This document discusses different systems of government and how power is distributed in each. It explains that there are three main ways power can be shared: unitary governments have one central authority that controls everything; confederations involve a voluntary association of independent states under a weak central power; and federal governments share power between a central national government and states or provinces that have considerable self-rule. The document provides examples of countries that use each system and diagrams to illustrate how power is divided in unitary, confederation, and federal systems.

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 well-being 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