Chapter Two, Section One
“Why Americans Have Government”
Types of Government

Every country in the world
has their own type of
government.

Each country’s government
is unique and varies widely
across the globe.

Each country’s government
has been shaped by
traditional beliefs of its people
and by its history.
Types of Government

Governments fall
into two main
different categories:
– Nondemocratic
governments
– Democratic
governments
Nondemocratic Governments

A monarchy is a type
of government where
a king or a queen,
called a monarch,
rules over a kingdom
or empire. Many times
monarchies can be
non-democratic.
– (Morocco, Sweden)
Nondemocratic Governments

An autocracy is a type
of government with
complete and absolute
power.

There are different
kinds of autocracies.
Types of Autocracies

An absolute monarchy is
where a person assumes
complete power by being born
into the family of rulers

A dictatorship is usually
where a military leader takes
power by force. (can get
power other ways)

Oligarchy few people have
the power to run the country
Nondemocratic Governments

A theocracy is a type of
government controlled
by one or more religious
leaders

Example: Islamic State,
Vatican City
Lack of Government……

Anarchy is the
absence of any type
of government.
Economic Systems

Socialism is an economic system
where the government owns
many of the means of production
and charges higher taxes to
operate them (Denmark, Canada,
France, United Kingdom)

Communism is an economic
system where the government
owns all means of production and
no private ownership is allowed.
(modern example: North Korea)
(historic examples, USSR, Cuba,
“Red” China)
Democratic Governments

In a “democracy,” the
people of a nation
either rule directly or
elect officials who act
on their behalf.
– United States, Greece,
& Brazil
Democratic Governments

The word
“democracy” comes
from the ancient
Greek term meaning
“rule of the people”.

There are two forms
of democracy.
Direct Democracy

Direct democracy All
voters meet in one
place to make all the
laws

Why is this not
practical in most
places today?
Representative Democracy

Representative democracy
exists when the people elect
representatives to carry on the
work of gov’t for them.
– Ex: United States, ancient Rome

This is also known as a
Republic
Purpose of Government
1 - Helping People Cooperate
– Helps us live peacefully.
2 - Providing Services – each level of
government: local, state, federal has
to provide services for the people.
– Example: Education – our state
governments have create public
school systems to educate our
children.
– Can you name other services?
3 - Providing Laws
4 - Plan for the Future