This document compares different forms of government around the world. It discusses monarchies, dictatorships, theocracies, single-party states, parliamentary democracies, and presidential democracies. For each system, it provides a definition and examples of modern countries that demonstrate that form of government. It notes that while most countries have some form of government, the main models that exist are rule by a single person, rule by an elite group, and rule by the broader population.

1. Forms of Government2.1

2. Comparing Forms of Government
(Introduction)
 The United Nation is an international organization
that is intended to promote peace and human
rights throughout the world. In 2013, there are
representatives from 193 different countries.
 The governments of these countries are mainly
democracies. A few delegates represent monarchies
and an even smaller number represent dictatorships.
 The Countries of the United Nations have very different
populations, forms of governments and economic
systems.
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3. Forms of Government in Today's World
 With the exception of Antarctica, the landmasses on Earth
are divided into nation-states. Almost all have some form of
functioning government.
These governments fall into three major groups:
1. rule by the one (monarchies and dictatorships)
1. rule by the few (theocracies and single-party states)
1. rule by the many (parliamentary and presidential
democracies).
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4. Monarchy:
a A system of government in which
a single ruler has supreme
power based on heredity or
divine right
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Pros (+) Cons (-)
• Efficient way of carrying out
decisions and policies since
decisions are made by one
person
• Clear line of succession -
Citizens know who is next in
line for the throne
• Loyalty to the monarch holds
the nation together
• Quality of leadership can vary
• Dramatically different from
one generation to the next
• Job of running a modern
nation state has become too
big for any ,but the most
exceptional monarchs to do
well

5. Modern Monarchies
 Today’s monarchs go by many names,
including king, queen, sultan, emperor, and
Amir. Most have inherited their power and
expect to rule for life. But the modern
monarch’s power is rarely as great as in the
days of Louis XIV and other absolute
monarchs
 Most monarchs today face strict legal
restrictions on their power, often imposed by a
constitution.
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6. Modern Monarchies
 A British monarch, for example, has the
formal authority to call elections and
appoint a new prime minister. However,
most jobs are ceremonial. Real power rests
with Great Britain’s democratically elected
leaders.
 In contrast, Saudi Arabia’s king exercises
broad powers. He inherits his position and
has legislative, executive, and judicial
powers. Only Islamic law and Saudi
traditions limit his powers.
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7. Dictatorship:
 A system of government in which a single
person takes and holds power by force. The
leader controls the military and police.
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Pros (+) Cons (-)
• Power is in the hands of a
single military or political
leader who can get things
done efficiently
• Control of the military and
police allows the dictator to
maintain peace and order
• Power can be used to abuse
citizens who oppose the
dictator
• Dictators face serious
legitimacy problems and
citizens may want a new
leader.

8. Modern Dictatorship
 Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire’s longtime
dictator, embezzled over $5 billion
from his country.
2.1
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Red colored countries are
authoritarian, and most often
dictatorships. Most current
dictatorships are in Africa and
Asia.
Examples of 20th century dictators

9. Modern Dictatorship
 Muammar al-Gaddafi, took control
of Libya in a military coup, in 1969.
 A coup is the sudden overthrow of a
government by a small group of
military officers or political leaders.
 In February 2011, growing
discontent led to a wave of protests
in Libya, calling for an end to
Gaddafi's rule. Months later, he was
overthrown.
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Red colored countries are
authoritarian, and most often
dictatorships. Most current
dictatorships are in Africa and
Asia.

10. Theocracy:
A system of government headed by a religious leader.
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Pros (+) Cons (-)
• Single, state-supported
religion encourages political
and social unity
• Political decisions are in line
with the people’s moral
values and beliefs
• Difficult to enforce religious
unity as the country grows
larger
• Religious minorities may not
have power or may be
mistreated
• Religious warfare may break
out

11. Modern Theocracy
 By 2007, only two theocracies existed in the
world: Vatican City and Iran. Vatican City is the
governmental and spiritual center of the
Catholic Church. Although located in the heart
of Rome, Italy, it is an independent state
headed by the Catholic pope.
 Iran changed from a monarchy to a theocracy
in 1979. That year, Iranians expelled their
hereditary ruler and formed an Islamic republic
headed by a religious leader known as the
Ayatollah Khomeini.
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12. Modern Single-Party States
 There are a few single-party states today and they are mainly
socialist republics, in which the Communist Party rules.
 In Vietnam, for example, the Communist Party is the only
legal political party.
 Syria is an example of a non-communist single-party state. It
is controlled by the Ba’ath Party, which supports Arab
nationalism and unity.
 Other single-party countries include: Cuba, China, North
Korea, Laos and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
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13. Single-Party State: Communism
A government in which only one political party is allowed to
rule under the constitution.
Rule by the political elite or leaders of the party who have
more power or wealth then others
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Pros (+) Cons (-)
• Easier to pass laws by
avoiding the political
arguing common in multi-
party states
• The views of the party elite
may differ from the
interests of the people as a
whole, leading to social
unrest
• People with differing
political views are often
shut out of the political
process

14. Modern Single-Party States
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Red color represents past single party countries.

15. Parliamentary Democracy
A system of government in which voters elect lawmakers to
represent them in the nation’s parliament; The leaders of
the executive branch come from the ruling party in
parliament.
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Pros (+) Cons (-)
• members of the legislative majority
usually vote with the prime minister
or chancellor on key issues, making
it easier to get laws passed.
• no clear-cut separation between the
executive and legislative, so
no real check on the prime minister’s
powers
• prime minister can be forced to
resign, leading to an unstable
government

16. Parliamentary and Presidential Forms
of Democratic Governments
Most countries today have adopted one of two forms
of representative democracy:
1. parliamentary democracy
2. presidential democracy.
Both forms use elections to choose national leaders,
but they are different in other ways.
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17. 2.1
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18. Modern Parliamentary
Democracies
 The Bahamas, The United
Kingdom, India, and Australia are
examples of parliamentary
democracies.
 In a parliamentary democracy the
voters elect lawmakers to
represent them in the nation’s
parliament.
 The legislative majority then
selects a member of parliament to
serve as the nation’s prime
minister, or chief executive.
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19. Modern Parliamentary
Democracies
 In a parliamentary democracy, there is no real separation
between the executive and legislative branches of
government.
 Prime ministers remain in power only as long as they have
the support of the parliament.
 If the parliament has a vote of no confidence, the prime
minister must resign.
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20. Presidential Democracy:
A system of government in which voters elect lawmakers to
represent them in the legislature and a president to lead the
government as head of the executive branch.
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Pros (+) Cons (-)
• President may be more
responsive to the public than
to the party
• Separation of executive and
legislative
• Powers allow each branch to
watch over the other to
prevent abuses of power
• Fixed terms of office creates
stability
• No easy way to remove an
unpopular president from
power
• Gridlock may result when a
president is not from the
party that controls the
legislature
• Difficult to remove the
president from office before
their terms end

21. Modern Presidential Democracies
 The U.S. was not formed as a pure democracy, but as a
republic where voters elect representatives and electors.
 Most modern democracies are organized as a representative
republic, where citizens vote in elections with two or more
people who run for office. These people have actual powers to
change current laws in the country and bring about reforms
(either more liberal or more conservative).
 The reason why democracy has succeeded over every other
form of government is because people have a peaceful way of
removing leaders they no longer want.
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22. 2.1
Modern Presidential Democracies
The United States, Russia, and most countries in Latin
America are presidential democracies.
Blue represents Republic governments around the world.

23. 2.1
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