© 2011 Clairmont Press

Part I: Distribution of Power

Distribution of PowerA government’s power can be

described as being distributed in one of the following ways:

UnitaryFederation (Federal)Confederation

Unitary In a unitary form of government, a central

government operates the entire government.

The national level government has the power to grant local areas to govern itself. However, they can also dissolve this granted

power.

Unitary government systems are found in the United Kingdom and Cuba.

Unitary LocalAreas

LocalAreas

LocalAreas

LocalAreas

The key powers of government are held by the central government.

Confederation A voluntary unification of different sovereign states or

countries.

The central government does not hold the most power. Instead, each member holds the power.

There are advantages and disadvantages to a Confederation. Advantages: individual states can hold on to their own laws and

beliefs, larger market for economy, common currency, and better defense.

Disadvantages: difficult to have common national laws, finances, and foreign policy.

There are instances in U.S. history when a confederation existed. Articles of Confederation (before to the Constitution of the U.S.) Confederate States of America (southern states during the Civil

War)

Confederation

Note how the power flows fromeach individual state and the central government has little power on its own.

LocalLocalAreasAreas

LocalLocalAreasAreas

LocalLocalAreasAreas

LocalLocalAreasAreas

Federal In a federal government, power is divided

between a central or national level of government and other levels of government.

The basic levels of government in our nation are federal (national), state, county, city.

Other Federal nations may use terms like territories, provinces, and parishes.

Each level is granted unique powers to collect taxes and create and enforce laws.

Federal

Note how the power flows fromeach individual state and the central government has little power on its own.

LocalLocalAreasAreas

LocalLocalAreasAreas

LocalLocalAreasAreas

LocalLocalAreasAreas

Distribution of Power in Government

Think of power distribution on a continuum from strong central control to weak central control.

Strong central Strong central governmentgovernment

UnitaryUnitary ConfederationConfederationFederalFederal

Weak central Weak central governmentgovernment

The Organization of Government United States

Part II: The Role of Citizens

Citizens Participation In each country, the people have different rights to

participate in their government.

How do citizens participate? Voting rights Representing Ruling Working

Citizen ParticipationGovernments allow varying degrees of citizen

participation.AutocracyOligarchyDemocracy

See chart on next slide for visual aid.

Citizen Participation

The larger the rectangle and the greater the role of the citizen in government.