Limited Unlimited Government

Limited and Unlimited Governments in Asia

By Lon Thrasher

What's the difference?

Limited: Government has limits on it. People have power. Change is easier.

Unlimited: The government can do whatever it wants.​ Ruler does what they want.

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​Which one is a democracy?

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​Limited or Unlimted

A system of government where ONE person has absolute power. It can be a dictator or an absolute monarchy. North Korea and Russia are autocratic. This is a form on UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT.

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​Example: North Korea's Dictator

​Autocracy

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A small group of people (few) controlling the government. This could be one political party - like we see in China (Communist Party) or one religion, race or wealthy families. ​

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Government by FEW.

​Oligarchy

Government controlled by the whole population or all of the voters of a country. "Governed by MANY." The United States is a republic that is democratic. Japan is a constitutional monarchy, also democratic.

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Governed by many!

​Democracy

Multiple Choice

Democracies are

• Unlimited government that allows people to vote.

• Limited government because people can vote and have a voice in decisions.

• Unlimited government because people cannot vote.

• Limited government because people have only limited rights.

​China is a one party system. We can call this an oligarchy and and UNLIMITED government. Only a few people get to make decisions and rules are very strict.

​China is UNLIMITED

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​Russia is an authoritarian government, where power is centralized. The elections are not thought to be fair, and people who oppose Putin are often imprisoned. Autocracy!

​​Putin's Russia

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​North Korea is a dictatorship, where ONE person has all the power. The leader makes all the decisions and no one can challenge him. People only have the rights he gives them.

​​North Korea

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Multiple Choice

An Autocracy can also be called a

• Limited Government

• Democracy

• Dictatorship

• Constitutional Monarchy

Multiple Choice

In China, only one political party has power. We call this an oligarchy. What else can we call the government of China?

• Limited

• Unlimited

• Democratic

• Constitutional Monarchy

India, Japan and Thailand are some of the countries in Asia that have democratic forms of government.

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​Democratic Republics and Constitutional Monarchies

​Limited Government

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​India has a parliamentary republic (democracy). This is a democratic form of government where people elect members of parliament. These members make the laws. People have rights.

​​India

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Japan is a constitutional monarchy, where citizens elect leaders that make the rules. The Emperor (king) doesn't have much power. People have the power.

​​Japan

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​This is also a constitutional monarchy, where people get to vote and elect their leaders. Constitutional monarchies are democracies, because people elect leaders.

Thailand​​

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​Lawmakers make the rules (laws) and citizens can re-elect them or vote for someone else for change.

​​Democracies ELECT lawmakers

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Parliamentary democracies elect members of parliament who make the rules, and those members of parliament elect the prime minister, who is the leader of the country. ​

​​Parliamentary

​Presidential democracies elect members of congress who make the rules. In this system, the people elect the president, who is the leader of the country.

​​Presidential

Multiple Choice

Parliamentary democracies are

• Limited Government

• Unlimited Government

• Absolute Monarchies

• Autocracies

Multiple Choice

India has a parliamentary democracy. A parliamentary democracy is a

• Elect members of parliament that make the rules.

• Is communist, unlimited government.

• Authoritarian government, where one person makes the rules.

• Absolute Monarchy, where a King is the leader.

Multiple Choice

Which one of these countries is NOT an unlimited government?

• Russia

• India

• China

• North Korea

Multiple Choice

Which one of these countries is NOT a limited government?

• United States

• India

• Japan

• China

Multiple Choice

Which is true about a democratic form of government?

• People elect representatives.

• One leader controls the government.

• A few people control the government.

• A dictator makes all the decisions.