Who Rules?

Brazil

Brazil is led by a president who is elected by the citizens. Citizens in Brazil elect a new president every four years. Citizens also elect representatives to serve in two different legislative bodies.

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

• Dictatorship

• Absolute monarchy

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is led by a king. The king appoints a Council of Ministers to help govern, but there are no elections. Saudi Arabia's basic law states that the country's constitution is the Islamic holy book the Qur'an and other religious traditions. Choose two!

• Direct Democracy

• Constitutional Monarchy

• Theocracy

• Absolute Monarchy

Denmark

The people of Denmark elect representatives to sit in Parliament, a lawmaking body. The Queen of Denmark heads the country, but she only has a small role in government. The government is led by a Prime Minister, who is appointed from among the elected representatives. 

• Oligarchy

• Constitutional Monarchy

• Dictatorship

• Absolute Monarchy

North Korea

One man leads North Korea and controls its government. He also controls its ruling political party. The ruling party chooses candidates for an Assembly, and citizens vote. The candidates do not have opponents, so citizens have no choices.

• Representative Democracy

• Oligarchy

• Dictatorship

• Theocracy

Switzerland

Citizens elect representatives to sit in two different lawmaking assemblies. But citizens also vote several times a year to decide on laws. Citizens can vote to propose their own laws or undo laws passed by their representatives. All citizens may vote directly on these laws.  Choose two!

• Direct Democracy

• Monarchy

• Theocracy

• Representative Democracy

South Africa

From 1948–1994, official policy in South Africa gave white people all the political power. Even though the majority of South Africans were Black, non-whites could not influence government. White South Africans elected representatives to sit in a lawmaking body. Choose two!

• Oligarchy

• Theocracy

• Representative Democracy

• Dictatorship