Four basic types:
Monarchy, Democracy, Dictatorship,
and Theocracy
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How does the government acquire its power?
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How does the government justify its power?
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Monarch justifies having power through divine right to
rule.
What is the structure of the government?
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Ruler (monarch) inherits his or her power. When the
ruler dies, power automatically passes to one of the
monarch’s children. It usually goes to the eldest son.
Monarch (king, queen, emperor, kaiser, csar) has absolute
power. No one else has power unless granted to them by
the monarch.
What opportunities for citizen participation exist
in this type of government?
People have no rights or freedoms, except those the
monarch chooses to grant.
 People have no choice in selecting who rules.
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How does the government acquire its power?
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Ruler (monarch) inherits his or her power.
Legislature is elected by the people.
How does the government justify its power?
Monarch justifies having power through divine right to
rule.
 Legislature justifies having the power through the
consent of the people.
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What is the structure of the government?
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Monarch shares power with an elected legislature.
Legislature typically has the authority to write the laws
while the monarch enforces the laws.
What opportunities for citizen participation exist
in this type of government?
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People have some basic rights and a limited voice in
government because they can elect the legislature.
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How does the government acquire its power?
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
How does the government justify its power?
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The government’s authority is based on the consent of the
people. This is called popular sovereignty.
What is the structure of the government?
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People elect the legislature. The legislature chooses the
chief executive from among the legislature.
The chief executive (Prime Minister, Chancellor) is in
charge of leading the legislature (Parliament, Duma) and
enforcing the laws.
What opportunities for citizen participation exist
in this type of government?
People have rights and liberties because the people
choose the leaders. The government must follow the law.
 Voters elect the legislature. The legislature chooses the
chief executive from among the legislature.
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How does the government acquire its power?


How does the government justify its power?


The government’s authority is based on the consent of the
people. This is called popular sovereignty.
What is the structure of the government?

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People separately elect the legislature and the chief
executive (President).
The chief executive (President) is responsible for
enforcing the laws. The legislature (Congress) is
responsible for writing the laws. The chief executive
never serves in the legislature at the same time.
What opportunities for citizen participation exist
in this type of government?
People have rights and liberties because the people
choose the leaders. The government must follow the law.
 Voters separately elect the legislature and the chief
executive.
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How does the government acquire its power?

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How does the government justify its power?
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The dictator justifies having power by having the ability
to seize control.
What is the structure of the government?
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Dictator either seizes control of the government by force,
or is put into a position of authority by others and
afterwards takes action to extend his power.
A single person or small group of people exercise
supreme power over others.
What opportunities for citizen participation exist
in this type of government?
People have no rights or freedoms, except those the
dictator chooses to grant.
 People have no choice in selecting who rules.
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How does the government acquire its power?
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How does the government justify its power?
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Ruler is chosen by councils of religious leaders.
Rulers claim to act in the name of God and expect strict
obedience from the members of society.
What is the structure of the government?
The religious leaders rule over society. They make all the
laws.
 Ruler has absolute power, but may have to share some
power with the council that selected him.
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What opportunities for citizen participation exist
in this type of government?
People have no rights or freedoms, and are expected to
follow with strict obedience.
 People have no choice in selecting who rules.
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