Government
Standard SS6CG4
SS6CG4 The student will compare and contrast
various forms of government
a. Describe the ways government systems distribute
power: unitary, confederation, and federal.
b. Explain how governments determine citizen
participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic.
c. Describe the two predominant forms of democratic
governments: parliamentary and presidential.
What is government?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Make laws or rules people must follow.
Make sure laws are carried out.
Settle disagreements about the laws.
Oversee the welfare of its people.
Classifying Governments
• Geographic Distribution of Power
• Relationship between Legislative &
Executive Branches
• Number of People Who Can Participate
Government Distribution of
Power
the relationship between the
national or central government
and the regional or smaller
governmental divisions (states,
provinces, counties and cities).
Unitary Government
• Oldest
• Most Common
• One Central Power
– all key powers being held by the central
government
• Examples: Cuba and the United
Kingdom
Unitary
Definition
Power is
held by the
central
government.
Picture
Example
Sentence
United
Kingdom,
France,
Netherlands
and Spain
This type of
government has a
constitution that
outlines the duties,
powers and people
of the central
government. The
central government
can give or take
away power or
create lower levels
of government like
states or
communities.
Confederate Government
• state/regional authorities holding most of
the power.
• Weak Central Government
• Individual states/local governments
autonomous (independent)
• Local governments join or withdraw by
choice!
• Example: European Union is an organization of more
than 25 countries to promote trade within Europe
Confederation
Definition
A group of states
or communities
that come
together to
support each
other and to work
on common
problems.
Picture
Example
Sentence
European Union
United Nations
Countries that
belong to the
European Union
work together to
accomplish a
common goal, but
each country
retains their own
independence.
Federal Systems
• Power is shared between a central
government and local governments.
• Some powers re-side with the central
government, some powers reside with the
regional governments, and some powers
are shared.
• The central government is supreme!
•
Examples: Australia, Germany,
Russia, Canada, Brazil, Mexico
Federal
Definition
Power is divided
between one central
and several
regional/state
authorities.
Picture
Example
Sentence
United States,
Germany, Canada,
and Russia
In a federal
system, the central
government has
powers only if it’s
written in the
constitution.
Powers not written
in the constitution
are automatically
given to states or
provinces.
Example: United States – federal central government and 50 state
governments
Germany – federal central government and 16 federal states
How do citizens participate
in different forms of
government?
(Autocracy, oligarchy, democracy)
Citizen Participation
• Voting Rights for all citizens.
• Limited rights for citizens.
• No rights for citizens.
Autocracy
• Government by a single person having
unlimited power; despotism (domination
through threat of punishment and
violence) .
– dictators maintain their position via
inheritance or military power, the citizen has
little, if any, role in the government. People
who try to speak out against the government
are often silenced through use of power.
Oligarchy
• A government in which a few people (group)
such as a dominant clan or clique have
power.
– Communist countries are mostly oligarchies.
The citizen has a very limited role in
government.
Democracy
• In a democracy, the government is elected by
the people.
• Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to
have their say over who runs the country.
• It is distinct from governments controlled by a
particular social class or group (aristocracy;
oligarchy) or by a single person (despotism;
dictatorship; monarchy).
• A democracy is determined either directly or
through elected representatives.
Forms of Democracy
• Presidential (USA) a system of
government in which the president is
constitutionally independent of the
legislature.
• Parliamentary (UK) A system where the
legislature controls the power.
Presidential v Parliamentary System
• Presidential: Set term
• Parliamentary: No term or limit on term
• Presidential: an independent executive, separation
of powers
• Parliamentary: Member of Legislative branch
• Presidential: Elected by the people
• Parliamentary: Chosen by the majority party in
Parliament
• Presidential: Leader answers to the people
• Parliamentary: Leader answers to the Parliament
– Presidential: checks and balances
– Parliamentary: Legislature controls power