Lecture on various forms of government for American Government class at Atchison County Community High School.

1. FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT
How to Pick ‘Em Out of a Line-Up!

2. OBJECTIVES
Students will identify different ways that power can be
distributed within a state.
Students will describe a government by how power is
distributed.

3. VOCABULARY
autocracy: government in which a single person holds unlimited political power.
oligarchy: government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed
elite.
unitary government: centralized government where power is held by a single, central
agency.
federal government: powers of government are divided between a central government and
several local governments.
confederation: an alliance of independent states where the power to handle those matters
that the member states have assigned to it.
presidential government: separation of powers between the executive and the legislative
branches of the government.
parliamentary government: where the executive is made up of the prime minister or
premier and their cabinet who are all members of the legislative branch or parliament.

4. RULE OF MANY;
RULE OF A FEW
How can we classify governments?
1. Those that can participate
2. Distribution of power within the state
3. Relationship between legislative & executive powers

5. DEMOCRACY
Supreme authority rests with the people
Direct or indirect
Direct: will of the people is translated
into public policy by the people
themselves (Town hall meeting)
Indirect: representative government
(Republic)

6. DICTATORSHIP
Authoritarian rule by a small, self-appointed elite
Exercise power over nearly every aspect of life (Hobbes)
Could be an autocracy or oligarchy
Outward appearances can be deceiving
Controlled elections
Tend to be militaristic; aggressive

7. GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
Unitary government - centralized government where all
powers belong to a single, central agency (UK Parliament)
Federal government - divided power between central
government and local government (division of powers)
Confederate government - alliance of independent
states; central government only has power given by satellite
states (EU)

9. LEGISLATIVE & EXECUTIVE
RELATIONSHIP
Presidential government - separation of powers between
the executive and legislative
Independent and equal (US)
Parliamentary government - prime minister or premier,
that are members of the legislative bodies majority party
Part of the legislative body; ‘no confidence’ risk
Which type of government is more prevalent in the
world?