Forms of Government

Intro to Government

Unit Objective

Students will be able to explain how the basic principles of government can
affect everyday life in a civilizatzation.

You will know this when you can compare and contrast life in an limited
government vs an unlimited government in a presentation.

Limited government

A government that has limitations placed upon it through a constitution.
Usually defined by s system of checks and balances/separation of powers. Power is split up between different branches and not placed with in a single part.

Unlimited Government

A government that has no limits placed upon it. The government has power
to do whatever it wants. Government officials do not have to comply with the laws. Power is in the hands of a single authority.

Multiple Choice

Limited or Unlimted:

In order to declare the head of state must get permission from congress

• Limited

• Unlimited

Multiple Choice

Limited or Unlimited:

In El Salvador the military can arrest any citizen and jail them without trial for any reason.

• Limited

• Unlimited

Multiple Choice

Limited or Unlimited:

In Soviet Russia the NKVD was immune to the laws.

• Unlimited

• Limited

Multiple Choice

If granted power to do so from the supreme court the President can remove a citizen's right of trail.

• Unlimited

• Limited

Direct Democracy

Rule by the majority. All decisions are made
by citizens through voting.

All officials run for election.

Usually when the leader wants to make a
change they have to assemble everyone to
vote on it.

EX:

Representative Democracy AKA a Republic

Citizens elect officials to make decisions for
them.

Not all officials are elected by the citizens.

Power is split between multiple
branches/offices.

Ex

Fill in the Blank

In a_______ Democracy the people vote on all decisions and postions while in a ________Democracy the people elect officials to make those decisions for them.

Absolute Monarchy

Rule by a King,Queen, Emperor, Empress, or
other royal title.

The Monarch has total power over their
nation what they say goes.

Only people in the royal family can rule.
Power passed through the family.

Typically they are the family that founded or
saved the nation.

Constitutional Monarchy

A Monarch whose powers are limited/defined
by a constitution.

Often time the monarch serves as a cultural
figure head and doesn’t have real political
power.

Ex:

Multiple Choice

Which form of Monarchy is Limited?

• Absolute

• Constitutional

Oligarchy

Rule by the few. A small body of officials
makes all decisions.

These officials are not elected by the people.

One party rule, you can not form a group that
believes in something different from the
ruling party.

Ex:

Theocracy

Rule by religion. The country’s religion
defines its government.

Usually freedom of religion is not a thing you
must be apart of the state religion.

Laws are defined by their religion.

Usually mixed with other forms.

Dictatorship

Rule by one. A single person seized power
through force, manipulation, lies, or other
corrupt and illegal means.

Their power relies on coercion, “The use of
force or threat of force to stay in power.” Often
ensuring officials in the military and police are
loyal to them to keep the rest of the population under control.

The Dictator has total power and makes all decisions.

“"It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one
cannot be both.” -Niccolo Machiavelli who wrote
the prince AKA Dictatorships for dummies.

Open Ended

Which form of Government is least likely to become unlimited? Theocracy, Oligarchy, or Dicatorship?

Open Ended

Exit ticket: What forms of Government are more likely to be limited which forms of Government are more likely to be unlimited?