Agenda

Introduction to government
systems
Warm-Up

Get out your green warm-up
sheet
Many types of governments

SS7CG4: The students
will compare and
contrast various forms of
government
a.
b.
Describe the ways
government systems
distribute power: unitary,
confederation, and federal
Explain how governments
determine citizen
participation: autocratic,
oligarchic, and democratic

Essential questions!!


Why do countries choose the
type of government that they
do?
How could two countries
that have the same type of
government be different?
1
2
Can you tell me the
names of these
people and their
title?
3
4
5
Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
David Cameron- PRIME MINISTER of the
United Kingdom
Abdullah II- KING of Jordan
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad- PRESIDENT of
Iran
Barack Obama- PRESIDENT of the United
State of America
Queen Elizabeth- QUEEN of England
Types of Government are based on one key
question: How do governments distribute
power?
Unitary

Characterized by or constituting a form
government in which power is held by one
central authority

Ex: Saudi Arabia
Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Central
Authority
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Monarchy




Type of unitary government system
A government in which the supreme power is
lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns
over a state or a territory, usually for life and by
hereditary right
Can have a constitutional Monarchy
Saudi Arabia is a Monarchy
Confederation

Voluntary associations of independent state that,
to secure some common purpose, agree to
certain limitations on their freedom of action,
and establish some joint machinery of
consultation or deliberation

Ex: OPEC
Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional
Authority
Regional
Authority
Central
Authority
Regional
Authority
Regional
Authority
Federal

Characterized by or constituting a form of
government in which power is divided between
one central and several regional authorities

Ex: UAE




Sovereign power is formally divided- usually by a
constitution
Usually have a central authority and a number of
constituent regions (states, colonies, or
provinces)
Regions have power and are in direct contact
with the central authority
Central authority and regions work together and
individually.
Federation / Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Central
Authority
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
Low or No Participation
Autocratic
Low or No Participation
Oligarchic
Citizen Participation
Government Power
General Citizens’
Participation
Select Citizens’
Participation
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Government Power
How Governments Determine Citizen
High Participation
High Participation
Participation
Low or No Participation
Democracy
Autocratic
Government in which one person possesses
unlimited power
Citizen has little if any role in the government
 Most common type of gov’t
 Military and police power
 Position usually inherited
 Absolute Monarchs
 3 types


#1 Dictatorship


The leader has not been
elected and uses force to
control all aspects of social
and economic life.
Examples: Adolf Hitler in
Germany and Joseph Stalin in
the Soviet Union
#2 Absolute
Monarchy



A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or
empress.
The power is usually inherited or passed
down from family members.
The monarch has absolute power meaning
they can make all decisions without
consulting anyone.
#3 Constitutional Monarchy




Kings, queens or emperors share power with
elected legislatures.
Generally the Kings are nothing more than
figureheads.
The government is a democratic one that limits
the monarchs’ power.
Example: Great Britain
Oligarchic
Government by a few
 Sometime a government in which a small group
exercise control especially for corrupt and selfish
purpose
 Citizen has a very limited role
 The group gets its power from military power,
social power, wealth, religion or a combination.
 Ex: communist countries

Oligarchic & Autocratic
Vary rarely they rule for the people
 Reality citizens have very little say in both types
of government
 Elections may be held but only one candidate is
on the ballot

Agenda


Review Government Systems
Cubing Activity
Warm- up

Please get out



Notes from yesterday
Blue sheet you completed for
homework
Neon yellow definition sheet
Essential Questions
1.
2.
3.
Why are there various forms of government?
How do governments determine citizen
participation?
How is governments distribute power?