This document discusses different systems of government and how power is divided within them. It describes unitary governments, where all power is centralized, federal governments which divide power between national and regional authorities, and confederations where independent states voluntarily cooperate while maintaining autonomy. Examples are given of different countries that exemplify each system. The document aims to explain how and why governments distribute power politically.

1. SSyysstteemmss ooff
GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt
How is the power divided?
11/13/13

2. QQuueessttiioonnss……
 Systems of government tell us HOW,
if at all, power is divided in a
government.
1. Why would some governments
choose to divide up the power?
2. Why would some governments
choose NOT to divide up the power?

3. WWhhaatt DDoo YYoouu KKnnooww??
 Name the city, county, state, and
country you live in. Beside the name
of each place, what is the leader of
each kind of government is called?
 City –
 County –
 State –
 Country –

4. WWhhaatt DDoo YYoouu KKnnooww??
 City – Buford – Mayor
 County – Gwinnett – County Commissioner
 State – Georgia – Governor
 Country – United States – President
 Why are there different levels in our
government?

5. HHooww ddoo EEuurrooppeeaann ccoouunnttrriieess
ddiissttrriibbuuttee tthheeiirr ppoowweerr wwiitthhiinn
tthheeiirr ggoovveerrnnmmeennttss??

6. WWhhyy DDoo WWee HHaavvee
GGoovveerrnnmmeennttss??
Political systems are organized
ways for creating laws/rules
designed to protect the well-being
of the general public and to help
manage conflict.

7. WWhhyy DDoo WWee HHaavvee
GGoovveerrnnmmeennttss??
They determine the power
structure (who has the power)
within a country.
 In some countries, only one person
or party maintains centralized
control of the government, while
in other countries power is shared
between individuals and factions.

8. WWhhyy DDoo WWee HHaavvee
GGoovveerrnnmmeennttss??
All countries require governments to
function.
Governments provide laws,
structure, public services, and
national defense.
There are different types of
governments:
◦ democracies
◦ republics
◦ monarchies
◦ dictatorships

9. HHooww IIss PPoowweerr SShhaarreedd??
- Federal - Confederation -Unitary
Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008

10. UUnniittaarryy GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt
Unitary – a system in which the power is
held by one central authority
All power is given to the one branch of
government. There is NO division of power.
◦ Examples:
France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain,
Former Soviet Union
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11. UUnniittaarryy GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt
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12. UUnniittaarryy GGoovveerrnnmmeennttss ooff tthhee
WWoorrlldd
((AAllll ccoouunnttrriieess iinn bblluuee))

13. FFeeddeerraall GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt
 Federal– a system in which
the power is divided between
one central, regional, and
local governments
 Examples:
◦ United States
◦ Russian Federation
◦ Germany

14. FFeeddeerraall GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt

15. FFeeddeerraall GGoovveerrnnmmeennttss ooff tthhee
WWoorrlldd
((AAllll ccoouunnttrriieess iinn ggrreeeenn))

16. CCoonnffeeddeerraattiioonn
• Confederation - a system in which power
is shared by an alliance or union of
political organizations
• Independent states voluntarily work
together for some common purpose and
agree to certain limits on their freedom
of action as a confederation.
• Examples:
- European Union & Switzerland

17. CCoonnffeeddeerraattiioonn

18. t Should thhee nnaattiioonnaall ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt,, ssttaattee
ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt,, oorr bbootthh hhaavvee tthheessee
ppoowweerrss??
List of Powers Shared in a Federal
Government
Issue driver’s licenses Make laws for the environment
Collect taxes Conduct elections
Create marriage laws Punish law breakers
Declare war Create standards for schools
Make agreements with other
countries
Defend the country
Coin money Protect citizen rights

19. S Written Suummmmaarryy:: HHooww iiss tthhee ppoowweerr
ddiissttrriibbuutteedd ppoolliittiiccaallllyy??
Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008

20. LLeett’’ss TTaallkk AAbboouutt IITT!!
• Let’s get in groups of three.
• Number yourselves one, two, and three.
Ones explain to the twos and threes how a
unitary government system distributes
power.
Twos explain to the ones and threes how a
confederation government system
distributes power.
Threes explain to the ones and twos how a
federal government system distributes
power.

21. BBiibblliiooggrraapphhyy
 Image from
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Ima
ge:Map-of-unitary-states.svg.
NationMaster.Com
Image from “Constitution Day Across the
Country” Center for Civic Education 2008.