Autocratic, Oligarchic, Autocratic, Oligarchic, and Democratic and Democratic GovernmentsGovernments

3 Ways Governments 3 Ways Governments Determine Citizen Determine Citizen

Participation in GovernmentParticipation in Government

Autocratic GovernmentsAutocratic Governments

Government in which Government in which one personone person possesses possesses unlimited powerunlimited power and the and the citizencitizen has has little if any rolelittle if any role in the in the government.government.

Can not participate in elections or Can not participate in elections or selecting the rulerselecting the ruler

Rulers are dictators Rulers are dictators

Examples of Autocratic Examples of Autocratic governmentsgovernments

Cuba, North Korea, Iraq under Cuba, North Korea, Iraq under Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein

Oligarchic GovernmentOligarchic Government

Government by a few, sometimes a Government by a few, sometimes a government in which a government in which a small groupsmall group exercises control often for exercises control often for corrupt corrupt andand selfish purposesselfish purposes. The . The citizen has citizen has a very limited role.a very limited role.

Ruler is elected from a group of Ruler is elected from a group of wealthy, landowners, or people who wealthy, landowners, or people who have the military supporthave the military support

Examples of Oligarchic Examples of Oligarchic governmentsgovernments

Iran-theocracy-small religious group Iran-theocracy-small religious group rulesrules

Certain African countries Certain African countries

Democratic GovernmentsDemocratic Governments

Government by the people in which Government by the people in which the supreme power is held by the the supreme power is held by the people and exercised directly or people and exercised directly or indirectly through a system of indirectly through a system of representation usually involving representation usually involving periodically held FREE elections. periodically held FREE elections.

““Democracy is of the people, for the Democracy is of the people, for the people and by the people.” people and by the people.”

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln

Characteristics of Characteristics of DemocracyDemocracy

Sovereignty of the peopleSovereignty of the people Government based upon consent of Government based upon consent of

the governedthe governed Majority rule but minority has rightsMajority rule but minority has rights Guarantee of basic human rightsGuarantee of basic human rights Free and fair electionsFree and fair elections Equality before the lawEquality before the law Due process of lawDue process of law Constitutional limits on governmentConstitutional limits on government

Two Types of DemocracyTwo Types of Democracy

1. 1. PresidentialPresidential: A system of : A system of government in which the president is government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the constitutionally independent of the legislature.legislature.

** The president is elected by the ** The president is elected by the people of the country and not the people of the country and not the legislature legislature

Two Types of DemocracyTwo Types of Democracy

2. 2. ParliamentaryParliamentary: A system of : A system of government where the elected government where the elected representatives choose the leader of representatives choose the leader of the country instead of the people. the country instead of the people. The leader (sometimes called the The leader (sometimes called the prime minister) answers to the prime minister) answers to the legislature.legislature.

•Prime Minster –leader, heads Parliament, the law making body

•Parliament selects Prime Minister

•Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament

•May have a head of state with little power – King or Queen

Citizens elect lawmakers

Leader heads the military & runs the government

•Legislature-lawmaking body

•President-Leader

•President is elected

•Legislature and President serve for a fixed amount of time

•President does not make the laws

•President is the head of state and chief executive

Parliamentary System Presidential System