{ Forms of Government

Chapter 1; Section 2

http://www.flocabulary.com/forms-of-government/

No two gov’ts are exactly alike. All gov’t can be classified to one or more basic features.

Three main classifications of government:1. Who can participate in the governing process.2. The geographic distribution of government power w/in the state.3. The relationship between the legislative (lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing) branches of the government.

Classifying Governments

Who can take part? Two basic forms:

Democracy Political authority rests with the PEOPLE; Gov’t is

conducted with the consent of the people. Honest Abe: “Gov’t of the people, by the people, for the

people.” Direct or Indirect

Direct = “Pure Democracy”; Will of the people is put into public policy directly by the people. Doesn’t exist at nation level anywhere; Small towns.

Why? Indirect = Representative Democracy

A small group, chosen by the people act as representatives and express popular will.

“Government by popular consent.” US Gov’t is Indirect (Representative) Democracy

1. Who Can Participate

Some insist the U.S. is a republic and not a democracy. For them, democracy can

only be defined in terms of direct democracy.

A republic states that sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, while political power is in the hands of their representatives. The people do not rule directly.

‘Murica: Republic or Democracy?

First basic form was Democracy. Second Form:

Dictatorship Those who rule are not held responsible to the will of the

people; Gov’t is not accountable for its policies. Can be Autocracies or Oligarchies:

Autocracy = Gov’t where a single person holds unlimited political power.

Oligarchy = Gov’t where the power to rule is held by a small, usually self appointed elite.

All are Authoritarian Those w/ power have absolute authority over the people.

Modern Can be Totalitarian Have complete power over nearly every aspect of human affairs. One-Person Dictatorships are not common today.

Typically Militaristic in nature. Military holds many of the major posts in gov’t.

1. Who Can Participate

Examples of “Modern” Dictators?

Power to govern is located in places geographically; 3 basic forms: Unitary Government

“Centralized Government”; All powers belong to a single, central agency; Central (National) gov’t creates local units of gov’t.

Most gov’ts are Unitary: Great Britain Parliament holds central power w/ local gov’ts to relieve Parliament’s burden.

Federal Government Powers are divided between central gov’t and local gov’ts. United States National Gov’t has certain powers, and the 50

states have their own. Division of powers is outlined in the Constitution. The

Constitution stands above both levels of government. Confederate Government

An alliance of independent states. Power to handle only those matters that members states have

assigned to it. Allows for several states to cooperate in matters of common

concern and retain their separate identities. Closest one today is the European Union (EU).

2. Geographic Distribution of Power

Gov’t can be classified by the relation between lawmaking and executive agencies; Two basic forms:

Presidential Government Separation of Powers between the executive and the legislative

branches. Two branches are independent and coequal (equal w/ each other). President is chosen by the people independent of the legislature. United States

Parliamentary Government Executive Branch is made up of prime minister or premier, and a

cabinet; Prime Minister and cabinet are also members of the legislative branch, parliament.

Prime Minister and Cabinet stay in power as long as they have support from Parliament. “Vote of No Confidence” If Parliament no longer agrees w/

Executives they form a new government w/ new leaders. PM & Parliament less likely to be deadlocked than Presidential.

Majority of governments in world are parliamentary.

3. Legislative and Executive Branches

1. What are the fundamental ideas of a democracy?2. How is a republic different than a democracy?3. What’s the difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy?4. How is power distributed in a presidential government?5. How is power distributed in a parliamentary government?6. Which system seems to give the most power to the legislative branch?

Review

1. Gov’t rules by consent of the people. Decision are made by Majority Rule.

2. In a republic, the sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, and the will of the people is carried out by representatives elected by voters. The people do not rule directly.

3. Autocracy = Power to rule is held by one person. Oligarchy = Power to rule by a small group of people.

4. President and members of Congress are chose separately and are independent. President has powers that aren’t under control of legislature.

5. Prime Minister and the cabinet belong to the legislative branch. PM is under direct control by legislature.

6. Parliamentary system to give more power to the legislative branch.