Aim B1 - Political Systems (Unit 6: Government & PS)

'Government by the people - supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by elected agents under a free electoral system'

• Democracy

• Communism

• Monarchy

• Republic

'A state in which the head of government is not hereditary, where power rests in the body of its citizens who are entitled to vote and excised by the representative(s) chosen directly by them (ie a president)'

• Democracy

• Communism

• Monarchy

• Republic

'A state or nation in which the supreme power is held by a single person, who has hereditary heirs, to maintain supreme power (absolute). However, this person can also be constitutional or symbolic'

• Democracy

• Communism

• Monarchy

• Republic

'All economic and social activity controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party'

• Democracy

• Communism

• Monarchy

• Republic

Identify 2 key characteristics of a Democratic Political System:

• The people choose leaders by voting for others to act on their behalf

• Control stays with the people & Rule of Law is a central aspect

• The country/state is headed by an elected or nominated president

• Can be like a dictatorship, as one person has supreme power

• A system that looks to create a classless society

Identify 2 key characteristics of a Democratic Political System:

• There is an open and accountable mass media in place

• Public service lies under public control for the public good

• Centrally controlled process government does not own the workers

• No individual people own land, factories or machinery, instead they are owned by the state

• Aim to achieve full social equality

Identify 2 key characteristics of a Monarchy:

• Can be a symbolic (ie crowned republic) or absolute (fully autocratic role)

• Can be restricted (ie constitutional) with limited powers, such as the UK

• Headed by an elected president

• Public service lies under public control for the public good

• Aim to achieve full social equality

Identify 2 key characteristics of a Communist Political System:

• The people choose leaders by voting for others to act on their behalf

• Control stays with the people & Rule of Law is a central aspect

• The country/state is headed by an elected or nominated president

• Centrally controlled process government, does not own the workers

• A system that looks to create a classless society

Identify 2 key characteristics of a Communism:

• Open and accountable mass media in place

• Power is held by the people and their elected representatives

• The country/state is headed by an elected or nominated president

• No individual people own land, factories or machinery, instead they are owned by the state

• Aim is to achieve full social equality

Identify 2 key characteristics of a Republic:

• Rule of Law is a central aspect & the people are central to all aspects of this system

• Similar to a Democracy: Power is held by the people and their elected representatives

• The country/state is headed by an elected or nominated president

• No individual people own land, factories or machinery, instead they are owned by the state

• Aim is to achieve full social equality