs of people
can be ignored
though
• Two types of
Autocracies:
o Monarch
o Dictatorship
Examples of
Dictators:
• Adolf Hitler
• Joseph Stalin
Monarch
• Usually the Leader is
BORN into it.
• King, Queens, Emperors
are examples
• No or few legal
restraints = Absolute
• Formally Limited =
Constitutional
• Inherited = Hereditary
• System of voting =
Elective
Dictatorship
• Usually the Leader takes
the power by force
• Most times they have a
military background
• Typically have a strong
military/police force
• Refuses to give choice to
people because they
are viewed as
incompetent
Democracy
• “Led by the People”
• Country or Nation that
receives its power from
the people
• ALL people have an
opportunity to vote and
are involved in the
decision making
• ALL people have an
opportunity to lead
• Slow to make decisions
• Not all information that
is given is correct or
whole
Two Types:
• Presidential
• Parliamentary
Current Examples:
o Vatican City
o Iran
• Typically an autocratic
o Sikyong (Tibetan
or oligarchic
Parliament)
Theocracy
government
• One or more religious
leaders control the
government
• Religious beliefs
influence laws and rules
• Leader is believed to
have a direct person
connection with the
divinity
Ancient Examples:
o China
o Byzantine Empire
o Early Israel
o Ancient Egypt
Parliamentary
• Voters elect members to the
Parliament (legislature)
• Parliament (legislature) has two
Houses:
o House of Commons: The Political
Party with the most votes in the
House of Commons chooses the
Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is
the government’s leader who has
no set length of term.
o House of Lords: Little power with
most members being nobles who
have inherited their titles
Government
Review
Parliamentary vs. Presidential
Democracy
• Prime minister (leader/chief of state), is
elected by the legislature, NOT by the
people
• Executive power is held by members of the
legislature;
o executive + legislative = one branch of
government
• Head of state has a ceremonial role,
• Chief of state usually has the power
• Examples: Israel, Zimbabwe, Japan, and
Great Britain
Presidential
• The president and legislature
are separate branches and
powers are divided between
them
• President has two roles:
head of state & chief of
state = ceremonial duties
(role) + power
• President is LIMITED to a set
amount of terms they serve
• Example: United States = two 4year terms
• Voters elect legislators
o House of Representatives and Senate
• Voters ALSO (indirectly) elect the
president.
• So…. in the presidential system voters
have a more direct say about those who
serve in two branches of the government :
• Legislative
• Executive
In Short…..
Parliamentary
Presidential
Voters
Voters
Parliament
(Legislative Branch)
Prime Minister
(Executive Branch)
Congress
(House &
Senate)
Legislature
President
(Chief
Executive)
Time to Vote
• Room is divided based on the two forms of government we have
discussed
o Parliamentary (Voters > Parliament > Prime Minister)
o Presidential (Voters > Congress + President).
• Each side will go through a mock election by following the Parliamentary
and Presidential forms of democracy.
• Parliamentary side: If you are in the Parliament you will need to divide
yourself into two different ‘parties’. Whatever party then gets the most
votes, they will choose out of their group who will become the prime
minister
• Presidential Side: On this side voters will have a ballot (or whiteboard)
with multiple students who are running for office on their side. These
students should make short speeches (about 1 to 2 mins long) for what
they would like to change if running for president. Voters will also choose
who they would want to run in the Legislative branch as well.
• When the elections are over. Let’s discuss the difference and similarities
between the two democracies. What did you think? Which form would
you be more likely to vote in?
• Now……Last thing…..TOTD
Press 1 for the following questions:
A – Parliamentary
B – Presidential
C – Both
1. This head of state answers directly to the legislative branch
because they are a part of it.
2. In this type of Democracy the chief executive and the head
of state.
3. Voters elect the Legislature and Executive branches of the
government.
4. Voters elect the Legislature, who in turn elects the Executive.
5. In this type of Democracy the head of state has more of a
ceremonial role.
6. Answers to the people, and serves a set amount of terms.
7. Has a constitution and bicameral form of government.
8. Scenario: On voting day you vote for the person you want
as your party’s representative. If your party has the more
elected representatives they then choose to appoint their
executive leader.
1. This head of state answers directly to the legislative branch because
they are a part of it.
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both
2. In this type of Democracy the chief executive and the head of state
are the same person.
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both
3. Voters elect the Legislature and Executive branches of the
government.
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both
4. Voters elect the Legislature, who in turn elects the Executive.
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both
5. In this type of Democracy the head of state has more of a
ceremonial role.
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both
6. Answers to the people, and serves a set amount of terms
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both
7. Has a constitution and bicameral form of government
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both
8. Scenario: On voting day you vote for the person you want as your
party’s representative. If your party has the more elected representatives
they then choose to appoint their executive leader.
a. Parliamentary
b. Presidential
c. Both