Name:________________________ Date: ______________ Ntbk #: _____

Study Guide Political Developments of Europe

DIRECTIONS: Use your notebook to fill help you fill in the following study guide.

I. Correctly label the acronyms that we have been using for types & systems of government:A. S - Systems T - Types

C - Confederation O - OligarchyU - Unitary A - AutocracyF - Federal D – Democracy

II. Types of GovernmentA. Define Autocracy – Only one person has all the power in making decisions for all of the

people.

B. Define the 2 forms of Autocracy and name an example for each:1. Dictatorship – Rule by a dictator.

a. Example – Germany’s Hitler, U.S.S.R.’s Stalin

2. Absolute Monarchy – One king in power with complete control.a. Example – France’s King Louis XVI, Spain’s King Ferdinand

C. Define Oligarchy – A small group. Only a few people in a small group of royalty, wealth, family, or military influence make political decisions for the country’s people.

D. Define the 1 form of oligarchy and name the examples:1. Communism – A small group controls all the economic resources and government.

a. Examples – former Soviet Union, Cuba, and China

E. Define Democracy – The citizens have a say in their government by voting in elections.

F. Define Republic – The people elect leaders to represent them in the government. Most democracies today are republics.

G. Describe a Presidential Democracy and list an example: A government in which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches are separate. The citizens vote for the leader of the country (the President), who serves in the executive branch.

a. Example – U.S.A., Russia, Mexico

H. Describe a Parliamentary Democracy and list examples: A government where voters elect representatives to a lawmaking body called parliament. Parliament members then select their leader, usually called prime minister. The citizens DO NOT DIRECTLY ELECT the leader.

a. Examples – United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia

I. Describe a Constitutional Monarchy and list examples: A form of government where a monarch acts as head of state within the guidelines of a constitution.

a. Examples – Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium

III. Systems of Government

Name:________________________ Date: ______________ Ntbk #: _____

A. Define Unitary – A system in which the power is held by one central authority. All power is given to one branch of government.1. Examples of Unitary – France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Former Soviet Union

B. Define Federal – Power is shared by a powerful central government and the state or local governments.1. Examples of Federal – United States, Russian Federation, Germany

C. Define Confederation – A system in which power is shared by an alliance or union of political organizations. Independent states voluntarily work together for some common purpose and agree to certain limits on their freedom of action as a confederation.1. Examples of Confederation – European Union

IV. European UnionA. How many countries are members of the European Union? 28

B. The European Union uses a currency known as what? The Euro

C. List 5 European countries NOT in the EU: Turkey, Switzerland, Russia, Iceland, Norway, etc.

D. All members of the European Union must have what form of government? Democracy

V. Germany, Russia, and the United KingdomGermany Russia United Kingdom

Type ofGovernment

Democracy Presidential Democracy

Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional

Democracy

System ofGovernment

Federal Federal Unitary

Head of State withMOST Power

Chancellor President Prime Minister

Head of State withLEAST Power

President Prime Minster Queen

Citizens participateBy electing…

People elect representatives

(members of parliament) who then elect the Chancellor.

People directly elect the President of Russia

People elect representatives

(Members of Parliament) who then

elect the Prime Minister.

Name:________________________ Date: ______________ Ntbk #: _____