Government: Its meaning and types

Unit I (a)
PLB-152
Modern Government:
Concept, Organization and Classification
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State
Territory Population Government Sovereignty
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State and Government
- Government is an important and defining element of the State, but the both strictly differ with
each others
- Every state is almost similar in their essence, composition, and ends & objectives.
- But the government differs with each others at various points:
• Organization of government
• Methods and modes of selecting those who govern
• The power and authority of rulers
• Aims and Objectives of the government.
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Definition
- A political system by which a State administrated and regulated.
- A system or an institution made of a group of people who takes care or manages a State.
• A group of people who govern.
• A particular system of using authority
• The process
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Functions of Government
There are three primary functions of government in society
• Legislature: the law making activities
• Executive: Law enforcement activities
• Judiciary: to protect rule of law and ensure supremacy of law.
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Classification of Government
- Generally, the classification of government takes place on the basis of the number of people
who govern.
- Traditional thinkers divided government in types:
• Monarchy: The rule of a single monarch
• Aristocracy: The rule of few
• Democracy: The rule of many
- Other kinds governments:
• Dictatorship
• Oligarchy
• Theocracy
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Monarchy
- The supreme authority vested in a single person; Monarch.
- Monarch is known by different names in different societies,
such as King, emperor, czar, etc.
- Monarch deicides each and every aspect of the state affairs.
- Supreme.
- The authority passed through the hereditary successions.
- Roman Empire, Mughal empire, Saudi Arabia, British Empire
a) Absolute Monarchy
b) Limited Monarchy
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a) Absolute Monarchy
- Monarch is the head of state, sovereign and bound to no one.
- Their (he/she) will is the law of the state.
- Luis XIV “I am the State.”
- They have no legal obligation or limitation.
- Empire of Rome, France, Russia, Hungry, Australia, etc.
b) Limited Monarchy
- The authority of monarchy is limited by a set of written and
unwritten rules
- These rules defines the degree of power the monarch can enjoy
- Because of the limits on monarch’s affairs through laws, it is also
called as constitutional monarchy.
- All the surviving monarchies of today are limited monarchies.
British monarchy is the most suitable example. @fslmahmood

Aristocracy
- A rule of a small group of people, unlike of a single person in
monarchy.
- Greek word Aristokratia (The rule of best)
- Greek philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, supported it
as a best form of government.
- They were anti-democrats, blaming democracy for political
corruption and degrading society.
“Aristocracy is the best form of government in which some
particular class plays dominant role in state affairs.” Prof Jellinek
- The rulers come from the nobility.
- They enjoy exclusive rights and privileges, different from
masses.
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Democracy
- Rule of many/all.
- Greek word dēmokratiā: dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule.
- A government, in which everyone has share. (Professor Seeley)
- Government of the people for the people and by the people. (A. Lincoln)
- Power belongs to the people directly or indirectly through representatives.
a) Direct Democracy
b) Indirect Democracy
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a) Direct Democracy
- Pure democracy
- People participate directly in state affairs.
- Laws and policies formulated directly by people in referendums and assemblies.
- Impractical in the modern states of large population and big land area.
- Switzerland runs through the direct democracy.
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An Assembly in Switzerland, 2006. @fslmahmood

b) Indirect Democracy
- It works through the representatives of people.
- Representatives elected through periodic free and fair elections.
- Eligible citizens vote to elect their representatives.
- This is the most prevalent form of government around world. India,
United states are the examples of this.
- Representatives make laws for citizens to abide by.
- Ruling class is few in numbers, but the power flows through the
people.
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Dictatorship
- A single person rules entire state.
- Acquired through use of force
- Dictators use false propaganda to maintain public support.
- They also use charisma over people to gain popular support.
- Dictator is the only one who dictates the laws of the state.
- No political process or democratic activities involved to elect rulers.
- No constitutional limitation to the power of Dictator
- No rule of law, no civil rights and liberties of people.
- Example: Hitler-Germany, Mussolini-Italy, Stalin-Soviet Union
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Oligarchy
- Rule of few in generic way
- A small group exercise power for corrupt and selfish purpose.
- Rulers belong to the elite class – Royalty, wealth, Education, corporate, religious and military.
- Rule of the bad – Aristotle
- Example: South Africa during Apartheid
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Theocracy
- Rule of divine
- The ruler regarded as divinely guided.
- Ruler mostly comes from the clergy and priest class
- Religious law as code of conduct in the state.
- Prevalent in the medieval period
- Vatican city, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc.
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State
Territory Population Government
Rule of one
Monarchy Dictatorship
Rule of few
Oligarchy Aristocracy
Rule of
many/all
Direct
Democracy
Indirect
democracy
Rule of divine
Theocracy
Sovereignty

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