basic types of government

Types of Government Seventh Grade History

Government The person or persons authorized to administer the laws Things related to government are described using the word political

The types of governments are based on one key question Who governs the state?

There are three different types of governements Autocracy Oligarchy Democracy

Autocracy Government in which the power to govern is held by one person Generally the power to rule is inherited, or by military force

There are three types of Autocracy Totalitarian Dictatorship Absolute Monarchy Constitutional Monarch

Totalitarian Dictatorship The government seeks to control all aspects of social and economic life An example would be Adolf Hitler in Germany, and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union

Absolute Monarchy King, queen or emperor control government The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members The King of Saudi Arabia is an example this form of government

Absolute Monarchs often relied on the philosophy of Divine Right The idea that a ruler was appointed by God and the right to rule people was inherited, in the blood itself passed down by natural reproduction from father to son, daughter.... These are called dynasties

Some autocratic nations are also theocratic A theocracy is a government where the political leader is also the spiritual leader or the spiritual leader is given political power. Examples are present day Iran or Ancient Egyptian Pharaophs

Constitutional Monarch Kings, queens or emperors share power with elected legislatures Generally Kings are nothing more than figureheads Examples would be Japan and Great Britain

Oligarchy Small group of people hold power The group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status Examples would be China. Usually these governments claim to rule for the people. May hold elections, but offer only one candidate, or control elections Usually suppress political opposition

Democracy Rule is by the people “Self-government”

Principal of Popular Sovereignty The legitimacy of government rests in the consent of the people governed This idea is written in the Declaration of Independence “...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...”

There are two forms of democracy Direct or “Pure” Democracy People vote on all issues Exists in small societies where citizens can regularly meet and discuss issues Examples of this: Ancient Greece; Native Americans; early New England; the Mayflower Compact

Representative Democracy (AKA Republic, Constitutional Republic) People elect representatives and give the them the power to vote on issues

Characteristics of Democracies
Works to develop individual freedoms and equality
Based on majority rule
Free elections must be held
Everyone's vote carries equal weight

In Democratic Elections All candidates can express their views freely Citizens are free to help candidates Legal requirements to vote are kept to a minimum Citizens vote by secret ballot

Types of Actual Governments Can you identify the type? Muhammad Russian Czars Roman Caesars Prime Ministers Charlemagne (crowned by the Pope as the Holy Roman Emperor) Presidents

basic types of government

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