Napolitano Eamon Barkhordarian

Period A 2/1/10
US gov
Section 1.3

1. Major Types of Government

a. Autocracy- ruled by one person. Ruled through inherence of military power
i. Forms
1. One form is totalitarian dictatorship where the single leader takes
control of all aspects of life
2. Monarchy- King or queen exercise supreme powers of
government.
a. Absolute monarchs complete and unlimited power to rule
people.
b. Constitutional monarchs share governmental power with
elected legistlatures.
b. Oligarchy- System of government ruled by few people.
i. Suppress all political opposition
ii. Typically communist governments
c. Democracy-ruled by the people
i. Direct Democracy-people govern themselves by voting for issues
individually
ii. Representative democracy- people elect representatives and give them
the responsibility to make laws.
iii. Republic- Voters hold sovereign power. Elected representatives exercise
that power.
2. Characteristics of Democracy
a. Individual liberty to give enough freedom to develop talents to fullest extent
possible
b. Majority Rule with Minority Rights-Protects minority while also listening to
majority
c. Endo vs United States- Relocation Reform
d. Free Elections-one person one vote and freedom to express ideas. Citizens free to
help candidates. Legal requirements for voting kept to minimum. Citizens may
vote freely.
e. Competing Political Parties-A political Party-group of individuals with broad
common interest who organize to nominate candidates for office win elections,
conduct gov, ect.
i. Rival parties make elections meaningful
3. The soil of democracy
a. Active Citizen Participation
i. Citizens willing to participate in government, voting.
b. Favorable Economy
i. Free enterprise- Business governed by the laws of supply and demand,
not restrained by government interference, regulation or subsidy. also
called free market.
c. Widespread education
d. Strong Civil Society
Napolitano Eamon Barkhordarian
Period A 2/1/10
US gov
i. Civil society- a complex network of voluntary associates, economic
groups, religious organizations, and many other groups.
e. Social Consensus
i. Social consensus- people accept democratic values such as individual
liberty and equality for all.