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How much can you recall?. Governments. The Answers are …. Forms of Governments. To study governments, geographers look at the following:. Types – Who rules and how much can a citizen can participate. Systems – How the power is distributed. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
How much can you recall?
Governments
The Answers are …..
Forms of Governments
To study governments, geographers look at the following:
Types – Who rules and how much can a citizen can participate.
Systems – How the power is distributed.
Types of Government are based on one key question: Who governs and what is the citizen participation?
There are three types of governments:Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy
Autocracy
Government in which the power to govern is held by one person. (often unlimited)Citizens have little if any role in the governmentGenerally the power to rule is inherited or by military force.There are two
types of Autocracy.
#1 DictatorshipThe leader has not been elected and uses force to control all aspects of social and economic life.The leader is not restricted by laws or the constitutionCitizens have few rightsExamples: Adolf Hitler in Germany, Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union and some African nations after independence
#2 AbsoluteMonarchy
A monarchy has a king, queen, or emperor.
The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members.
The monarch has absolute power, meaning they can make all decisions .
Some countries limit the monarch’s power by having a constitutional monarchy. (U.K.)
Oligarchy
A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power especially for corrupt or self purposesThe group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status.Elections may be held but offer
only one candidate.The citizens have a very limited role.Examples: Greek city states and South Africa before the end of Apartheid.
DemocracyIn a democracy, the government is “ruled by the people.” Supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representationThere are two forms of democracy: Direct Democracy – People vote on all the issues.
(Ancient Athens) Representative Democracy – People elect
representatives and give them the power to vote on issues. (Republic)
Example: United States, South Korea, Israel, South Africa
In a democracy….
Individual freedom and equality is valued.Free elections are held and all can vote.Decisions are based on majority rule.All candidates and people can express their views freely.Citizens vote by secret ballot.The name Republic of does not necessary mean a democracy.
Democratic Governments
There are two major forms of democratic governments:ParliamentaryPresidential
Parliamentary DemocracyVoters elect members to the Parliament (legislature)Most of the time the head of state and the chief of state are two different people.Many times the head of state is a ceremonial role and the chief of state has the powerChief of state is usually called the Prime Minister and is chosen by the legislature (parliament) not directly by the people.Chief executive and the legislature are usually the same branch of the government
Presidential DemocracyVoters elect legislators with the legislators and president elected in separate elections.
Voters elect the president who is the head of state and the chief of state. Therefore, in the presidential system voters have a
more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government :
Legislative Executive These are separate branches with power divided
between them.
Parliamentary System
Presidential System
ExecutiveExecutive LegislativeLegislative
CitizensCitizensCitizensCitizens
LegislativeLegislative
ExecutiveExecutive
Elect
Elect
Elect
Elect
Select
Select
ElectElect
Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed?
There are three ways governments distribute power:UnitaryConfederationFederal
Unitary
One central government (authority) controls everything.
Power is not shared between the central government and states or provinces.
Works well with smaller nations.
Examples : United Kingdom, Sudan, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands, and Spain
Unitary does not necessarily equal autocratic.
Confederation
A voluntary association of independent states that agrees to follow a central government.
States can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government.
States may leave at any time.
Examples: Confederate States of America
( 1861-1865), European Union, OPEC,
OAU.
Federal
Power is shared between a powerful central government and states or provinces.States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures. (example: state governments)Examples: United States, Germany, Kenya
South Africa
Unitary
central has all the power
Countries who have this government are U.K., Saudi Arabia, and Oman
Government decides everything voting, drinking, seatbelts, all taxation laws for the country.
Power is unbalanced toward the central government
Federal
Central government decides: voting age, drinking age, national security, federal taxes
Local government decides: education, cell phone laws, alcohol sales, seatbelt laws, sales tax
Countries with this type of government are: U.S. , Germany, U.A. E.
Power is balanced
Confederation
Local government decides everything- voting, drinking age, driving age, taxation, etc.
The U.S. pre-civil war
Central government has little power.
There is no consistency across the country.
Power is with unbalanced toward local government
AutocraticNo rights for citizens
The oldest form of government
AKA: Dictatorship, Tolitarian, or Absolute Monarchy
Leadership maintained through inheritance or ruthless use of military and police power
Oman has this type of government
Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, King of Saudi Arabia
Ayatollah
Gadhfi
Castro
Oligarchic
AKA: Communism
Examples of countries with this government are China and North Korea
Citizens have a limited role
Wealthy and Military often hold more power
Leaders are often corrupt with selfish motives
Leaders of the “party” and armed forces control the government
Theocracy
Taliban
Hammas- Israel
Theocracy
Democratic
For the people, of the people
Fair elections
Power is exercised directly and indirectly through a system of representation
Two main forms
Presidential Obama
Parliamentary Queen Elizabeth
Putting it all together….To classify a type of government we need to look back at the three questions we have answered… Who rules and how? How much can a
citizen participate in their government?
How is the power distributed?
For example: The United Kingdom
is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy and a unitary system.
The United States is a presidential democracy with a federal system.
What do you remember?
What are the three types of governments?
What are the three systems of government?
Now it is your turn…
Now you classify the governments of Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Kenya and 3 other African nations of your choosing. Use cia.gov and culture grams on the Cobb Virtual Library to help you find out information.
Kenya
KENYA
Kenya's president (currently Mwai Kibaki) serves as both chief of state and head of government and is elected by popular vote to a five-year term. The prime minister (currently Raila Odinga) is the head of the largest party in the National Assembly and handles government business. However, this position was eliminated by the 2010 constitution and is expected to be phased out when the new constitution comes into effect. Legislative power is held by the 224-seat National Assembly (Bunge). Its members serve five-year terms. Voters directly elect 210 members, the president appoints 12, and two positions are reserved for the National Assembly's speaker and the attorney general. The 2010 constitution called for a second legislative body, the Senate, to be created. Kenya has eight provinces, each with a local government. The voting age is 18.
Type- Republic
Who rules? Mwai Kibaki is both President is Chief and Head of State Prime Minister’s role is to be phased out. Legislative Branch is called the Bunge
How? Presidential Democracy
How much can citizens participate in their government?
Voting-
Age 18 to vote and elect both the president and legislature by popular vote
Freedom of Speech/Press-
The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is indirectly controlled by the government.
How is power distributed?Federal- Eight province each with a local government.
Standard of Living
Access to education for citizens:
Citizens have access to school, but public schools are underfundedSchools are authoritarian
Access to Healthcare for citizens:
Access to basic healthcare, but they are under equipped. Growing number of AIDS and Malaria
Distribution of Resources
Kenya’s government is stable with a democratic system. This would have a POSITIVE impact on distribution of resources.
Sudan
Sudan's president (currently Omar Hassan al-Bashir) is chief of state and head of government. The executive branch also includes a first and second vice president. The bicameral legislature consists of a directly elected National Assembly and an indirectly elected Council of States. Members of both bodies serve six-year terms. The National Congress Party (NCP) is the official governing party of Sudan. The voting age is 18. Islamic law forms the basis of Sudan’s legal system
Type- Autocratic- Dictatorship
Who rules? President is chief and head of governmentLegislation is called the National assembly
How? Authoritarian/Theocracy
How much can citizens participate in their government?
Voting-
18 years, but no popular vote elections
Freedom of Speech/Press-
Primitive communication except in cities. No government restrictions evident
How is power distributed?
Unitary
Standard of Living
Access to education for citizens:
Schools are often under equipped. Boys are more likely to attend school than girls. It is widely believed that a girls place is in the home
Access to Healthcare for citizens:
Health care is very limited except in major cities.
Distribution of Resources
International relief agencies provide some basic services in war-torn areas and to internal refugees.
The authoritarian government will have a negative impact on distribution of resources
South Africa
South Africa's president (currently Jacob Zuma) is chief of state and head of government. The president is chosen by an elected parliament on the basis of the majority party's recommendation. Parliament has two houses: a 90-member Council of Provinces and a 400-seat National Assembly. All members of Parliament are elected to five-year terms. Members of the National Assembly are elected directly by popular vote, while Council members are chosen by the nine provincial parliaments. The president serves a maximum of two five-year terms. Citizens are eligible to vote at age 18.
Type- Republic
Who rules? President is head of state and chief of state
How? Parliamentary Democracy
How much can citizens participate in their government?
How much can citizens participate in their government? (Type)
Voting-
18 years of age vote for National Assembly
Freedom of Speech/Press-
No limitations on freedom of speech
How is power distributed?
unitary
Standard of LivingAccess to education for citizens:
High school education is more common for whites and Indians. Some schools are under equipped
Access to Healthcare for citizens:Public hospitals and clinics are open to all citizens. Free care is given to all pregnant women and to children younger than age six. Disease and malnutrition are more common among blacks.
About half of South Africa's population lacks basic sanitation; almost
one-third lacks access to adequate supplies of potable water.
Distribution of Resources
Unequal distribution of resources due to the long-lasting affects of the Apartheid. Not related to current government stability.