CHALLENGE: Types of Government

Switzerland: Citizens elect representatives to sit in two different lawmaking assemblies. But citizens also vote several times a year to decide on laws. Citizens can vote to propose their own laws or undo laws passed by their representatives. All citizens may vote directly on these laws. (Two types of government)

• Dictatorship

• Direct Democracy

• Oligarchy

• Representative Democracy

South Africa: From 1948–1994, official policy in South Africa gave white people all the political power. Even though the majority of South Africans were Black, non-whites could not influence government. White South Africans elected representatives to sit in a lawmaking body. (Two types of government)

• theocracy

• representative democracy

• oligarchy

• dictatorship

North Korea: One man leads North Korea and controls its government. He also controls its ruling political party. The ruling party chooses candidates for an Assembly, and citizens vote. The candidates do not have opponents, so citizens have no choices. (One type of government)

• direct democracy

• theocracy

• oligarchy

• dictatorship

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is led by a king. The king appoints a Council of Ministers to help govern, but there are no elections. Saudi Arabia’s Basic Law states that the country’s constitution is the Islamic holy book the Qur’an and other religious traditions. (Two types of government)

• republic

• absolute monarchy

• oligarchy

• theocracy

Denmark: The people of Denmark elect representatives to sit in Parliament, a lawmaking body. The Queen of Denmark heads the country, but she only has a small role in government. The government is led by a Prime Minister, who is appointed from among the elected representatives. (One type of government)

• constitutional monarchy

• absolute monarchy

• direct democracy

• dictatorship

Brazil: Brazil is led by a president who is elected by the citizens. Citizens in Brazil elect a new president every four years. Citizens also elect representatives to serve in two different legislative bodies.

• constitutional monarchy

• representative democracy

• direct democracy

• theocracy

True or False: A monarchy can be like a dictatorship or it can be part of a democracy.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

While an absolute monarchy is more similar to a dictatorship, a constitutional monarchy is more similar to a democracy.

True or False: A dictatorship can also be a democracy.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

In a dictatorship, there are no elections or elected representatives, which is an important part of a democracy.

True or False: A democracy can have both representative and direct characteristics at the same time.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Many democracies have elected representatives, but ask citizens to vote directly on decisions such as new laws. Massachusetts is a great example of a government that is both a representative and a direct democracy.

True or False: Theocracy can co-exist with democracy.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True! In Iran, citizens vote for their elected leaders, while government laws are based on the Quran (Islamic holy book).