Government Systems of SW Asia DT #2 Re-Performance Lesson

Types of Democracy

Discovery Ticket #2 Re-Performance Lesson

​Democracies

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There are two forms of democracies:

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•Direct Democracy – Citizens (people) vote on all the issues. (*In early democracies, people voted individually on EVERY issue!)

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•Representative Democracy – Citizens elect representatives and give them the power to vote on issues.

​Representative Democracy

A representative democracy, also known as a republic, is a government where citizens elect representatives; citizens are involved through their representatives (voting)

​Representative Democracies

There are two main types of representative democracies:

​1) Parliamentary

​2) Presidential

​Parliamentary Democracy

​A parliamentary democracy is a system of government in which citizens elect representatives to a legislative parliament to make the necessary laws and decisions for the country. This parliament directly represents the people.

​Parliamentary Democracy

•Executive power is held by members of the legislature; (executive + legislative = one branch of government)

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•Prime minister (leader/chief of state), is elected by the legislature, NOT by the people

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•Head of state (ex. king or queen) as a ceremonial role, but the chief of state usually has the power (*Note: The head of state and the chief of state are 2 separate people!)

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Example: Israel

​Presidential Democracy

​Presidential Democracy – executive power is held by an individual (typically called a president) who is elected separately from the legislature.

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​So how does one distinguish between a true presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy with a symbolic head of state called a president?

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After all they both have presidents! Ignore the titles. If the person who has the executive power is chosen by and is a member of the legislature, then it is a parliamentary democracy. If the person who has executive power is chosen directly by the people and is separate from the legislature, then it is a presidential democracy.

​Presidential and Parliamentary Governments

​What's the difference?

​What's the difference?

Multiple Choice

How does the leader of a republic (ex: President, Prime Minister) usually come to power.

• military force

• elected by the citizens

• inherits from relatives

• true power elected; figure-head inherits title

Multiple Choice

What is the main DIFFERENCE between a presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy?

• A Prime Minister has more power than a President.

• A President had to be elected while a Prime Minister does not.

• A Prime Minister does not belong to a political party while a President always does.

• A President is elected directly by the citizens, while a Prime Minister is elected by the Legislature.

Multiple Choice

In a parliamentary system, who is the head of government?

• Monarch

• Dictator

• President

• Prime Minister

Multiple Choice

In early democracies, people voted individually on every issue. This is a _________ democracy.

• Representative

• Indirect

• Direct

• Republican

Multiple Select

What are the two types of Democracy? (choose 2)

• Federal

• Republic

• Presidential

• Parliamentary