ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

Government and the Public Good and Forms of Government

Chapter 1- Section 1 review and Section 2

WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY IS THE UNITED STATES? “ A Republic … If you can keep it!”-

Benjamin Franklin For much of US history, there has been

a debate as to whether the US is a Republic or a Democracy. There are many differences listed in the next few slides.

Origins of US Government: http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oswZYiumMuo

REPUBLIC OR DEMOCRACY

Republic- A system where people elect representatives who are free to act on their own, based on their personal beliefs, conscience or other factors to do what they feel is right.

Democracy- a system where the representative is expected to obey the mandate of those who elected him/her, be it his/her district, state, nation, regardless of his/her own personal beliefs.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? What do YOU think the difference

between a Republic and a Democracy are? WHY?

What do you think the US represents? A Republic or a Democracy? WHY?

THE DIFFERENCE There is a radical difference between the world

of the founding fathers and the modern world. Their idea of a republic was based on a centuries

old idea that the people elect the most educated and wisest among them.

As people became better educated and communication allowed more immediate access to information, their influence became stronger.

Although the framers of the constitution believed in a republic, it has developed into more of a democracy.

The United States today is a representation of a Democracy!

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?

REVIEW Government establishes the rules and

regulations that govern everyday life. Government has the authority to set rules for

all the people living in a political unit, or state. The absolute authority that a government has

over its citizens, or members of a state is called sovereignty.

The U.S., France, Egypt, Japan, Russia, Mexico and Indonesia are examples of the nearly 200 sovereign states in the world.

FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT Maintaining Order Providing Services Resolving Conflicts Promoting Values

Look to your notes for specific information on each function!

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT: SEC 2

Sources of Authority- (can you give examples of Countries that fall into these categories?)MonarchyRepublicDictatorship

• Monarchy- Head of state is a hereditary position.• Constitutional Monarchy- King or Queen is only the

ceremonial head of state. Real power lies in another branch of government. **Give an example of a country that is a Constitutional Monarchy today!

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Republic (Democratic)People are the source of authority.Government is made up of representatives elected

by people.• Dictatorship

Political and/or military power, wealth and/or social position are the source of leaders authority.

Power is achieved and maintained through force.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT: MONARCHIES In some countries, the head of state is a hereditary

position. In most of these countries, which are called monarchies, the head of state is a King or Queen. Until the early part of the 1900’s, most countries were ruled by monarchs. Today around 40 countries have monarchs.

Many of these countries are constitutional monarchies in which the monarch is primarily a ceremonial head of state. The real power lies in another part of government.

Constitutional Monarchies include: United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Monarchs have substantial power in only a few countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT: DICTATORSHIPS

A dictatorship exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. The government is not accountable for its policies, nor for how they are carried out. * Dictatorship is probably the oldest and certainly most common form of government in history.

Dictatorships are sometimes identified as either autocracies or oligarchies. – What is the definition for each? Know for the test

All dictatorships are authoritarian- those in power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority and power over its people. Modern dictatorships have tended to be totalitarian. They exercise complete power over nearly every aspect of human affairs.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT One of the differences between types of

government systems is the source of authority.

What is the source in the United States Government?

HOW IS POWER DISTRIBUTED? In different types of government, the

power of those government’s are distributed in different ways!

Power among levels of government may be classified according to three types of systems.

HOW IS POWER DISTRIBUTED? Unitary System

Central Government holds all legal power.Local government has no independent

power; carries out decisions made by the central government.

Can you name some countries that are examples of a Unitary System?

The United Kingdom, Israel, and Japan are examples of Unitary systems.

HOW POWER IS DISTRIBUTED? Federal System-

National, State, and Local Governments share power.

All levels have the power to establish their own laws, elect officials, and create agencies.

How is power distributed in the United States?

Germany, India, and Australia are examples of countries who have Federal systems.

HOW IS POWER DISTRIBUTED? Confederal System-

Independent states join together.Each state is represented in a central

organization. Central organization carries out policies made by representatives.

Today Canada, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates are examples of confederations.

The European Union is a confederation of nations made up of 15 European countries that joined together to promote economic and political cooperation.

POWER WITHIN LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT Just as power may be distributed among

levels of government, power within a single level of government also may be divided.

Presidential Systems- The United States has a presidential system of government. Each branch of government acts as a check on the other’s powers.

Parliamentary Systems- In parliamentary systems the chief executive (Prime Minister) of the government and the head of state are separate offices. The United Kingdom is an example of a parliamentary system.

POWER WITHIN LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT Consider the way each system divides

power among its branches and the way leaders of each system are selected.

What are the strength and weaknesses of each?

END OF NOTES