Unit 1 – Foundations and Principles of Government

Classic and Contemporary Forms of Government

7 Classical Forms of Government

Absolute Monarchy – King/Queen control government and military (Classical France)

Authoritarian - Individual or Group has unlimited authority (Czar of Russia)

Classical Republic – a Representative Democracy elected leaders (Rome)

Despotism – ruler with absolute power, rules a tyrant (pharaohs of Egypt)

Feudalism – rule of local lords bound to king (medieval England)

Liberal Democracy – elected gov’t whose focus is on protection of individual rights based on limited gov’t

Totalitarian – gov’t that tries to control all facets of citizens’ lives (Hitler)

Contemporary Governments

Contemporary Governments

They are categorized three ways:

1. Who can participate

2. Who holds the power in the government

3. Relationship between the executive branch and legislative branch

Who can participate?

Democracy

Dictatorship

Either you can or you can’t

Who can participate?

Democracy – all qualified voters participate (subject to such things as age and citizenship) Direct – each person votes Representative – people choose

a representative to vote on their

behalf in govt. Ex. US, Great Britain, France

Who can participate?

Dictatorship – the citizens have no say in any matter of government Autocracy – a

dictatorship of one person

(ie. Hussein Iraq) Oligarchy – a dictatorship

of a small group

(ie. Communist China)

Who has the power?

Federal Confederate Unitary

F C U

OO oO Oo

Who has the power?

Federal System – divides the power to govern evenly between national and state governments- Think of the “Federal

Government” and how Washington DC is responsible for some laws and Austin is responsible for some laws

Who has the power?

Confederate – the majority of the lies with the state governments Last active Confederate government was the

Confederate States of American (1860 – 1865) They usually do not last long due to individual

states not wishing to yield the need of the whole Articles of Confederation 1781

Who has the power?

Unitary – the majority of the power lies with the national government Active Unitary governments include Great Britain and

France They are as successful as Federal Governments

Who has the power?

System Advantage Disadvantage

Unitary National holds all power

Local have almost no power

Federal Power equally shared

Each level has to create enforce their own laws

Confederate Each state is represented

Weak National Government

Relationship between the Executive and Legislative Branches Presidential

Parliamentary

(Let’s remember the 8th grade – Legislative Branch makes the laws and the Executive Branch enforces those laws)

Relationship between Executive and Legislative Presidential – The

Executive and Legislative branches are separate but coequal. They are elected independently

Have the title of President

President Francois Hollande of France

Relationship between Executive and Legislative Branches Parliamentary System

– the Executive brand is chosen by the Legislative Branch is subject to their confidence (No Confidence Vote)

Title of Prime Minister or Premier

David Cameron – PM of GB

C & C Presidential and Parliamentary

System Advantages Disadvantages

Presidential Separation of powers protects against tyranny / elected by people more accountability. Checks & balances are strong.

Divided Government (gridlock)

Parliamentary Prime Minster accountable to Parliament / treat of losing majority motivates compromise. Minimum age for election to HofC is 18! HofL can’t reject legislation passed by HofC but can debate,amend and delay

Less protection against tyranny / Prime Minister not directly elected by citizens

Queen only figure head