The document discusses the history and forms of government throughout time. It describes the major theories around the origins of government and how they evolved from families and tribes to more complex structures. It then covers the major eras of ancient, classical, medieval, and modern forms of government that developed. Finally, it defines and explains the main categories of government - autocracy, oligarchy, and democracy - providing historical examples of each type.

1. History and Forms of
Government
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2. The Development of Government
• Force Theory – claimed by violence or threat of
violence
• Evolutionary Theory – developed through
families and tribes
• Divine Right Theory – God(s) gave power to
those in charge
• Social Contract Theory – people give up some
of their freedoms to the state for promote the
well being of all
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3. Beginning
• Families or tribes
– one leader
– customs & superstitions
– influenced decisions
• 10,000 yrs. ago established villages
– little government
– provided protection and food
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4. Ancient Times
• -3500 BC small cities w/ services
• rulers usually religious leaders
• -Divine Right - rule came from god
• -Military enforced rules
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5. Greeks
• city-states 1st democracy
• Aristotle & Plato 300 BC
– Rule of Law
• everyone must follow
the law
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6. Romans
• philosopher power
from the people
• Cicero people have
natural rights
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7. Middle Ages
• -700’s feudal system • Gave way to:
w/ lord & vassals • Absolute Monarchy &
• some court customs Constitutional
still used Monarchy (England)
• rule by divine right & • Constitutional Law –
power all men must obey the
– from the church law
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8. Modern Times
• Colonial governments of the 1700’s had
legislatures
• US and French revolution establish
representative democracy
• By 1900’s much of Europe was under
totalitarianism
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9. Forms of Government
• Aristotle classified government by the
number of rulers
• Each category could be
– Virtuous – benefit of all
– Corrupt – benefit of the ruler
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10. Autocracy - ruled by one person
• two types
– Monarchy - hereditary rulers have the power
for life
• Caesar king, queen, czar, or sultan
– Dictatorship – governed with a ruler with
unlimited power
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11. Monarchy
• Before 1900’s
• Mostly Absolute Monarchy - unlimited
power
• Few Constitutional Monarchy – Limited
power by law
• Today most monarchs are ceremonial
– executive power is held by a prime minister
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12. Dictatorship
• Power acquired & maintained through fear
violence and force war, revolution &
assassination
• limit personal freedoms
• depend on military and police
• some gain power legally
• Today many still rule
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13. Oligarchy - Ruled by few people
• Several Types
– Aristocracy
– Theocracy
– Junta
– Authoritarianism
– Totalitarianism
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14. Oligarchy Cont.
• Aristocracy – ruled by a privileged few,
usually with inherited wealth social rank &
ability
– feel they are superior
– idea of equality added to decline
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15. Oligarchy Cont.
• Theocracy – controlled by priests or
priestesses with civil and religious
authority god handed down government
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16. Oligarchy Cont.
• Junta – small group of
military officers take
control of a government
– usually one officer takes
power and it
– turns into a dictatorship
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17. Oligarchy Cont.
• Authoritarianism– power is in the hands
of the party leaders
• legislatures pass without debate party
policies
• rights usually violated
• absolute loyalty
• usually ends up totalitarian a dictatorship
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18. Oligarchy Cont.
• Totalitarianism – • One political party
total government • Lead by dictator
control over political, • demand absolute
economic, cultural loyalty
religious, or social • Can be an autocracy
activities no personal
(dictatorship)
freedom
• Sometimes an
• individual servant of
oligarchy (Junta or
state
Communism)
• terror tactics used by
secret police 18

19. Democracy
• Ruled by many
people
• Two types
– Direct
– Indirect
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20. Direct Democracy
• People make the laws
themselves
– citizens vote on laws
• Initiative
• Referendum
• Recall
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21. Indirect Democracy
• People choose representatives to make laws for
them
– aka. representative demo. or republic
• Elect a set number of reps. to a legislative body
– congress, assembly, parliament, senate, council or
legislature
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22. Geographic Power Distribution
• Unitary – All power held and given by a
Central Government
• Federal – Power is shared by central and
local governments Division of Power
• Confederate - Alliance between
independent states (countries) that has
only the power given to it
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