Forms and Systems of Government

A system of government in which political power resides with the people.

• Autocracy
• Democracy
• Oligarchy

A few people hold all the power.

• Autocracy
• Democracy
• Oligarchy

The king or queen has complete or total power among his or her people.

• Absolute Monarchy
• Constitutional Monarchy

The king or queen has power that is limited by a constitution and parliament.

• Absolute Monarchy
• Constitutional Monarchy

Proposes that society or the people should organize and control the means of production for the welfare of all.

• Socialism
• Communism

From Karl Marx, a theory that proposes that government should organize and control the means of production for the welfare of all.

• Socialism

• Communism

1. The voters in a community meet together to make decisions and laws.
2. Suited for smaller communities.

• Direct Democracy
• Representative Democracy

1. A system of government in which the people elect candidates to make policies and laws for them.
2. This is the type of government that the United States has.

• Direct Democracy
• Representative Democracy

What form of government is the United States?

• Direct Democracy
• Representative Democracy

Kayla sat in the meeting hall and listened to the different candidates for her state's open Senate seat. The candidates debated about their positions on issues. When Election Day came along, she voted for the candidate she thought would best serve her community’s interests. What form of government does Kayla have? 

• Representative democracy
• Direct democracy
• Monarchy
• Oligarchy