Forms of Government
Chapter One
Distribution of Power
This section deals with the structure
Not the people
Focus on how the power flows within the government
Unitary Government
Central Government – Controlling Body
Local Government – Administrative Arm
Unitary Government
• Arm
• Arm
• Arm
• Arm
Central Government
Examples
Iraq under Saddam Hussein
Iran
Syria
Confederate Government
Central Government – Weak
Local Government - Strong
Confederate Government
Central Governme
nt
State State State
Examples
Confederate States of America
Switzerland
European Union
Federal Government
Central Government – Shared Power
Local Government – Shared Power
Federal Government
Central
State State State
Decision Making Power
This section deals with the people as leaders.
This is not necessarily the structure
Focus on who holds the power
Totalitarian Government
No outsides forces to limit power
Monarchy
Government headed by a crowned leader
2 Types
Monarchy
Absolute– Saudi Arabia
Constitutional– Great Britain
Oligarchy
A small ruling group in a country
Power based on:– Wealth– Military might– Social position
Oligarchy
Soviet Union
Dictatorship
Autocracy– Ruling by oneself
Not responsible to the people or elected representatives
Omar al-Bashir
Sudan
Power since 1989
Age 67
Isaias Afewerki
Eritrea
Power since 1992
Age 65
Islam Karimov
Uzbekistan
Power since 1991
Age 73
Bashar al-Assad
Syria
Power since 2001
Age 46
Thein Sein
Burma (Mynamar)
Power since 1962
Age 67
Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov
Turkmenistan
Power since 2006
Age 55
Raul Castro
Cuba
Power since 2008
Age 80
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Equatorial Guinea
Power since 1979
Age 65
Hugo Chavez
Venezuela
Power since 1999
Age
Robert Mugabe
Zimbabwe
Power since 1980
Age 87
Democratic Government
Republic – Form of government where the supreme power rests in the citizens
People hold the power
2 types
Direct Democracy
People make all of the decisions themselves
Indirect Democracy
2 Forms of Leadership
– Presidential
– Parliamentary
Indirect Democracy
Presidential Leadership– Executive and Legislative are separate
Parliamentary Leadership– Executive is part of the Legislative – Leader of the majority party becomes PM
Current Governments
United States Great Britain Spain
Djobuti Iran Liberia