Brief overview of the systems of different systems of government showing a spectrum from a system (or lack thereof) where no one rules, to ones where everyone rules.

1. Systems of Government
Chapter 1.3

2. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
 Government can range from No Leaders…
 To where everyone is a leader,
 With varying numbers in between.

3. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Anarchy
 no government
 chaos
 no order

4. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Autocracy
Dictatorship Monarchy
 Government ruled by a single individual
 Two types:
 Dictatorship
 Monarchy

5. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Autocracy
Dictatorship
 a single individual dictates over the people, telling
them what to do
 Usually requires the use of the military to enforce
the dictator’s will

6. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Autocracy
Monarchy
 power is usually inherited, usually forming a
dynasty
 power passes to the next most able family
member
 often times leadership is tied to a religion and
ceremony

7. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Oligarchy
Aristocracy Communism
 two types:
 aristocracy
 communism
 rule by a small group
 only a small number of people have the right or ability
to rule
 can be determined by socio-economic
status, race, gender, or some other birth-right or
determining factor
 government policies are designed to protect the
interests of this group.

8. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Oligarchy
Aristocracy
 government by the privileged class, usually
defined by wealth
 government policies are designed to protect the
interests of this group, the aristocrats.

9. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Oligarchy
Communism
 government system combined with an economic
system
 a small group (“the Communist Party”) creates
policies which it claims protects the interests of
the entire society
 from the root comm- meaning together
 the idea is that working together the entire society
will benefit

10. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Democracy
Republic Direct
Democracy
 rule by all, self-rule
 there are two types:
 republic
 direct democracy
 all people in society are involved in the decisions
of government

11. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Democracy
Republic
 the citizens have a limited input
 citizens choose representatives to make the
decisions of government for them

12. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Democracy
Direct
Democracy
 allows every citizen to vote directly in all
government and policy decisions
 the number of people eligible to vote is limited to
those who are considered citizens

13. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Autocracy Oligarchy
Theocracy
 government and religion are tied closely together
 usually ruled by a single leader or a group of religious
leaders
 usually has little tolerance for other religious ideas
 people of other religions are treated as “second class
citizens”
 does not work with democracies because in
democracies all people are usually considered
equal, regardless of religion
 cannot exist in a communist nation; devotion to
religion interferes with devotion to the state

14. Spectrum of Systems of Government
No Leaders One Leader Few Leaders Many Leaders
Autocracy Oligarchy Democracy
Bureaucracy
 the breaking down of tasks in government into
different departments of bureaus
 as society grows, there is too much to do, so this
organization makes government more efficient