Grade 6
Social Studies
 Objective:
To identify the different
types of governments
(Democracy, Oligarchy, Monarchy,
Dictatorship, Communism, Totalitarian
and Revolutionary)
(1) Democracy
In a democracy, the government is elected by the
people.
 Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to
have their say over who runs the country.
 A democracy is determined either directly or
through elected representatives.

Democracy

A system of government where the people
rule
Examples: United States, India, Canada
Limited – Government
Brainpop
(2) Republic
A republic is a country that has no
monarch.
 The head of the country is usually an
elected president.

(3)Representative Republic Democracy
Citizens elect representatives
 Representatives pass laws
 The President, Prime Minister, or
Chancellor has limited power


Examples – United States, France,
Germany, Mexico
Democracy vs. Republic

in Democracy the majority rules
according to their whims (ruling body
decides what they want to do)

in a Republic the Government rules
according to law. This law is framed in
the Constitution to limit the power of
Government and ensuring some rights
and protection to minorities and
individuals.
(4) Limited and Unlimited

Limited Government – Ensures more freedom
for the citizens of that country.
○ People’s rights are considered important
○ Power is with the people
○ Must follow a written constitution
 Examples – United States, England

Unlimited Government – the political leaders
have total control over their citizens
 Examples – Cuba, North Korea
(5)Monarchy

A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or
empress.

The ruling position can be passed on to the ruler’s
heirs (children)
Constitutional
Monarchy
A monarch is head of state and a parliament
or other legislature makes the laws
 For example, the Queen of England does not
have political power, but she is a symbol of
the English tradition of having a royal family
 Examples – England, Spain

Monarchy

- Limited Government – Current Government
- Unlimited Government - Early England (King Henry VIII, Queen
Mary),

Example – England, Spain

Queen Elizabeth
(6)Oligarchy
 A government in which a few people
such as a dominant clan or clique have
power.
Oligarchy

A government in which a small group that is
not elected, but share similar political ideas
Unlimited government:
The Taliban in Afghanistan

(7)Dictatorship

A country ruled by a
single leader. The leader
may use force to keep
control and has all power.

In a military dictatorship,
the army is in control.
Ex: Nazi’s
Dictatorship

Examples
 Fidel Castro (Cuba)
 Adolf Hitler (Germany)
 Saddam Hussein (Iraq)
Unlimited
Hitler
(8)Totalitarian

This is a 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.
(9) Communism
a system of social
organization in which
all economic and social
activity is controlled by
a totalitarian state
dominated by a single
political party.


Communism
It provides its people's
healthcare, education
and welfare.
(10)
Revolutionary
 If
a government is overthrown
by force, the new ruling group is
sometimes called a
revolutionary government.