Fairuz Hidayat Merican, 2014

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1.1 Definitions of
Government
 .

Thomas P. Bornstein
An institution that maintains the existence
of a state, plans its future, performs its
functions to achieve the goals of the state.

Syed Ahmad Hussein

 Harold Laski

An institution that has legitimate authority

to rule within a state.
1.2 Functions of
Government
Improve the peoples standard of living

Through development policies & projects;

Provide job opportunities;

Provide infrastructure & utilities.

Formulate & implements laws

Create guidelines for the citizens;

Ensure stability of the state;

Protect the lives & property of the people.

Ensure the unity of the State

Especially in plural societies;

Promote tolerance & integration;

Ensure that the people live in harmony.

Ensure security of the State

Defend against internal & external

threats;

Protects the States borders;

Establish security forces & agencies.

1.3 Forms of
Government
 Presidential

Parliamentary
Monarchy
Forms of
Govt

Unitary
Federal
Monarchy

A form of govt in which sovereign power

is with one supreme ruler (monarch).
 Hereditary
Monarch reigns
succession of
for life
power

Features

Decision-making Monarch creates

done by all laws & policies
monarch
Absolute Monarchy

A form of govt in which the monarch has

absolute power over every aspect of the
State.

Claims to receive authority to rule from

god (divine right).
 Monarch has Monarch is both
absolute power head of state &
head of govt

Features

Citizens must Monarch controls

obey the every aspect of
monarch the State
 Suitable for
early stage of Uniformity in
States the State

Advantages

Stable &
consistent
policies
Can lead to
tyranny

Disdvantages

People have
no rights or
liberties
Limited Monarchy

A form of govt in which the monarch

has limited authority.

Also known as constitutional

monarchy.
 Monarchs
Monarch reigns
power is
but does not rule
limited by a
constitution

Features

State is ruled by Monarch is only

a government the head of state
Unifying & Becomes the
stabilizing referee for
influence the govt

Advantages

Less risk of a
tyrannical
monarch
 Monarch
has no real
authority

Disdvantages

Only perform
ceremonial
duties
Presidential Govt

A representative system that features a

separation of power between the
executive & legislature.
 Based on
s.o.p
President Executive =
appoints heads President
of dept

Features

Head of President
govt=Head of elected for
State fixed term
 Direct
mandate
Lighter Stable
workload executive

Advantages

Check & Speed &

balance decisiveness
 Divides
Difficult to the govt Dangerous
change executive
leadership

Disadvantages

Risk of Executive not

authoritarian involved in
executive legislature
Parliamentary Govt

A representative system that features a

fusion of executive & legislature powers.
 Based on
f.o.p
Parliament is
the focus of Two types of
power executives

Features

Head of govt Head of State

appoints appoints Head of
Ministers govt
 Cooperation
btwn executive
& legislative

Obtain
Flexibility &
useful
elasticity
Advantages
criticism

Suitable for Faster

diverse legislative
nations action
 Violates
theory of
s.o.p
Unstable Heavy
executive workload

Disadvantages

Monopoly of Lack of
political power promptness &
decisiveness
Unitary Govt

A system in which sovereign power

resides in the central government.
 Central govt
can override Centralization of
policies of sub- power
national units

Features
Central govt
can change
boundaries of Sub-national
sub-national units have no
units political power
 Uniformity of
laws & policies

Faster
Less
decision-
expensive
Advantages
making

No duplication No conflict of
of authority
responsibility
 Repress local Impairs
initiative vitality of
local govt

Heavy
workload Disdvantages

Results in Discourage
centralized interest in
bureaucracy public affairs
Federal Govt

A system in which power is divided btwn

a central/federal govt & state govts.
 Two sets of Division of
govt power

Features

Courts have Constitution is the

the power of supreme law
judicial review
 Unites Lighter
different units workload

Advantages

Prevents Federal govt can

despotic focus on national
central govt issues
 More Duplication of
expensive responsibilities

Absence
of
uniform Disdvantages
policies

Difficult to Possibility of
amend secession
constitution