 Form of government where the ruler has complete authority over the government and the lives of the people he or she governs

 Unrestricted Power
 Gain power through heredity or marriage
 “Divine Right of Kings”
 Positives?
 Negatives?

 King Mswati III, Swaziland

 King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia

 a monarchy governed according to a constitution that limits and defines the powers of the monarch

 Limited Power
 Today most monarchs give up power, position is title only
 Pros:
 Govern by rules, not personal feelings
 Cons:
 Irrelevant
 Expensive

 King Abdullah II, Jordan

 Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salim Al Sabah, Kuwait

 Form of government in which the party with the greatest representation in the parliament (legislature) forms the government, its leader becoming prime minister or chancellor.
 The parties in the minority serve in opposition to the majority and have the duty to challenge it regularly.
 The prime minister may be removed from power whenever he loses the confidence of a majority of the ruling party or of the parliament

 Members of Parliament elected to serve a certain period of time


Early Elections Possible
Need majority to stay in power


Pros:
 Avoid legislative gridlock


Accountability
Easily Replaceable
Cons:
 Easily Replaceable

 India

 Japan

 A system of government where an executive branch is led by a president who is often elected by the people.
This branch exists separately from the legislature.

 Direct Elections, President elected by people
 Checks & Balances: President and legislature work separate from each other
 President and Legislature serve fixed terms


Pros:



People decide
Checks & Balances
Stability
Cons
 Gridlock

 United States

 South Africa

 The form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a single person/dictator.

 Dictator holds unlimited power
 Censorship
 One-party rule


Pros:
 Actions easily taken
Cons:


Oppressive
Strict rules, little freedom

 North Korea

 Form of government in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided
 Government guided by specific religion

 “Rule of God”
 "God” himself is recognized as the head of the state
 Hierarchy of the government identical with the administrative hierarchy of the religion or….
 Government hierarchy subordinate to the religious hierarchy

 Iran