Types and Systems of

Government
 GOVERNMENT
A group of people that governs a
community or unit. It sets and
administers public policy and exercises
executive, political and sovereign
power through customs, institutions,
and laws within a state.
Functions of the government :
Keep Order
Manage foreign relations
Provide services
Create public policy
To study governments, geographers
look at the following:

Types – Who rules and who

participates.

Systems – How the power is

distributed.
Types of Government are based on
one key question: Who governs and
what is the citizen participation?
There are three types of governments:
Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy
 Autocracy
Government in which the power to
govern is held by one person.
Generally the power to rule is inherited
or by military force.
There are three
types of Autocracy.
 #1 Dictatorship
The leader has not been
elected and uses force
to control all aspects of
social and economic life.
 #2 Absolute
Monarchy

A monarchy has a king, queen,

emperor or empress.
The power is usually inherited or
passed down from family members.
The monarch has absolute power
meaning they can make all decisions
without consulting anyone.
 Absolute Monarchy
One-person rule. King or Queen has total control.
Often thought as a divine right to rule that is passed
from generation to generation.

ADVANTAGES
1.People may be united in their loyalty to a monarch
since there is no competition for trust and affection.
2.In an emergency, a monarch can move quickly to
take action. No time is lost in debate or discussion.
 DISADVANTAGES
1. People are often given no individual liberties or civil
rights.
2. A monarch’s policies suit his/her own needs.
3. Needs of the people may be neglected.
4. Decision making has a narrow base

-can be flawed, wrong, dangerous. No one was willing

to tell the emperor what they think of his new clothes…
#3 Constitutional Monarchy
Kings, queens or emperors share
power with elected legislatures.
Generally the Kings are northing more
than figureheads.
The government is a democratic one
that limits the monarchs power.
Example: Great Britain
 Constitutional Monarchy
A government with a
written plan, or constitution,
that includes a monarch as a
ceremonial leader and a
parliament or other legislature
to make the laws
 Constitutional Monarchy
ADVANTAGES
1.Citizens are involved in decision making through their
representatives, lobbying, and voting.
2.Representatives are aware their job depends on meeting
the needs of their constituents.
3.More likely that all elements of the population are
represented.
4.Monarch has almost celebrity status with the people. Are
not held responsible for unpopular decisions, yet can help
form public opinion
 Constitutional Monarchy
DISADVANTAGES
1.Decision making is time consuming. Desire
of representatives to please everyone may
cripple system.
2.Representatives may not always agree with
those they represent.
3.Lack of involved citizenry may allow special
interest groups to influence or dominate
representatives.
 Oligarchy
A government in which a few people
such as a dominant clan or clique have
power.
The group gets their power from either
military, wealth or social status.
Elections may be held but offer
only one candidate.
Examples: Greek city states
 Democracy
In a democracy, the government is
“Rule by the people”
There are two forms of democracy

 Direct Democracy
 Representative Democracy – People
elect representatives and give them the
power to vote on issues.
 Direct Democracy
-Government in which all
citizens have equal power in
decision making.

ADVANTAGES
1.Every citizen has equal power in matters of government. Every
citizen is involved in the decision making.
2.Since all citizens are involved in decision making, there is a
broad base of support and loyalty.
3.Individual liberties are protected.
 DISADVANTAGES
1. Only works when a small number of people are
involved. Ability to gather all citizens in one place is
necessary.

2. Decision making involving all citizens is time-

consuming. All citizens give in-put, debate, etc...
 REPUBLIC/ Representative
Democracy
Government in which people elect representatives
who hold the decision making power.

ADVANTAGES
1.Citizens are involved in decision making through their
representatives, lobbying, and voting.
2.Representatives are aware their job depends on meeting the
needs of their constituents.
3.More likely that all elements of the population are represented.
4.Generally, reps are educated and more- capable citizens who can
devote time needed to solve complex problems.
 DISADVANTAGES
1.. Decision making is time consuming. Desire of representatives to please
everyone may cripple system.

2. Representatives may not always agree with those they represent.

3. Lack of involved citizenry may allow special interest groups to influence

or dominate representatives.
 In a democracy….
Individual freedom and equality is
valued.
Free elections are held
Decisions are based on majority rule.
All candidates can express their views
freely.
Citizens vote by secret ballot.
 Democratic Governments
There are two major forms of
democratic governments:
 Parliamentary

 Presidential
 Parliamentary
 In a parliamentary form of democratic
government, the people vote for those who
represent the political party they feel best
represents their views of how the
governmentshould operate.
 The legislature they elect, parliament, makes and carries out
(enforces) the laws for the country.
 The leader of a parliamentary form of government is usually
chosen by the party that winds the majority of representatives
in the legislature.
 This leader is often called a prime minister or premier and is
recognized as the head of the government.
 The prime minister leads the executive branch of the
government and must answer directly to the legislature for the
actions and policies recommended.
 In many parliamentary governments, a head of state (president
or king/queen) serves as ceremonial leader
The actual work of the parliament is led by the prime
minister, who represents the leading political party in the
country.
He or she rules with the help of a cabinet, or group of
advisors.
 A prime minister may be voted out of office if the party he
or she leads lose power
 Presidential
A presidential form of democratic government has a
president, or chief executive, that is chosen separately
from the legislature.

The legislature passes the laws, and it is the duty of the

president to see that the laws are enforced.

The president holed power separately from the legislature,

but he does not have the power to dismiss the legislature or
force them to make particular laws.
The president is the official head of the government.

The legislature does not have the power to dismiss

the president, except in extreme cases when the
president has broken a law.

The president is BOTH the lead of state and the

head of the government.
In Presidential Democratic…
Voters elect legislators
Voters elect (indirectly) the president.
Therefore, in the presidential system
voters have a more direct say about those
who serve in two branches of the
government :
 Legislative

 Executive
Parliamentary
System Presidential System

Executive Executive Legislative

Select

Legislative
Elect

Citizens Citizens
 COMMUNISM

a theory advocating elimination of private

property.
a system in which goods are owned in
common and are available to all as
needed.
Typically a one party system in which all
political power rest with the party (i.e.
China).
 Theocracy
A form of government in which God or a deity
is recognized as the supreme civil ruler. Often
religious institutional representatives (i.e.: a
church), replaces or is mixed into the civilian
government. Can be an Oligarchy, Representative
Democracy, and even a Monarchy.
Systems of Government are based
on one question: How is the
power distributed?
There are three ways governments
distribute power:
 Unitary

 Confederation

 Federal
 Unitary
One central government
controls everything.

Power is not shared between

states, counties or provinces.
Unitary government system – the central government
holds nearly all of the power.

Local governments such as state or county systems may have

some power at certain times, but they are basically under the
control of the central government.

Centralgovernment has the power to change the way state

or county governments operate or abolish them altogether.

Some unitary governments have elected officials who, once

elected, may make and enforce laws without taking the
opinions of those at lower levels of government into
consideration.
Unitary government system – the central government
holds nearly all of the power.
In a monarchy (area ruled by a king or emperor), the ruler
and his advisors make most of the
decisions –this is an
example of a unitary
government
Most African countries have Unitary governments
Other African countries have kings but most of them are kings
of particular tribes or ethnic groups and do not play a major role
in the day to day government of the countries
 Confederation
A voluntary association of independent states
that agrees to follow a powerful central
government.
Nations can choose to follow or not follow the
lead of the weak central government.
A confederation government system is one in
which the local governments hold all of the power
and the central government depends on the local
governments for its existence
The central government has only as much
power as the local governments are willing to
give
The United Nations is a good example of a
confederation
The United Nations can only offer advice and
assistance when the member nations agree to
cooperate
This organization is a regional group organized to
help the member countries cooperate on economic
matters, encourage, cultural exchanges, and to help
keep peace and stability in
the region.
 Federal
Power is shared by a powerful central
government.
States or provinces are given
considerable self rule, usually through
their own legislatures.
 Federal government system – a political system in
which power is shared among different levels of
government.
 The states have some powers that the federal
government does not have such as the right to collect
property taxes and determine sales taxes.
 The national government (or central government) also
has some powers that the state does not, such as the
right to declare war and make treaties with foreign
countries
 In the Middle East, Israel is an
example of a Federal government