Forms of Government

Forms of Government

Persons exercising powers:• Monarchy• Aristocracy• Democracy

Powers exercise by the nat’l or central gov’t• Unitary gov’t• Federal gov’t

Relationship of the exec. & legis. branch• Parliamentar

y gov’t• Presidential

gov’t

BASED NUMBER OF PERSONS EXERCISING POWERS

MonarchyOne in which the supreme and final

authority is in the hands of a single person without regard to the source of his election or the nature or duration of his tenure.

Monarchy

Absolute monarchyOne in which the ruler rules by divine right

The monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government

Limited monarchyOne in which the ruler rules in accordance with a constitution

A form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state

Example Monarch CountriesAbsolute Monarchy

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Brunei Darussalam

Limited Monarchy

United KingdomThe NetherlandsSpain

Aristocracy- One in which political power is

exercised by a few privileged class- A state characterized by the rule

of nobility, elite, or privileged upper class

Democracy• One in which the political

power is exercised by a majority of the people.

• “…government of the people, by the people, for the people…,”

Abraham Lincoln

Subtypes of DemocracyDi

rect

or P

ure

• One in which the will of the state is formulated or expressed directly through the people in a mass meeting or primary assembly

Indi

rect

or

Repu

blica

n • The people choose their representatives to govern them in public affairs

BASED ON POWERS EXERCISED BY THE CENTRAL OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT:

Unitary government

Unitary government

The control of the national and local affairs is exercised by the central or national government.

Federal Government

Federal Government

The powers of government are divided between the national affairs and the local government, each supreme within its own sphere.

Unitary Federal

Examples: China, United Kingdom (although Scotland has been

granted self-rule).

The United States, Australia, the Federal Republic of Germany.

BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES

Parliamentary government

Parliamentary government

The legislature chooses the head of the government, which is part of the legislature and under its control.

Presidential government

Presidential government

Based on the principle of separation of powers among the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. The President is directly elected by the people

Parliamentary Government

Presidential Government

State of BrazilBrazil is a constitutional republic of 26 states and one federal

district. Each state has its own governments, with powers in all matters not specifically reserved for the Union.

The executive power is vested in the same head of the state and government, directly elected with non-renewable 5-year term and limited authority. He is assisted by his cabinet members.

Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral National Congress, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Congress has the power to rule in all matters that are under the jurisdiction of the union. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of representatives of the states and elected every four years by direct universal suffrage and secret ballot in proportion to the population of each state. On the other hand, the Senate is formed by representatives of the states, who shall serve for a term of eight years.

The 26 states have autonomous laws and constitutions within the provisions of the constitution.

Thank you!