Unit 1
Chapter 1, Section 3
American Government 2nd-5th
Mr. Young
Essential Question


Why did the Founding
Fathers want America to
be a Republic and not a
Monarchy or a
Democracy?
What are the 5 important
factors that democracy to
grow within a state?
I CAN




List and Explain the similarities and differences
between the 3 major types of government
Analyze the difference (if any) between a
republic and a democracy
Describe the four characteristics of a democracy
Use the 5 features that make up a democracy to
prove what countries would best be suited for
Democracy around the world.
Three types of Govt Video

http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26
%20Government;jsessionid=AF35523B6F6600
B0328A9CD96C101449?user=myKDE
Major Types of Government


1.
2.
3.
Greek philosopher
Aristotle asked “Who
governs the state?”
3 major types of gov’t
Autocracy- rule by one
person
Oligarchy- rule by few
people
Democracy- rule be
many persons
How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Low or No Participation
Autocratic
Low or No Participation
Oligarchic
Citizen Participation
Government Power
General Citizens’
Participation
Select Citizens’
Participation
High Participation
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Government Power
High Participation
Low or No Participation
Democracy
3 Major Types of Government



1) Autocracy- Any
system of gov’t in
which the power and
authority to rule are in
the hands of a single
individual
Oldest and most
common form of
government
3 Types of autocratic
governments
A. Absolute Power


Totalitarian dictatorshipideas of single leader are
glorified and government
seeks to control all
aspects of social and
economic life
Examples: Hitler, Stalin,
Napoleon
B. Monarchy



King, queen, or emperor
exercises supreme
powers of government
Absolute Monarchscomplete and unlimited
power to rule
Example: Western
Europe 1400-1700
Monarchy
Saudi Arabia
A government in which the supreme power is
lodged 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.
C. Constitutional Monarchs


Monarchs that share
government powers with
elected legislature or
serve mainly as the
ceremonial leaders of
their government
Examples: Great Britain,
Sweden, Japan
Constitutional Monarchy
Japan and Canada
A system of government in which a
monarch is guided by a constitution
whereby his/her rights, duties, and
responsibilities are spelled out in written
law or by custom.
Autocratic Video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9wvGtOYko
Autocrat Action Figure
3 Major Types of Government



2) Oligarchy- Any system
of government in which
a small group holds the
power
Derives power from
wealth, military power,
social positions, religion,
or a combo of them all.
Example: Communist
countries today
How Governments Determine Citizen
Participation
Autocracy & 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 Videos


http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26
%20Government;jsessionid=AF35523B6F6600
B0328A9CD96C101449?user=myKDE
HippoCampus “theories of democracy”
3 Major Types of Government


3) Democracy- System
of government in
which rule is by the
people
Key Idea: People hold
sovereign power
Two Types of Democracies
1.
Direct
Democracypeople govern
themselves by
voting on issues
individually as
citizens
Two Types of Democracies
2)
Indirect/Represent
ative Democracypeople elect
representatives and
give them the
power
Democracy: Two Types
A. Direct: rule by the people
themselves.
B. Indirect (representative):
rule by elected representatives.
C. Founders' distrust of direct
democracy:
1. Impracticalities.
2. Fleeting passions of the
people.
Democracy Cont.



Republic- voters are the
source of the government’s
authority (requires citizen
participation)
Founding fathers wanted a
republic because it would
promote citizen
participation
Not every democracy
around the world is a
republic, i.e. Great Britain
Republican Systems
A representative democracy in which
the people's elected deputies
(representatives), not the people
themselves, vote on legislation.
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
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
Characteristics of Democracy
1.
2.
3.
4.
Individual Liberty
Majority Rule with Minority rights
Free Elections
Competing Political Parties
1) Individual Liberty
 People
are as free
as possible to
develop their
own
opportunities for
success
2) Majority Rule/Minority Rights




In democracy people
usually accept the decisions
of majority of voters in
elections
Constitution helps to
ensure the rights of
individuals in the minority
will be protected
Easy to say, hard to
maintain
Court Case: Endo v.
United States
3) Free Elections


Democratic
governments
receive their
legitimacy by the
consent of the
governed
5 characteristics
that mark free
elections
5 Characteristics of Free Elections
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
“One person, one vote”: every vote the same
All candidates can express their views freely
Citizens free to help candidates or support
issues
Legal requirements for voting are kept to a
minimum
May vote freely by secret ballot
4) Competing Political Parties


Political Parties- A group
of individuals with broad
common interests who
organize to nominate
candidates for office, win
elections, conduct
government, and
determine public policy
Those out of power help
keep a check on those in
power
Soil of Democracy

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Five general criteria where a democracy is
more likely to grow
Active citizen participation
Favorable economy
Widespread education
Strong civil society
Social consensus
1) Active Citizen Participation

Citizens must be
willing to
participate in civic
life, such as voting,
serve on juries, and
run for government
offices
2) A Favorable Economy


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Need a good, large middle
class
Need a stable, growing
economy
People not worried about
politics if their economic
life is out of hand
Free enterprise- the
opportunity to control
one’s own economic
decision
3) Widespread Education


Needs a country where
its people are well
educated
It is the duty of
government to provide
education for citizens if it
wants to be a democracy.
4) Strong Civil Society

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
Groups and organizations
that exist separately and
independently of the
government
Give citizens opportunity
to express views, make
opinions heard, and
participate in their
democracy
Examples: Red Cross,
NRA, local churches and
newspapers
5) Social Consensus

Democracy is more likely
to grow in a country
where people accept the
democratic values within
a country, such as
individual liberty,
equality for all, and limits
of gov’t power
Compare & Contrast Various Forms of
Government
Describe the two predominant
forms of democratic governments:
Parliamentary & Presidential
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government:
parliamentary and presidential
Parliamentary Democracy
A system of government in which executive
and legislative functions both reside in an
elected assembly called parliament.
May have a Prime Minister elected
by the legislature.
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government:
parliamentary and presidential
Presidential Democracy
A system of government in which the
president is constitutionally independent of
the legislature.
The executive branch exists separately from
the legislature (to which it is generally not
accountable).
Sample Test Question
Which statement about Great Britain'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.
Sample Test Question
Which statement about Great Britain'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.*
Essential Question


Why did the Founding
Fathers want America to
be a Republic and not a
Monarchy or a
Democracy?
What are the 5 important
factors that democracy to
grow within a state?