Types of Government

Because sometimes, making decisions as a group can be hard!

Why govern?

Because without it, this is how decisions would be made:

Role of government

1.Create laws2.Enforce the laws3.Protect the rights of the people, from foreign threats, and domestic threats

How do we judge governments?

Fair? Are all voices being given an equal value? Are certain people’s interests placed above the rest?

Representative? Are all voices being heard? Is anyone being excluded?

Efficient? Can decisions be made quickly in times of crisis? Do laws/decisions take years and years to pass?

Responsive? Can things be changed once a decision has been made? Can evil people be removed?

Not everyone has the same answer

Unlimited governments-The person/people in power

have absolute powerThe people being governed

have little voice

Limited governments-The person/people in power have little absolute powerThe people being governed have a major voice in the

government and control over its decisions

•Have no constitution or laws limiting government power 

•Rule through fear•Have total control over citizens

• Have a constitution•People have a say in making rules

and laws•People do not fear the

government•Some level of trust in the

government system

Direct Democracy

government authority is based on the will of the people, constitution limits power

All people vote on the issues directly (majority rules)

Representative Democracy

government authority is based on the will of the people

people elect representatives to make the decisions and pass laws for their country (everyone gets to vote to elect, constitutional limits)

Dictatorship

Single person rules through various oppressive means

Have absolute power and do not take into consideration what the people want

Monarchy

One person rules with absolute authority through inheritance

Person justifies power through “Divine right to rule”, retains power with similar strategy as dictators

Constitutional Monarchy*

King or queen is just a figurehead

For all other purposes, they are a representative democracy

Theocracy

Religion is used to determine laws of the society

Religious leader is given almost complete power over society but must rule within laws of the religion

Republic

Usually occurs after a monarch or dictator has been overthrown

People elect a figure to perform the same duties

That leader still has a majority of power, but they were elected!

Analysis: Place all 7 forms of government (including const.

monarchy) on to the spectrum based on their characteristics and

how they would look in practice with the Do First activity.

Argue: According to the four ways we judge a government, which type of government do

you think would be the most effective for choosing the music for our class? You must

describe your choice in terms of unlimited or limited, and justify your choice using at

least three pieces of evidence.