Governments of Europe

Today we will begin learning about European governments.

Our goal is to be able to compare and contrast various forms of governments found in Europe.

First, a look at governments in general

A government is a body (group) with the power to make laws, enforce those laws, and interpret the laws when disagreements arise.

A government also oversees the general welfare of its people.

One way to classify a government is by its level of citizen participation.

Are citizens allowed to vote?

Can citizens run for political office?

Can citizens voice their ideas and

opinions freely without punishment?

The answers to these questions can help you determine whether the government is more autocratic or more democratic. 

Autocratic and democratic governments are complete opposites!

There are two basic types of governments—autocratic (autocracy) and democratic (democracy)