This document discusses different forms of government and how power and authority are organized through government. It describes monarchy, dictatorship, oligarchy, theocracy, and democracy as different systems of government. It also discusses the US system of checks and balances and individual responsibilities and ways for citizens to engage in democracy.

1. CHAPTER 7
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The delegation of power is authority,authority, and its
organization can be found in government:government:
• Monarchy:Monarchy:
a system of
government in
which a single
person (a king
or queen) rules
by inherited
power
England’s government under Henry VIII
was an absolute monarchy.

3. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The delegation of power is authority,authority, and its
organization can be found in government:government:
• Dictatorship:Dictatorship:
a system of
government in which
one person has
absolute authority,
including complete
domination of the
citizens’ lives
The government of Iraq under Saddam
Hussein was a dictatorship.
(Continued)

4. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The delegation of power is authority,authority, and its
organization can be found in government:government:
• Oligarchy:Oligarchy:
a system of
government in
which a small
group of people
exercises total
control The South African Parliament during the years of
Apartheid was a form of oligarchy.
(Continued)

5. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The delegation of power is authority,authority, and its
organization can be found in government:government:
• Theocracy:Theocracy:
a system of
government in which
a religion establishes
the principles of laws
and religious leaders
interpret and enforce
those laws
The former Taliban government in
Afghanistan was a theocracy.
(Continued)

6. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The delegation of power is authority,authority, and its
organization can be found in government:government:
• Democracy:Democracy:
a system of
government in
which the will of
the majority rules
and citizens
choose
representatives in
free elections
The United States government is a
democracy.
(Continued)

7. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The democratic principle of a “free”
government began in pre-Christian Greece and
Rome.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that
the democratic Greek “city-state” was the
natural form of government.
The term “veto,” which means “I forbid” in Latin, came
from the Senate of the Roman Republic.

8. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The American colonies formed a democracy
when they proclaimed their independence from
England and organized as a nation.
(Continued)
The Signing of the Constitution by Howard
Chandler Christy, 1940
The Declaration of Independence by John
Trumbull, 1824

9. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The U.S. Constitution provides a blueprint for a
government that consists of three branches,
with power balanced between them.
(Continued)

10. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
A system of checks and balanceschecks and balances keeps one
branch of the government from becoming too
powerful.
(Continued)
• The president can vetoveto a law
drafted by Congress.
• Congress can override a
veto with a two-thirds
majority vote.
• The Supreme court can
declare a law
unconstitutional.

11. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The Constitution is read, interpreted, and
sometimes changed to adapt to shifting needs.
• There are 27 constitutional
amendments.amendments.
• An amendment is proposed by
1) two thirds of both houses
2) a national convention
• The first ten amendments are
called the Bill of Rights.Bill of Rights.

12. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The U.S. struggles to keep a balance between
individual freedom and general order.
(Continued)
“This sweeping legislation must be fixed
if Americans are to preserve our basic
freedoms and protect ourselves from
broad government searches of our
personal records and information.”
--American Civil Liberties Union Website
“There’s a thin line between increasing the
powers of our federal government and
maintaining Americans’ and Montanans’
civil liberties. I believe the bill we passed
today balances the needs of protecting our
rights as citizens of this great country.”
--Senator Max Baucus
(D-MT),
October 25, 2001
The USA Patriot Act is one of the most controversial
laws passed in recent history.

13. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Political views vary in extremes and moderation.
(Continued)
The Political Spectrum

14. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Political corruption is one reason for voter
cynicism and nonparticipation.
(Continued)
President Richard M. Nixon
resigns from office in the wake
of the Watergate Scandal,
1974
Colonel Oliver North testifies
at the Iran-Contra hearings,
1987
President Bill Clinton
testifies before the grand
jury about his
relationship with White
House intern Monica
Lewinsky, 1998

15. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
An American citizen has several responsibilities:
Voting
Income Tax
Jury Duty
Selective Service
(males only)

16. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance
Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
There are many other ways that citizens can
engage in democracy.
(Continued)
• Attend meetings to gain information, discuss
issues, or lend support.
• Sign a petition.
• Write letters to elected representatives.
• Campaign for a candidate; lobby for laws
• Demonstrate through marches, sit-ins,
boycotts, or other forms of protest.

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THE ENDTHE END
Practice the skills you learned in this chapter by taking
the Chapter Review QuizChapter Review Quiz or the GED Practice QuizGED Practice Quiz.
CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance