citizen participation

THEY COME IN PACKS OF TWO!

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

V. Gibson

AUTOCRACY• Can you guess the TWO types of

Autocratic governments?

• Here’s a hint: • These guys would eliminate free speech,

abolish opposing political parties, and personal freedoms.

• Need a picture?

??

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY!

• That’s right—an absolute monarchy is a type of Autocracy because there is ONE person who is in charge

• The king makes all of the rules and has no patience for the lowly citizens

• The citizens have no way to participate in the government of an absolute monarchy

AND THE 2ND TYPE OF AUTOCRACY IS…

A DICTATORSHIP!

• Dictators are examples of Autocratic governments because they have complete control over their citizens

• They usually use military force to boss the citizens around

• The citizens cannot speak out against the dictator, or else…

THE 2 TYPES OF AUTOCRACIES ARE…

•Absolute Monarchies

•Dictatorships

OLIGARCHY• There’s only ONE type of oligarchy – you either

have a group of people ruling the citizens, or you don’t.

• Easy enough, right??

DEMOCRACY• There are TWO types of Democratic

governments in the world

1. Presidential2. Parliamentary

PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY

– Citizens vote for members of the legislative branch, and then the legislature chooses the leader• The citizens DO NOT get to directly choose the leader

– They have to vote on members of legislature first, and then those representatives choose the leader

– Head of government and head of state are TWO different people

Examples: United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia

PRESIDENTIAL–Citizens usually vote for members of the

executive AND legislative branch

Citizens directly vote for the leader

–A single person is elected as the leader–This person is both head of government

(chief executive) and head of state

Examples: U.S.A., Russia, Mexico

PRESIDENTIAL• Unique thing about this type:

There’s a separation of powers between the branches of government.

• The leader is constitutionally independent of the legislature• Example: the leader does not make the

laws, the legislature does

LET’S REVIEW…• Parliamentary: Citizens do not vote

directly for the leader. They vote on the legislature, then the legislature chooses the leader.

• Presidential: Citizens directly vote on the leader.

Parliamentary System

Presidential System

Executive Legislature

CitizensCitizens

Legislature

Executive

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