Democratic forms of government have a long history. The ancient Greek leader Cleisthenes set up an early form of democracy in the city-state of Athens. All citizens, for example, could belong to the Assembly, in which they were considered equal before the law and guaranteed freedom of speech. The citizens in Cleisthenes’ democracy, however, made up only 20 percent of Athenians. Noncitizens–women, foreign-born males, and slaves–were still excluded from political life.

3.4 analyse factors that influence development within regions

Features of Government

• The world is made of about 200 independent countries, each with a government that makes and enforces laws binding on all people living in its territory.

Levels of Government

• Unitary System A unitary system of government gives all key powers to the national or central government. The national government then creates local governments with limited authority.

• Federal System A federal system of government divides governmental powers between the national government and state or provincial governments.

• The United States, Mexico, and Switzerland are examples of federal governments.

Types of Governments

• Autocracy In an autocracy a single individual is the absolute ruler.

• In a totalitarian dictatorship, a leader seeks to control all aspects of a country’s social and economic life.

• In an absolute monarchy, the ruler inherits his or her position and exercises supreme power.

• Oligarchy In an oligarchy a small group holds power.

• The group’s authority comes from wealth, social status, or military power.

• Autocracies and oligarchies do not allow the existence of opposition groups.

• Democracy In a democracy, leaders rule with the consent of the people.

• In a republic voters elect all major officials, who are responsible to the people.

Economic Systems

• Traditional Economy Customs and traditions determine the rules for economic activity in traditional economies, but few areas in the world have such economies today.

• Market Economy In a market economy, individuals and private groups decide what they will produce and what they will purchase.

• A mixed-market economy is one in which the government supports and regulates free enterprise through decisions that affect the marketplace.

• Command Economy In a command economy, the government owns the means of producing and distributing goods and controls all economic decision making.

• Socialism and Communism A command economy is called either socialism or communism, depending on how much the government is involved.

• Strict governmental control of the economy and all other aspects of society is known as communism.

• Under socialism a government allows a fairly wide range of enterprise alongside government-run activities.

• The aims of socialism are to equally distribute wealth and promote economic opportunity among all people, to place the control of major decisions about production in the government, and to advance public ownership of most land, factories, and other means of production.