2. Forms of GovernmentForms of Government
When people decide to form the socialWhen people decide to form the social
contracts that we call governments, theycontracts that we call governments, they
make many different decisions about howmake many different decisions about how
their government will look.their government will look.
President or King?
President or King?
Rule by few or rule by all?Rule by few or rule by all?
Hold elections?
Hold elections?Where do the rulers get their power?Where do the rulers get their power?
3. DemocracyDemocracy
Any form of government in which politicalAny form of government in which political
power is exercised bypower is exercised by all citizensall citizens, either, either
directly or through their electeddirectly or through their elected
representatives.representatives.
There are two kinds ofThere are two kinds of DemocraciesDemocracies……
Direct!
Representative!
4. Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy
All citizens participate in government.All citizens participate in government.
All citizens can create public policy if they want to.All citizens can create public policy if they want to.
Example: In ancient Athens, Greece, they heldExample: In ancient Athens, Greece, they held
assemblies where citizens voted to pass laws.assemblies where citizens voted to pass laws.
There are no representatives in government: TheThere are no representatives in government: The
citizens vote on everything!citizens vote on everything!
5. Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy
Like direct democracy, all citizens participate inLike direct democracy, all citizens participate in
governmentgovernment
People elect representatives who vote on lawsPeople elect representatives who vote on laws
for the citizensfor the citizens
Representatives answer to the people throughRepresentatives answer to the people through
regular electionsregular elections
Representatives are also usually held accountableRepresentatives are also usually held accountable
by a constitutionby a constitution
7. The two forms ofThe two forms of
democracy are __________democracy are __________
and ___________________.and ___________________.
directdirect
representativerepresentative
8. In a democracy, allIn a democracy, all
__________ participate in__________ participate in
government.government.
citizenscitizens
9. All citizens vote onAll citizens vote on
everything in aeverything in a
______________________.______________________.direct democracydirect democracy
10. In a direct democracy, thereIn a direct democracy, there
are no ________________are no ________________
in the government.in the government.
representativesrepresentatives
11. In a representativeIn a representative
democracy, thedemocracy, the
representatives answer torepresentatives answer to
the people throughthe people through
______________________.______________________.regular electionsregular elections
12. Now that we’ve talked about
DIRECT DEMOCRACY!
And
REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY!
we can move on to
forms of government
where only one
person is in control…
13. AutocracyAutocracy
A form of government in which political power isA form of government in which political power is
controlled bycontrolled by oneone individual such as a monarch,individual such as a monarch,
dictator, emperor, etc.dictator, emperor, etc.
WeWe’re going to talk about two kinds of’re going to talk about two kinds of
autocracyautocracy……
Monarchs!
Dictators!
14. MonarchyMonarchy
Rule by kings, queens, princes, and princesses…Rule by kings, queens, princes, and princesses…
sometimes by other names, but alwayssometimes by other names, but always
MONARCHS!MONARCHS!
Leaders usually gain their power because theirLeaders usually gain their power because their
parents were rulers too.parents were rulers too.
Some modern monarchies like Spain and JapanSome modern monarchies like Spain and Japan
have constitutions.have constitutions.
15. DictatorshipDictatorship
In a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but isIn a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but is
acquired by force (military or political)acquired by force (military or political)
Dictators have absolute control over the lives ofDictators have absolute control over the lives of
their citizens and usually people are not allowedtheir citizens and usually people are not allowed
to voice their negative opinionsto voice their negative opinions
North KoreaNorth Korea’s leader Kim Jong Il is considered a’s leader Kim Jong Il is considered a
dictatordictator
16. What else?What else?
WeWe’ve talked about’ve talked about DEMOCRACIESDEMOCRACIES……
Democracy
is…
rule by the
people!
18. …… but what other forms ofbut what other forms of
government are there?government are there?
What else?What else?
What if, instead of everyone or
just one person, a few people got
together to rule a nation?
Rule by Few!
19. OligarchyOligarchy
““Rule by few”Rule by few”
Power can be based on several things:Power can be based on several things:
Military strength = Military JuntaMilitary strength = Military Junta
Family power = AristocracyFamily power = Aristocracy
Religious control = Theocratic OligarchyReligious control = Theocratic Oligarchy
Oligarchies can often come from or lead to otherOligarchies can often come from or lead to other
forms of government (like autocracies)forms of government (like autocracies)
20. TheocracyTheocracy
““Theo” means “god” in Greek… so if aTheo” means “god” in Greek… so if a
government is THEO-cratic that means it is ruledgovernment is THEO-cratic that means it is ruled
by… That’s right! A god or higher power!by… That’s right! A god or higher power!
Leaders (Leaders (autocraticautocratic oror oligarchicoligarchic) are usually) are usually
religious leaders and society uses religious law toreligious leaders and society uses religious law to
settle its disputessettle its disputes
Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modernExample: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern
theocracy that uses the holy Islamic book, Thetheocracy that uses the holy Islamic book, The
QurQur’an, as its guide.’an, as its guide.
22. AnarchyAnarchy
No government at all…No government at all…
In an anarchy there is no government to make orIn an anarchy there is no government to make or
enforce laws.enforce laws.
What do you think
that would be
like?
23. Wow!
There are so many
forms of government!
And remember there
are also combinations…
What is government
ruled by GOD and a
FEW people called?
