Government

Identify the different types of government and how they are different.

Democracy

• Leaders are usually elected by the people
• Citizens who are eligible to vote have a say in how the government works
• Types of democracy
• Representative- eligible citizens vote for elected officials to represent them
• Direct- everyone has a direct say in government decisions and how he government is run

Republic

• A country that has no monarch
• The head of the country is usually the elected president

Totalitarian

• Country with only one political party
• People are forced to do what the government tells them, and may also be prevented from leaving the country

Monarchy

• Oldest form of government
• Leader is determined through family lines
• Leader is in this position for life
• Often, a monarchy will include a dynasty, a powerful group or family that maintains its power and position over many generations

Combination Government: Democracy and Monarchy

• Constitutional Monarchy
• monarch as head of state, one who represents the people as a traditional symbol of the country

AND

• Elected officials as head of government, those who make laws and official decisions for the country

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Dictatorships/Autocracies

• A single leader has absolute control and unrestricted power
• Opposite of a democracy
• Leader may use force to control the population

Common Type of Dictatorship/Autocracy

• Communism
• The government owns all the property and dominates all aspects of life in a country
• Historically involved with the violent overthrow of capitalism (when businesses are owned by individuals instead of the government)
• Often take away human rights

Anarchy

• No government
• Can happen after a civil war in a country, when a government has been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place
• Anarchists are people who believe that government is a bad thing in that is stops people from organizing their own lives

Capitalist

• free-market country
• people can own their own businesses and property
• People can also buy services for private use, such as healthcare
• Provide their own education, health and welfare services

Communist

• The government owns property such as businesses and farms
• Provides its people’s healthcare, education, and welfare

Oligarchy

• The people are ruled by a powerful few
• Leaders are usually members of wealthy families or the military

Theocracy

• When a nation recognizes a god or a deity as their ruler and the king or leader as that the god’s representative