Political Systems
How Countries Organize their
Governments
Why do we have government?
What is Government?
And
Why Do We Have It?
• A body that has the power to make and enforce
laws in a given territory.
• So we don’t have anarchy.
• There are 3 main branches of government:
– 1. The legislative—makes the laws.
– 2. The executive—enforces the laws (king or
president, etc.)
– 3. The Judicial—judges laws (judges and courts).
Monarchy
• Rule by a King or Queen
• The ruler leads until they die and then a
relative—usually a son or daughter—is the
new monarch.
Oligarchy
• Rule by a small amount of people—
Usually the very rich.
• Ex—must own a certain amount of land or
possess a certain amount of wealth to vote
or be elected to office.
Theocracy
• When a religion controls the government
and makes everybody follow religious
practices whether they want to or not.
Dictatorship
• When somebody takes control of a country
by force and rules until they die or are
removed by force from a ….
• Coup—The sudden overthrow of a leader
or government. (Without a war taking
place).
Democracy
• There are 2 types:
• 1. Direct Democracy—Everybody can vote on
everything. Example—The city-state of Athens.
• 2. Representative Democracy—People vote for
politicians. The politicians then decide on what to
do.
Republic
• Government without a king or queen.
• The leader is chosen by the people.
• Usually a representative democracy.
• The U.S. is a Republic.
Revolution
• In politics = war to overthrow a
government.
• There are 2 types:
• A. = within a country (social)
• B. = Colony gaining independence
(political).