Forms of Government

Dictatorship - TOTALITARIANISMCHARACTERISTICS DRAWBACKS BENEFITS EXAMPLES

-absolute control by a political party

-leadership by a dictator who has complete power (politically / economically)

(They are usually aggressive and or racist)

-limited individual rights

-Uncertain transition of power

-Usually dependent on support of military

-no freedom of press; no opposition parties

-organized and controlled

-efficient (sometimes ruthless)

-No public protest

-countries belonging to the former Soviet Union, China, Cuba, North Korea

-Germany in the 1930’s-40’s

CHARACTERISTICS DRAWBACKS BENEFITS EXAMPLES

-tells others what to do

-limits discussion on ideas

-leaders can be elected into power, however most are born into if it is a MONARCHY

- is a less extreme form of totalitarianism

-Expensive (Pomp and ceremony)

-Monarchy / leader is removed from everyday experiences

-No criteria (other than birth) for ruling

-stable-controlled-traditional-unifying

CanadaGreat Britain

AUTOCRATIC - Monarchy

CHARACTERISTICS DRAWBACKS BENEFITS EXAMPLES

-decisions are made by the majority -power rests in the body of citizens and the head of government is not a king or queen (monarch)

-Takes more time to make decisions-More costly

-Protects individual rights-Decisions made from input from many sources

-Canada, U.S

DEMOCRACY

CHARACTERISTICS WHEN EFFECTIVE WHEN INEFFECTIVE EXAMPLES

-leadership by the religion

-if all members possess the same understanding of the religion -values / morals and ethics are the same for all members involved

-if religious rules and regulations are interpreted differently among citizens / members-if values / morals and ethics are different for citizens / members

-Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran (1979-1989)

THEOCRATIC – sometimes call oligarchy

CHARACTERISTICS DRAWBACKS BENEFITS EXAMPLES

-Leadership by a small group

-Limited access to power-Limited rights of people-Questionable transition of power

-Stable--controlled-- organized

-military Tibet (Dali Lama)

Oligarchy

CHARACTERISTICS WHEN EFFECTIVE WHEN INEFFECTIVE EXAMPLES

-decisions made by those who are considered to be superior through wealth or education

- when the aristocracy is interested in the welfare of the people

- when the aristocracy becomes self interested in maintaining the “status quo”

- France - Estates System

ARISTOCRACY