Section 1.1: Different Types of Government

Section 1.1: Different Forms of Government

Government: Institution where leaders exercise power to make/enforce laws affecting the people under its control.

Goal: Prevent "Anarchy"
(State w/o Govt. or Laws).

​

What is a government?
Why would you want one?

A system with one level of govt.
(Strong Central Govt.)

​​Unitary System

A ​Loose Union of Independent States.
(Failed Twice in the USA)
(Weak Central Govt.)

​​Confederacy

Two Levels of Govt. w/ Shared Power.
(Most Democracies & the USA)

​​Federal System

Match

Match the following government systems to the correct definitions:

• Unitary System

• Confederacy

• Federal System

One Level of Govt.

Loose Union of Independent States

Two Levels of Govt. Share Power

• One Level of Govt.

• Loose Union of Independent States

• Two Levels of Govt. Share Power

Definition: Any written set of rules/laws for a govt.

Most Democracies in the world have a written constitution.
Ex: USA -> US Constitution​

​What is a Constitution?

Definition: Any country/govt. that must follow a written set of rules.
(Country w/ a Constitution)

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​Limited Government

Multiple Choice

A "Limited Government" means that the people of the country must follow a written set of rules known as a "Constitution".

• True

• False

One Leader.
(King, Dictator, etc.)

​​Monarchy

Small Group
(Aristocracy or Plutocracy)

​​Oligarchy

Rule by Many
(Direct or Indirect)

​​Democracy

Match

Match the following types of government based on the number of people who participate in the government:

• Monarchy

• Oligarchy

• Democracy

Rule by One

Rule by a Few

Rule by Many

• Rule by One

• Rule by a Few

• Rule by Many

The government controls all aspects of citizens' lives (Dictatorship).

Total Control over Social/Political/Economic Features.
(+50 Nations in the World Today)

​

Authoritarian Government

​https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/dictatorship-countries

Definition: Govt. that gives its people Social/Economic/Political Freedom.



Greek Origin:
Dêmos (People) + Krátos (Power)

​What is a "Democracy"?

Citizens vote directly on all laws/issues

Only possible in small settings
(Ex: Ancient Greece)

​​Direct Democracy

Citizens elect Representatives who vote on all laws/issues

Most Efficient/Popular Form

(Ex: Ancient Rome, USA, etc.)

Republic

Dropdown

If citizens vote directly on laws, it is considered to be a ​

Select answer

; however, this is usually only found in small settings. The first country to develop this form of democracy was

Select answer

. Most democracies today vote on representatives who make laws/policies for them. This is known as a ​

Select answer

. The first large-scale empire with this model was ​

Select answer

.

Many countries are democracies in name only. They simply don't meet the basic requirements.

Ex: North Korea -> Totalitarian Dictatorship

​

​The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Multiple Choice

If a country has "Democratic" in its name, then it must meet all the requirements of a true democracy.

• True

• False

Key Features of a Democracy

​-Citizen Participation: Duty to be informed Voters.
-Regular and Free Elections: People are Eligible to Vote.
-Rule of Law: Everyone Must Follow the Law. (Held Accountable)
-Majority Rule w/ Minority Rights: Protect Small Groups.
-Limited Government: The government is NOT all-powerful.
-Economic Freedom: Govt. allows Private Ownership.