EQ: What are the different types of government and who has ...

EQ: What are the different types of government and who has power in each?

DATE TITLE PAGE 1/12 TYPES OF GOVERNMENT 2

Power •  Power is the ability to coerce

someone to do what you want •  Legislative power: the power to make

laws •  Executive power: the power to execute,

enforce, and administer the law •  Judicial power: to interpret laws, to

determine their meaning and settle disputes


Autocracy •  Unlimited power is vested in one

person •  Absolute Monarchy

– Hereditary position – Ex. Louis XIV, Saudi Arabia

•  Dictatorship – Assume power through force or

persuasion – Ex. Kim Jong-il of North Korea


Oligarchy •  Power is vested in the hands of a few,

usually elites •  In most cases, power passed down through

heredity and/or elitist characteristic to preserve influence and power

•  Plutocracy or Aristocracy is rule by the wealthy

•  Examples: –  Sparta –  Apartheid South Africa


Theocracy

•  Power is assumed by religious leaders who establish laws and limits based on religious decree

•  Examples: – Massachusetts Bay Colony –  Islamist Republic of Iran

•  The Ayatollah – Holy See/Vatican City

•  The Pope


Totalitarianism •  Government assumes all power

and controls all aspects of society •  The state may fall under the control

of a single dictator, political party, or group of elites

•  Examples: – Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Italy


Democracy •  Rule by many, rule of the people

– Citizens participate in the political process and determine public policy


Democracy •  Direct Democracy

– All citizens determine public policy •  Representative Democracy

– Citizens elect representatives to determine public policy

– Republic • People reserve the ultimate authority • Government leaders answer to

electorate • Government limited by constitution

and/or popular sovereignty


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