Forms of Government

Chapter One

Distribution of Power

This section deals with the structure

Not the people

Focus on how the power flows within the government

Unitary Government

Central Government – Controlling Body

Local Government – Administrative Arm

Unitary Government

• Arm

• Arm

• Arm

• Arm

Central Government

Examples

Iraq under Saddam Hussein

Iran

Syria

Confederate Government

Central Government – Weak

Local Government - Strong

Confederate Government

Central Governme

nt

State State State

Examples

Confederate States of America

Switzerland

European Union

Federal Government

Central Government – Shared Power

Local Government – Shared Power

Federal Government

Central

State State State

Decision Making Power

This section deals with the people as leaders.

This is not necessarily the structure

Focus on who holds the power

Totalitarian Government

No outsides forces to limit power

Monarchy

Government headed by a crowned leader

2 Types

Monarchy

Absolute– Saudi Arabia

Constitutional– Great Britain

Oligarchy

A small ruling group in a country

Power based on:– Wealth– Military might– Social position

Oligarchy

Soviet Union

Dictatorship

Autocracy– Ruling by oneself

Not responsible to the people or elected representatives

Omar al-Bashir

Sudan

Power since 1989

Age 67

Isaias Afewerki

Eritrea

Power since 1992

Age 65

Islam Karimov

Uzbekistan

Power since 1991

Age 73

Bashar al-Assad

Syria

Power since 2001

Age 46

Thein Sein

Burma (Mynamar)

Power since 1962

Age 67

Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov

Turkmenistan

Power since 2006

Age 55

Raul Castro

Cuba

Power since 2008

Age 80

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

Equatorial Guinea

Power since 1979

Age 65

Hugo Chavez

Venezuela

Power since 1999

Age

Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwe

Power since 1980

Age 87

Democratic Government

Republic – Form of government where the supreme power rests in the citizens

People hold the power

2 types

Direct Democracy

People make all of the decisions themselves

Indirect Democracy

2 Forms of Leadership

– Presidential

– Parliamentary

Indirect Democracy

Presidential Leadership– Executive and Legislative are separate

Parliamentary Leadership– Executive is part of the Legislative – Leader of the majority party becomes PM

Current Governments

United States Great Britain Spain

Djobuti Iran Liberia