Government

UnitaryWays Government Distributes Power

Power is held by one central authority.

Unitary System

• The national government has most of the power. Lower levels of government are given power by the national government and usually administer national policies on a local level. The power given to the lower levels of government can be changed or taken away without permission or notice.

Central Authority

UnitaryWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Federal (Federation)Ways Government Distributes PowerPower is divided between one central

and several regional authorities.

Federal System

• Most of the power lies with the national government, but states/provinces have protected powers that are independent of the national government and cannot be changed or abolished.

Federation / FederalWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Central Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

ConfederationWays Government Distributes Power

• Voluntary association of independent states that often only delegate a few powers to the central authority.• Secure some common purpose.• Agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action.• States retain considerable independence.• Less binding than a federation.

Confederation

• A system in which nations or states agree to join together under a central government, to which they have granted certain powers. Membership in a confederation is voluntary and benefits all members.

Central Authority

ConfederationWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Ways Government Distributes Power

FederalUnitary Confederation

All key powers are held by the

central government

State/regional authorities

hold most of the power

Strong central government

Weaker central government

Citizen Participation

• Autocratic (Ruled by one)-a system in which people have virtually no say in the government and personal freedoms are severely limited. Some dictators start off as democratically elected leaders who morph into dictators.

Citizen Participation

• Oligarchic (Ruled by a powerful few)-A form of government in which political power is in the hands of a small, elite segment of society.

• Democratic (Ruled by people)-A form of government in which the power to govern is given by the people to the chosen leaders in free elections at all levels.

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

DemocracyOligarchicAutocratic

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High Participation High Participation

Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation

Parliamentary DemocracyA system of government having the real

executive power vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature

who are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature.

May have a Prime Minister elected by the legislature.

Presidential DemocracyA system of government in which the

president is constitutionally independent of the legislature.

The executive branch exists separately from the legislature (to which it is

generally not accountable).