Who Rules?Who Rules?Forms of Government Forms of Government

What the heck is an….Oligarchy?

OligarchyGovernment in which decisions are made solely

from a small group of people that hold powerNOT influenced by the people

Examples:VenezuelaChinaSoviet UnionSome say the U.S. is an oligarchy government,

why would that be??

DemocracyDemocracy

A system of government in which the A system of government in which the power is shared by all the peoplepower is shared by all the people

There are two kinds of There are two kinds of DemocraciesDemocracies… …

Direct!

Representative!

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: Switzerland is the closest Example: Switzerland is the closest demonstration we have to a demonstration we have to a Direct Democracy in the world Direct Democracy in the world today. today.

There are no representatives in government: The There are no representatives in government: The citizens vote on everything!citizens vote on everything!

Representative Representative DemocracyDemocracy

Like direct democracy, all citizens participate in Like direct democracy, all citizens participate in governmentgovernment

People elect representatives who vote on laws People elect representatives who vote on laws for the citizensfor the citizens

Representatives are also usually held accountable Representatives are also usually held accountable by a constitutionby a constitution

AutocracyAutocracyA form of government in which political A form of government in which political

power is controlled by power is controlled by oneone individual such individual such as a monarch, dictator, emperor, etc. as a monarch, dictator, emperor, etc.

We’re going to talk about two kinds of We’re going to talk about two kinds of autocracyautocracy……

Monarchs!

Dictators!

MonarchyMonarchyLeaders usually gain their power because their Leaders usually gain their power because their

parents were rulers too.parents were rulers too.

Rule by kings, queens, princes, and princesses… Rule by kings, queens, princes, and princesses… sometimes by other names, but always MONARCHS!sometimes by other names, but always MONARCHS!

Some modern monarchies like Spain and Japan have Some modern monarchies like Spain and Japan have constitutions.constitutions.

Absolute monarchies that Absolute monarchies that exist today: exist today:Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaSwazilandSwaziland

DictatorshipDictatorshipIn a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but is In 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 of Dictators have absolute control over the lives of their citizens and usually people are not allowed their citizens and usually people are not allowed to voice their negative opinionsto voice their negative opinions

North Korea’s leader North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un is considered a Kim Jong-un is considered a dictator.dictator.

TheocracyTheocracy““Theo” means “god” in Greek… so if a Theo” means “god” in Greek… so if a

government is THEO-cratic that means it is ruled government is THEO-cratic that means it is ruled by a “higher power”by a “higher power”

Leaders (Leaders (autocraticautocratic or or oligarchicoligarchic) are usually ) are usually religious leaders and society uses religious law to religious leaders and society uses religious law to settle its disputessettle its disputes

Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern theocracy that uses the is a modern theocracy that uses the holy Islamic book, The Qur’an, as holy Islamic book, The Qur’an, as its guide. its guide.

AnarchyAnarchy

No government at all… No government at all…

In anarchy there is no government to make or In anarchy there is no government to make or enforce laws. enforce laws.

Usually Anarchy is temporary with the intended Usually Anarchy is temporary with the intended purpose of installing a new type of government. purpose of installing a new type of government.

What kind of Government does the U.S. have?

• U.S. Government:–Democracy •More specifically a

Representative Democracy–Why? We vote on

representatives who are to express our opinions and thoughts through their law making.

Sources• http://www.internationalcitizens.com/blog/2013/05/international-health-

insurance-in-switzerland/• http://www.21stcentech.com/society-politics-2100-part-3-democracy-nations-

technology/• http://www.europeandailynews.org/2014/04/09/kim-jong-un-has-enemy-of-the-

state-executed-with-flame-thrower/• http://www.thelondoneveningpost.com/business/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/

King-Mswati-lll-inspects-a-guard-of-honour-mounted-by-members-of-his-armed-forces..jpg