chapter 27 comparing systems of government

Aristotle was a scholar who lived in ancient Greece, he identified three different types of government systems

1 – Rule by a single person

2 – Rule by a small elite group

3 – Rule by the people

Authoritarian

Democratic

Oligarchy is when power is concentrated in a small group

A dictatorship is when power is in the hands of one person

Monarchy is when a government has a hereditary, they inherit the position of power

Absolute monarchs have unlimited authority to rule as they wish

Dictators are like absolute monarchs because they both exercise complete control over the state.

They can take power by force, or, if there is a crisis, authorities may place them in charge

To stay in power, dictators normally rely on the police and military

They will also tamper with elections, limit freedom of speech, assembly and the press

Manuel Noriega

Fidel Castro

Saddam Hussein

In a totalitarian state, the government’s control extends to almost all aspects of people’s lives

They normally have a master plan for the economy and society

These regimes would regulate industries and farms produce

The suppress individual freedom and control the media and use propaganda and scare tactics

In most countries with monarchs, absolute monarchy has given way to constitutional monarchy

Power of the hereditary ruler is limited by the constitution and laws

Characteristics of democracy include Individual liberty Majority rule with

minority rights Free elections

with secret ballot

In constitutional monarchies, the monarchs are heads of state only

They preside over ceremonies and serve as symbols of unity

Another type of democracy is the republic – a representative government, no leaders inherit office

The people elect representatives and give them power to make laws and conduct government

Of the more than 190 countries in the world, nearly 2/3rds have democratic governments

Direct and representative are the two forms of democratic systems

Representative is the norm (there are no direct)

Most democratic countries follow the parliamentary system

They call their legislature, Parliament and their head of government the Prime Minister

The top officials perform both the executive and legislative functions

They are responsible for what?

How is that different than the US system?

All of the Prime Minister’s cabinet also serve in the Parliament Different from the US?

How are the leaders chosen in a Presidential and Parliamentary system?

Who is the head of state in most Presidential systems?

Is the Prime Minister always the head of state in Parliamentary system?

Pros?

Cons?

List 4 different types of governmental systems we talked about in class

If you lived in a brand new country, which system would you want to live in, or participate in? Explain why in at least two full sentences