US Government
Types of Government
 Countries can have a
variety of political
systems.
 They include:
 Direct Democracy
 Representative Government
 Monarchy
 Autocracy (Dictatorship)
 Oligarchy
Government
Main job is to:
 1. Maintain social order
 2. Provide public services
 3. National security and common defense
 4. Support and create an economic system
What is the single fundamental purpose of a
government?
Serve the public good and well being of society
Direct Democracy
 Sometimes called “pure
democracy”
 People gathered to vote
on laws in ancient
Athens and Rome.
 Very difficult to do in
large numbers. People
may not know much
about the issues they
vote on.
 States and towns in the
U.S. use ballot questions
to get the public’s vote on
important issues.
Principles necessary for a democracy to exist
(according to Robert Dahl)…..
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Equality in voting…(Your vote is no more important
than mine)
Effective Participation (adequate and equal
opportunity)
Enlightened understanding (Free market for speech,
press, ideas, etc)
Citizen Control of policy agenda
Inclusion: extend rights
Can uneducated/poor people be
trusted?
 Direct Democracy – citizens create/vote on laws
 Problems
1. Impractical for reasons of time, expertise

How do you get 300 million people to vote multiple times per day
on issues they no nothing about?
2. Masses of people make unwise decisions based on
emotions (Hitler was elected)
 “The masses are turbulent and changing and
seldom judge or determine right.” -Alexander
Hamilton
Representative Democracy (Republic)
 Citizens elect representatives
 Gov’t MEDIATES popular views
 “Will of the people” ≠ “Common interest”
 EX. Lower gas prices, minority rights
 Reps are educated on issues at hand
 Prevents fast, sweeping change
 Minority rights more likely to be protected
Types of Democracy
Parliamentary Democracy
 elected Parliament

Parliament: an elected group of people that makes laws; often,
power is shared among several political parties
Parliamentary Republic
 Parliament: an elected group of people that makes laws;
has an elected president/leader
Parliamentary Monarchy
 Parliament: an elected group of people that makes laws;
has a monarch as a leader with no real power.
Representative Government
 Often called a “republic.”
 The people elect
representatives to make
the laws.
 Citizens must pay
attention to vote smartly,
but do not need to be
experts on every law.
 Examples are U.S,
Canada, Mexico, United
Kingdom
U.S. House of Representatives
Federal Republic
 A country that has no monarch
 The head of the country is usually an
elected president.
 Citizens elect representatives to make
decisions on their behalf
 Shares power with national and local
authorities.
Democracy vs. Republic
What is the difference between a
democracy and a republic?
Democracy vs. Republic
 Democracy: the people directly vote for what they
want.
 Republic: the people vote for representatives to make
laws on their behalf.
Is the United States a democracy or republic? Why?
Monarchy
 Ruler inherits the throne
by birth.
 Citizens do not have a
right to decide laws.
 Fewer monarchies in the
last 100 years. Jordan,
Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia
are examples.
 Others, such as United
Kingdom, Norway,
Sweden, and Japan, are
now democracies with
monarch as ceremonial
leader.
Jordan’s King Abdullah
Autocracy: (Dictatorship)
 One person or one party
Iraq’s Former Dictator
Saddam Hussein
holds total power to
govern.
 Citizens have few rights
and don’t make decisions.
 Dictators sometimes call
themselves “president”
and hold elections, but it
is just for show because no
one else is allowed to run.
 Examples: Cuba, North
Korea, Libya, Egypt
How do dictators keep power?
 Dictators can use their
armies to arrest or attack
protesters.
 Dictators often promise a
better life, especially for
the poor.
 Many countries have
never had democracy, so
they are used to having
dictators.
 Some dictators get
support from other
countries, such as Soviet
Union’s support for Fidel
Castro in Cuba.
Fidel Castro of Cuba
Government
 What is the main responsibility of a
government?
Oligarchy (Most Popular)
 A form of government
where a few wealthy,
powerful males rule.
 Many times this
government is found in a
communist nation where
a group of militant men
make decisions.
 Countries that are
considered an oligarchy
are: China, Cuba, and
Venezuela
Totalitarian
 country with only one
political party
 People are forced to
do what the
government tells
them and may also be
prevented from
leaving the country.
Monarchy
 oldest form of government
 leader is determined through family lines
 leader is in this position for life
 Often, a monarchy will include a dynasty, a powerful group
or family that maintains its power and position over many
generations
Combination Governments:
Democracy + Monarchy
 Constitutional Monarchy……similar to Parliamentary
Democracy
 monarch as head of state--one who represents the people
as a traditional symbol of the country
AND
 elected officials as head of government--those who make
laws and official decisions for the country
Theocracy
 Life is based on God and religious beliefs
 Nature is at the center of many decisions and beliefs.
Anarchy
 No government system
 Civil War and constant unrest
Review of Forms of
Government
Do You Know Your Forms of Government?
A or B?
1. One person is in charge.
A
Autocracy
B
Democracy
A or B?
2. Citizens often have no rights.
A
Democracy
B
Dictatorship
A or B?
3. Can exist with other forms of
government.
A
Dictatorship
B
 Theocracy
A or B?
4. Led by a king or queen.
A
 Monarchy
B
Oligarchy
A or B?
5. Nobody is in charge.
A
Monarchy
B
Anarchy

A or B?
6. Those in charge are military
members who took over by force.
A
 Junta
B
Democracy
A or B?
7. Leader often shares power with
other parts of government.
A
Monarchy
B
Dictatorship
A or B?
8. Democracy where citizens elect
others to serve in government.
A
Direct
B
Representative

A or B?
9. Citizens vote to elect their
leaders.
A
Democracy
B
Autocracy
A or B?
10. A small group rules the
country.
A
 Oligarchy
B
Democracy
A or B?
11. People do not answer to any
leader or government.
A
Oligarchy
B
Anarchy

A or B?
12. God and religious law are the
government authority.
A
Oligarchy
B
Theocracy

Identify That Government!
SWITZERLAND
Citizens elect representatives to sit in two
different lawmaking assemblies. But citizens
also vote several times a year to decide on
laws. Citizens can vote to propose their own
laws or undo laws passed by their
representatives. All citizens may vote directly
on these laws.
Forms of Government:
representative democracy
_________________________________
and
direct democracy
_________________________________
SOUTH AFRICA
From 1948-1994, official policy in South
Africa gave white people all the political
power. Even though the majority of South
Africans were black, non-whites could not
influence government. White South Africans
elected representatives to sit in a lawmaking
body.
Forms of Government:
oligarchy
_________________________________
and
representative democracy
_________________________________
NORTH KOREA
One man leads North Korea and controls its
government. He also controls its ruling
political party. The ruling party chooses
candidates for an Assembly, and citizens vote.
The candidates do not have opponents, so
citizens have no choices.
Form of Government:
dictatorship
_________________________________
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia is led by a king. The king
appoints a Council of Ministers to help
govern, but there are no elections. Saudi
Arabia’s Basic Law states that the country’s
constitution is the Islamic holy book the
Qur’an and other religious traditions.
Forms of Government:
monarchy
_________________________________
and
theocracy
_________________________________
DENMARK
The people of Denmark elect representatives
to sit in Parliament, a lawmaking body. The
Queen of Denmark heads the country, but she
only has a small role in government. The
government is led by a Prime Minister, who is
appointed from among the elected
representatives.
Forms of Government:
monarchy
_________________________________
and
representative democracy
_________________________________
BRAZIL
Brazil is led by a president who is elected by
the citizens. Citizens in Brazil elect a new
president every four years. Citizens also elect
representatives to serve in two different
legislative bodies.
Form of Government:
representative democracy
_________________________________
True or False?
True or False?
1. A monarchy can be like a dictatorship
or it can be part of a democracy.
2. A dictatorship can also be a
democracy.
True
m
m
False
True
m False
m

3. A democracy can have both
True
representative and direct characteristics 
m
at the same time.
4. An oligarchy can include
representative democracy.
5. A government can be both a
monarchy and an anarchy at the same
time.
m
False
True
False
m
m
True
m False
m
6. Theocracy can co-exist with
monarchy.

True
False
7. Theocracy can co-exist with
democracy.
True
False
8. An oligarchy can be like a
dictatorship.
True
False
m
m
m
m
m
m
Example or Reason:
Denmark / Saudi
Example or Reason:
Arabia
Citizens get no say in a dictatorship
Example or Reason:
Switzerland
Example or Reason:
In South Africa, some got to vote
Example or Reason:
Monarchy and anarchy are opposites!
Example or Reason:
Saudi Arabia
Example or Reason:
In Iran, citizens
Example or Reason:
vote
Under a junta, citizens often have few
rights
Types of Economics
What is economics?
 The study of how goods
and services are
produced, distributed,
and consumed.
 The people who make
goods or services are
called “producers.”
 The people who buy
goods or services are
called “consumers.”
Three Economic Systems
Mixed
Socialism
(Highly Controlled)
(Little Control)
Communism
Capitalism
2-48
Capitalism
 Sometimes called
“market economy.” Ex.
U.S.A.
 People own companies
and decide what to
produce to make
consumers happy.
 Business owners can earn
big profits or can lose
their money if a business
fails.
 Some businesses sell
stock to get more capital
to invest.
New York Stock Exchange
Understanding Free Markets or Capitalism
 CAPITALISM is an economic system in which all or
most of the means of production and distribution are
privately owned and operated for profit. No country is
purely capitalist, but the FOUNDATION OF THE
U.S. IS CAPITALISM.
 Capitalism is the foundation for the economics of
England, Canada, Australia, and most developed
nations.
2-50
Free-Market/Capitalism
In a free-market system, decisions about what to
produce and in what quantities are made by
THE MARKET (not the government). Therefore,
Consumers send signals to producers about
what to make, how many, and so on through
their buying behavior.
.
2-51
How Free Markets Work
People under free-market capitalism have
four basic rights:
1.
Private Property - individuals can buy, sell,
own property and pass it on.
2.
Profit/Ownership - right keep profits.
3.
Freedom of Competition - right to compete
within government guidelines.
4.
Freedom of Choice - people can choose
where they live, work and what they do
2-52
Limits of Free-Markets
•
•
•
•
Inequality of Wealth- Causes
National & World Tension
Greed Compromises Ethics
Potential Environmental
Damage
Limitations Push Country
towards Socialism =
Government Regulation
2-53
Command Economy
 The government makes
economic decisions
about what should be
produced, how much it
should cost.
 Two types of command
economies are
Workers arrive at a factory in
the old Soviet Union in 1929.
socialism and
communism.
Command Economies
 In socialism, the
government runs some
industries, such as oil, and
uses profits to pay for
health care, education. Ex.
Venezuela
 In communism, the
government runs all
industries, owns all
property, sets wages, and
prices, and people must do
as they are told. Ex. North
Korea
Venezuela’s President
Hugo Chavez
Socialism –
is an economic system based on
the premise that basic industries should be owned or
controlled by the gov’t. so that resources my be more
evenly distributed. Example: Denmark & Netherlands.
•
•
•
•
Private & Public Ownership
Some Choices are Limited
Creates Social Equality
Reduces Individual IncentiveBrain Drain
2-56
Industrialized
Nations’ Tax Rate
U.S.
Austria/Japan
Italy
Canada
Germany
Spain/Sweden
France
Finland
Denmark
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Source: Parade Magazine, Apr. 12, 1998.
2-57
Communism –
is an economic and
political system in which the Government makes
almost all economic decision and owns all the factors
of production. Example: North Korea & Cuba.
Problem: Gov’t has no way to know what to produce
because prices don’t reflect supply/demand!
•
•
•
State or Gov’t ownership of
factors of production.
Central Planning/Controlled
Economy
Managers = Mandatory Party
Membership
2-58
Communism vs. Capitalism
 Capitalists say that people have
no reason to do a good job in
communism because everyone
gets the same pay. Products are
boring and poorly made.
 Communists say that capitalism
is unfair to the poor because
people at the top of the company
get rich while workers get low
wages. They also say capitalists
wipe out little companies and
destroy the environment to get
money.
Communism vs. Capitalism
 The Cold War from 1945-
1991 between U.S. and
Soviet Union was based on
getting nations to line up
on the communist side or
capitalist side.
 Today Russia allows some
capitalism.
 Communist China also
allows some capitalism.
Factory workers in China
Putting Politics & Economics
Together
 Communist countries have been dictatorships in
which leaders have tried to control all aspects of
the country.
 But not all dictators are Communists. Some want
capitalist companies to come in and create jobs Ex.
Batista in Cuba before Castro.
 Democracies are sometimes capitalist and
sometimes socialist. Voters may elect a leader who
promises to help the poor through socialism. Or
voters may prefer capitalism as a way to create
more jobs.