Forms of Government

Objective 1.08

Absolute Monarchy

A government who is ruled by a queen or king who is not limited by any lawsDivine right,

absolute power

Absolute Monarchies

Louis XIV, FrancePeter the Great,

Russia

AnarchyA government

where no authority exists.Or simply: NO GOVERNMENT

Anarchy?“That government

is best which governs not at all.”Henry David

Thoreau

AristocracyA government in

where the power rests with the upper class

Aristocracies Pre-revolution

FranceAlmost every

European nation until mid-1850’s-ish

DemocracyPeople rule by

voting or voicing their opinionsDirect,

representative

Not REALLY the best way

Democracies

Ancient Athens (direct)

U.S. (representative)

DictatorshipWhen the ruling

party has no restrictions.Their word is law.Military

DictatorshipsNazi GermanyItaly under

MussoliniSpain under

FrancoIraq under

Hussein

Limited/Constitutional Monarchy

A queen or king must behave according to certain laws and usually shares power with other branches of government

Limited monarchiesJapanUnited Kingdom

OligarchyWhen

government is in the hands of a small group of people who make all the laws and decisions Sparta’s Council of

Elders

RepublicWhere people elect representatives to

vote on matters for themAncient Rome (pre-Caesar)

TheocracyGovernment

based on religion

Theocracies

Vatican CityIran

Totalitarianism The state is more

important than the individual.

Almost every aspect of society is controlled.

Totalitarian regimesU.S.S.R. (Soviet Union)North Korea