How Governments Distribute Power Unitary Confederation Federal Unitary Confederation Federal

How Governments

Distribute Power

How Governments

Distribute PowerUnitary

ConfederationFederal

UnitaryConfederation

Federal

UnitaryUnitary

Definition: A form of government in which power is held by one central government.

Power is NOT shared between states, counties, or provinces.

Example: United Kingdom

Definition: A form of government in which power is held by one central government.

Power is NOT shared between states, counties, or provinces.

Example: United Kingdom

Central Authority

UnitaryWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Confederation• Definition: • A form of government based on a voluntary

agreement under which separate countries work together

• Voluntary association of independent states that often only delegate a few powers to the central authority.

• Secure some common purpose.• Agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action.• Each unit has final control of its own laws and citizens.• Confederations can be unstable because members often want

to do things their own way!• Example: European Union and OPEC

Central Authority

ConfederationWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Federal• Definition: A form of government in

which power is divided by a powerful central government and states or provinces that are given considerable self-rule, usually through their own legislatures.

• Examples: The United States, Germany, Australia, Canada, Russia, Mexico

Federation / FederalWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Central Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Ways Government Distributes Power

FederalUnitary Confederation

All key powers are held by the

central government

State/regional authorities

hold most of the power

Strong central government

Weaker central government

How Governments DetermineCitizen

Participation•Autocratic (Autocracy)•Oligarchic (Oligarchy)•Democratic (Democracy)

AutocraticAutocratic

Government in which one person possesses unlimited power

Citizens have little if any role in the government

Government in which one person possesses unlimited power

Citizens have little if any role in the government

OligarchicOligarchic

Government by the few: A small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes

The citizen has a very limited role.

Government by the few: A small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes

The citizen has a very limited role.

Democratic

A government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

Citizens vote for leaders.

Two Types of Democracy

Two Types of Democracy

ParliamentaryPresidential

ParliamentaryPresidential

Parliamentary

• A system of government having the real executive power vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature.

• May have a Prime Minister elected by the legislature.

Parliamentary Systems

The executive and legislature are fused. Survival and origin of each branch are not separate.

The people elect the Parliament; the Parliament elects the cabinet and Prime Minister.

Many parliamentary governments have a dual-executive. One ceremonial (the monarchy), one political (prime minister and cabinet).

Queen Elizabeth II,

Britain’s Head of State

Parliamentary SystemsParliamentary Systems

Survival not separate:

Cabinet must “maintain the confidence” of parliament (sustain the support of a majority of MPs) or resign.

Terms of office are not fixed, so cabinet can dissolve parliament and call new elections when it sees fit.

Thus, the executive can dissolve the legislature and the legislature can axe the executive!

Survival not separate:

Cabinet must “maintain the confidence” of parliament (sustain the support of a majority of MPs) or resign.

Terms of office are not fixed, so cabinet can dissolve parliament and call new elections when it sees fit.

Thus, the executive can dissolve the legislature and the legislature can axe the executive!

Countries with parliamentary system

Countries with parliamentary system

Presidential Democracy• A system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature.

• Original presidential system: ours! But also very common in Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia. Not popular in Europe.

Presidential DemocracyPresidential Democracy

Separate origin: Both branches are elected separately, in different elections.

Separate survival: Both branches are elected for a fixed term, neither can dismiss the other.

Cabinet answers only to president.

Personnel of each branch is non-overlapping.

Separate origin: Both branches are elected separately, in different elections.

Separate survival: Both branches are elected for a fixed term, neither can dismiss the other.

Cabinet answers only to president.

Personnel of each branch is non-overlapping.

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

DemocracyDemocracyOligarchicAutocratic

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High Participation

High Participation

Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation

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You live in a small country ruled by one man, who is also the head of the military. The only tv and radio stations you have are owned and run by the government. You can access the internet, but can only see certain government-approved websites. Although your country has elections, you are only allowed to vote for your current leader. People who criticize or protest against the government are jailed or executed. Which form of government best describes the government where you live?A. autocratic

B. parliamentaryC. democraticD. oligarchic

A. autocratic

You are the chief executive in your country’s democratically-elected national government. You came to power in the last election after your political party won a majority of seats in the national legislature. As the leader of your political party, you were chosen to be the head of the government by your co-workers in the legislature.Which form of government do you have?

A. presidentialB. autocraticC. parliamentaryD. oligarchic

A. presidentialB. autocraticC. parliamentaryD. oligarchic

C. parliamentary

The United Kingdom has a parliamentary democracy.

The United Kingdom has a parliamentary democracy.

The country in which you live has a central government that shares the power with several state and local governments.Which word best describes the way your government distributes power?

• A. unitary

• B. confederation

• C. federal

•C. federal• America has a federal system of

government.• Germany also has a federal system of

government.

I live in a country that has regular elections. The legislature is elected separately from the head of government. What type of democracy does my country have?

• A. oligarchic

• B. autocratic

• C. parliamentary

• D. presidential

• D. presidential

Anne lives in a country that has a strong central government that does not share power with states or provinces within the country or with any other country. What type of government best describes how Anne’s country distributes power?

Anne lives in a country that has a strong central government that does not share power with states or provinces within the country or with any other country. What type of government best describes how Anne’s country distributes power? A. Unitary B. Confederation C. Federal

A. Unitary B. Confederation C. Federal

A. UnitaryA. Unitary

In George’s country, there are a few leaders. They were not chosen by the people. They make decisions for the country based on what is best for them not for the country. They are mostly interested in making themselves rich. What type of citizen participation does George’s country have?

In George’s country, there are a few leaders. They were not chosen by the people. They make decisions for the country based on what is best for them not for the country. They are mostly interested in making themselves rich. What type of citizen participation does George’s country have?

•A. autocratic•B. oligarchic•C. democratic

•A. autocratic•B. oligarchic•C. democratic

•B. oligarchic•B. oligarchic

◊ In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?

◊ A. democratic◊ B. communist◊ C. parliamentary◊ D. totalitarian

◊ In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?

◊ A. democratic◊ B. communist◊ C. parliamentary◊ D. totalitarian

C. parliamentary C. parliamentary

Which statement about Great Britain's parliamentary system of government today is true?

A. Members of both houses of Parliament are elected for life.

B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will debate.

C. Members of Parliament do not belong to political parties.

D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.

Which statement about Great Britain's parliamentary system of government today is true?

A. Members of both houses of Parliament are elected for life.

B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will debate.

C. Members of Parliament do not belong to political parties.

D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.

D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.

D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.