This document discusses different systems of government and how power is distributed in each. It begins by asking the reader to identify the different levels of government where they live. It then explains that governments are organized to protect citizens and manage conflict. There are different types of governments like democracies, republics, and monarchies. Geographers study the types of governments and how power is distributed through systems. The main systems are unitary, confederation, and federal. Unitary governments have one central power. Confederation governments give some power to members. Federal governments share power between a central and state/provincial governments. Diagrams and country examples are provided to illustrate each system.

1. Systems of Governments

2. What Do You Know?
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 – Mayor
Gwinnett – County Commissioner
Georgia – Governor
United States – President
Why are there different levels in our
government?

3. Why Do We Have
Governments?


They are organized ways for creating
laws/rules designed to protect the wellbeing of the general public and to help
manage conflict.
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.

4. Why Do We Have
Governments?
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

5. To study governments, geographers
look at the following:
Types – Who rules and who
participates.
Systems – How the power is
distributed.

6. Systems of Government are based
on one question: How is the
power distributed?
There are three ways governments
distribute power:
 Unitary
 Confederation
 Federal

7. How Is Power Shared?
Federal
Confederation
Unitary
Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008

8. Unitary
One central government controls
everything.
Power is not shared between states,
counties, or provinces.
Examples : United Kingdom, France,
the Netherlands, Spain, and former
Soviet Union

9. Unitary
Diagram:

10. Unitary Governments of the
World
(All countries in blue)

11. Confederation
Two Options:
A. A voluntary or weak association of independent
states that agrees to follow a powerful central
government.
 B. Nations can choose to follow or not follow the
lead of the weak central government.

Examples: Confederate States of America
( 1861-1865), European Union, Switzerland

12. Confederation
Diagram:

13. Federal
Power is shared by a powerful central
government.
States or provinces are given
considerable self rule, usually through
their own legislatures.
Examples: United States of America,
Federal Republic of Germany

14. Should the national government,
state government, or both have these
powers?
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

15. Federal System
Diagram:

16. Federal Governments of the
World
(All countries in green)

17. Let’s Talk About IT!
•
•
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.

18. Written Summary: How is the power
distributed politically?
Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008