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Governments

Geographers study Governments:

  • Type – Who rules

  • System – How power is distributed

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Government

Government – Is a ruling power in a political society. It has the authority to make laws, resolve disputes, issue administrative decisions, and collect taxes. Responsible for providing security and order and stability.

What would it be like without laws or ways to resolve disputes?

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Basic Types of Government

  • Autocracy

  • Oligarchy (Communist)

  • Democratic

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�Autocracy�

  • Power held by one person
  • Unlimited power
  • Obtained through military force

Two types of autocracy:

  • Dictatorship
  • Absolute Monarchy

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Example of Autocracy

  • Dictatorship:
    • Rule through one person
    • Government seeks to control all aspects of people’s lives (social, economic)
    • Comes to power through ruthless use of police or military force

  • Examples today/in history: Fidel Castro of Cuba, Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Adolf Hitler of Germany

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Example of Autocracy

  • Absolute Monarchy:
    • Rule by one person (king, queen, czar, emperor)
    • ruler has complete and unlimited power
    • Usually inherited or passed down by family

  • Examples in today’s world: Saudi Arabia, Sweden

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Workshop

Find a current example of one of the following

countries: Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Monaco, United Arab Emirates, Chad, or Iran

    • Which form of government is it?
    • What is the economy of the country like?
    • Explain what is the standard of living for the people?
    • What rights or freedoms do the people have?
    • How safe are the people from crime?

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2. Oligarchy - Communism:

  • Power is with a small group
  • Often times, oligarchs say they rule for the good of the people, but most likely they rule for the interest of their small group and not for the good of the people
  • The small group comes to power through their religion, wealth, social status or military power
  • Examples today/history: the Communist party in China, North Korea, USSR

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Workshop

Find a current example of one of the following

countries: China, North Korea, Laos, Vietnam

    • What is the economy of the country like?
    • Explain what is the standard of living for the people?
    • What rights or freedoms do the people have?
    • How safe are the people from crime?

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3. Democracy:

  • Rule is by the people
  • Individual freedom is valued
  • Decision on majority
  • Vote in secret
  • Two types
    • Direct
    • Representative
      • Parliamentary (Canada)
      • Presidential (United States)
      • Constitutional Monarchy (United Kingdom)

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Example of Democracy

  • Direct democracy: the people govern themselves by voting on all of the issues

  • Where would we find this today?

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Example of Democracy

  • Representative Democracy: the people elect representatives and give them the responsibility and power to make laws and run the government
    • Parliamentary
      • citizens elect individuals to represent them (legislation)
      • These individuals then select a leader (Prime Minister)
    • Presidential
      • Citizens elect individuals to represent them (legislation)
      • Citizens elect the leader (President)
    • Constitutional Monarchy
      • Has King with limited power
      • Power is with parliamentary

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select

elect

elect

Parliamentary System

Presidential System

Prime Minister

President

Legislative

Citizens

Legislative

Citizens

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So what’s the difference between a democracy and a republic?

  • A republic is a government in which citizens elect representatives to make laws.

  • Compare with your definition of democracy… different or similar?

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Democracy vs. Republic

  • To most Americans today, the terms representative democracy and republic mean the same thing: a system of government where the people are the ultimate source of the power

  • In fact, we can refer to the United States government as a democratic republic

  • Careful: not all democracies are republics. For example, Great Britain is a democracy (the people elect representatives to Parliament) but it has a constitutional monarch as the head of state

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Purpose of Government

  • Defend
  • Implement laws
  • Maintain peace
  • Collect taxes
  • Provide services (education, health, social, etc)

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Ready for a quiz?

Play

Government

Squares

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1

This form of government is elected by the people and everyone is eligible to vote.

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1

Democracy

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2

A government ruled by a king, queen, emperor or empress.

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2

Monarchy

Home

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3

A country ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been elected and may use force to keep control.

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3

Dictatorship

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4

Government by a single person having unlimited power; despotism (domination through threat of punishment and violence).

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4

Autocracy

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5

The government owns property such as businesses and farms and provides its people's healthcare, education and welfare.

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5

Communism

Home

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6

A situation where there is no government.

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6

Anarchy

Home

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8

A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power.

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8

Oligarchy

Home

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9

A country that has no monarch, but is headed by an elected president or official is a ________.

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9

Republic

Home

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Classwork

  • Using a variety of sources (books, internet, newspapers, and magazines) make a poster about one of these Governments:
  • Monarchy
  • Dictatorship
  • Democracy
  • Republic

1. An icon or symbol that represents that form of government

2. A slogan that could be used to promote that form of government in an ad campaign

3. An explanation of how that form of government meets the needs of citizens

  • a. Who rules in this type of government? How is it decided who should rule?
  • b. Who has no power or say in this type of government? How are they excluded?
  • c. Pros about this form of government, and why you think they are good.
  • d. Cons about this form of government, and why you think they are bad.

4. An example of that form of government from history (the past) and in modern times.