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Types of Government

Seventh Grade History

Government

The person or persons authorized to administer the laws

Things related to government are described using the word political

The types of governments are based on one key question

Who governs the state?

There are three different types of governements

Autocracy

Oligarchy

Democracy

Autocracy

Government in which the power to govern is held by one personGenerally the power to rule is inherited, or by military force

There are three types of Autocracy

Totalitarian DictatorshipAbsolute MonarchyConstitutional Monarch

Totalitarian Dictatorship

The government seeks to control all aspects of social and economic lifeAn example would be Adolf Hitler in Germany, and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union

Absolute Monarchy

King, queen or emperor control government

The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members

The King of Saudi Arabia is an example this form of government

Absolute Monarchs often relied on the philosophy of Divine Right

The idea that a ruler was appointed by God and the right to rule people was inherited, in the blood itself passed down by natural reproduction from father to son, daughter....

These are called dynasties

Some autocratic nations are also theocratic

A theocracy is a government where the political leader is also the spiritual leader or the spiritual leader is given political power.

Examples are present day Iran or Ancient Egyptian Pharaophs

Constitutional Monarch

Kings, queens or emperors share power with elected legislatures

Generally Kings are nothing more than figureheads

Examples would be Japan and Great Britain

Oligarchy

Small group of people hold power

The group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status

Examples would be China.

Usually these governments claim to rule for the people.

May hold elections, but offer only one candidate, or control electionsUsually suppress political opposition

Democracy

Rule is by the people

Self-government

Principal of Popular Sovereignty

The legitimacy of government rests in the consent of the people governed

This idea is written in the Declaration of Independence

...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

There are two forms of democracy

Direct or Pure Democracy

People vote on all issues

Exists in small societies where citizens can regularly meet and discuss issues

Examples of this: Ancient Greece; Native Americans; early New England; the Mayflower Compact

Representative Democracy (AKA Republic, Constitutional Republic)

People elect representatives and give the them the power to vote on issues

Characteristics of Democracies

Works to develop individual freedoms and equality

Based on majority rule

Free elections must be held

Everyone's vote carries equal weight

In Democratic Elections

All candidates can express their views freely

Citizens are free to help candidates Legal requirements to vote are kept to a minimum Citizens vote by secret ballot

Types of Actual Governments
Can you identify the type?

MuhammadRussian CzarsRoman CaesarsPrime MinistersCharlemagne (crowned by the Pope as the Holy Roman Emperor)Presidents