Citizen Participation in
Government
Autocracy vs. Oligarchy vs. Democracy
Citizen Participation in
Governments
SS7CG4 The student will compare
and contrast various forms of
government.
b. Explain how governments
determine citizen participation:
autocratic, oligarchic, and
democratic.
c. Describe the two predominant
forms of democratic governments:
parliamentary and presidential.
Autobus
One driver who
decides where to go,
how fast to go,
when to stop, etc.
All the passengers
are following
the one driver.
People
lots and lots of people. The citizens.
Autocracy
government
where a single
person has
power through
wealth, social
position, an
organization
or military
strength.
Democracy
government is elected by the people.
Everyone who is eligible to vote - which is a
majority of the population - has a chance to
have their say over who runs the country.
Autocracy: One Person
◦ Citizens have little control over the
government
◦ Power is in the hands of one person
Government Forms:
1. Dictatorship
Examples: Kim Jong-Un in North Korea
Saddam Hussein in Iraq
2.
Absolute Monarchy – one king in power
with complete control
Examples: king of Saudi Arabia
Monarchy
Example = Saudi Arabia
A government in which the supreme
power is in the hands of a monarch
who reigns over a state or territory,
usually for life and by hereditary right;
the monarch may be either a sole
absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as
a king, queen, or prince - with
constitutionally limited
authority.thority.
Autocracies of the World
Oligarchy: A Small Group
“government by a few”
A small group makes all of the government
decisions
 The people of the country have little choice
but to go along with the groups’ decisions
 Similar to an Autocratic government, but
instead of one ruler, there is a group.
 Examples: E




Communist countries such as China.
Leaders in the party and armed
forces control government.
Communist
Example = China
A system of government in which the state
plans and controls the economy and a single
- often authoritarian - party holds power;
state controls are imposed with the
elimination of private ownership of property
or capital while claiming to make progress
toward a higher social order in which all
goods are equally shared by the people (i.e.,
a classless society).
Autocracy and Oligarchy
• Sometimes claim they rule for the people.
• In reality, the people have very little say in
both types of government.
• Examples- May hold elections with only one
candidate or control the results in various
ways.
• Examples- Even when these governments
have a legislature or national assembly, they
often only approve decisions made by the
leaders.
Democracy: The Citizens
The citizens have a say in their
government by voting in elections.
 Most democracies today are republics,
where the people elect leaders to
represent them in the government.

Democratic Governments

There are two predominate forms of
democratic governments
◦ Parliamentary
◦ Presidential
Both are designed to represent and
protect the rights of the people
 Example: Israel = parliamentary democracy

Two Main Types of Democracy
Parliamentary
System
Executive
Legislature
Select
Executive
Presidential System
Elect
Legislature
Citizens
Citizens
Presidential Democracy
◦ Citizens usually vote for members of the
executive AND legislative branch
 Citizens directly vote for the leader
◦ A single person is elected as the leader
◦ The president is both head of government
(chief executive) and head of state
Examples: U.S.A., Mexico,
Parliamentary Democracy
◦ Citizens vote for members of the legislative
branch, and then the legislature chooses the
leader (usually called prime minister)
◦ Head of government and head of state are
TWO different people
Examples: Jordan, Israel
Parliamentary Democracy
Israel
A political system in which the
legislature (parliament) selects the
leader - a prime minister, premier, or
chancellor along with the cabinet
ministers.
Sample Test Question
What is a basic way citizens of a
democratic nation can influence the
government?
A. voting
B. working
C. obeying laws
D. consuming goods
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
SS7- CG1b , CG4b, CG6b
Sample Test Question
What is a basic way citizens of a
democratic nation can influence the
government?
A. voting*
B. working
C. obeying laws
D. consuming goods
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
SS7- CG1b , CG4b, CG6b
Sample Test Question
In which system of government does
the legislature elect the executive
leader of the government?
A. democratic
B. communist
C. parliamentary
D. totalitarian
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
SS7- CG1c , CG4c, CG6c
Sample Test Question
In which system of government does
the legislature elect the executive
leader of the government?
A. democratic
B. communist
C. parliamentary*
D. totalitarian
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
SS7- CG1c , CG4c, CG6c
Sample Test Question
Which statement about Israel's
parliamentary system of government today
is true?
A. Members of both houses of Parliament
are elected for life.
B.The queen decides which laws Parliament
will debate.
C. Members of Parliament do not belong to
political parties.
D. The prime minister is not directly chosen
by voters.
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
SS7- CG1c , CG4c, CG6c
Sample Test Question
Which statement about Israel's
parliamentary system of government today
is true?
A. Members of both houses of Parliament
are elected for life.
B.The queen decides which laws Parliament
will debate.
C. Members of Parliament do not belong to
political parties.
D. The prime minister is not directly chosen
by voters.*
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
SS7- CG1c , CG4c, CG6c
Autocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bXLv5X73a4http://
Governments Poem
AUTOCRACY is ruled by one.
OLIGARCHY is ruled by some.
DEMOCRACY – everyone.
FEDERAL is with shared powers;
each one in charge of different things.
CONFEDERATE states do have power,
but they also are a team.
UNITARY is one unit;
Central government’s supreme.
Parliamentary vs Presidential
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmlOOL2XuIs&list=UUI7IxlmPzV2
qvxe3CH4je3g&index=19&feature=plcp