Types of Government Lesson Two (Ch. 1.2; P. 7-11)

Today's Learning Target

I Can...

Define and identify types of democratic governments​

​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Democracy is a political system in which the government's authority to make decisions comes from the people.

​

There are direct democracies and representative democracies​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

What is Democracy?​

• Every citizen in the state comes together to make decisions

• Works in small groups

• First established in ancient Greece

• 500 Citizens (men) did the day to day governing and served as jurors on courts​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Direct Democracies​

​

• This is an indirect democracy

• Citizens elect officials to represent their needs and interests

• The first indirect democracy appeared in Rome​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Representative Democracy

Shared Features of All Democracies​

• Citizens have a voice

• Free speech and free press is often protected

• Majority rule!

• Constitutions outline what governments can and cannot do

• Government leaders have to follow the rule of law: the constitution

• THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN!

• Minorities often have to use the tools of democracy to demand their rights​

• Free market systems: government stays out of economic decisions​

​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

• Strong central government

• Local government has little power; needs to answer to central government

• Pro: Decisions are made quickly and easily

• Con: Poor decisions face no opposition​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Unitary Government

• Collection of smaller states working together to form an alliance

• Most power belongs to the states

• Pro: States are free to make their own decisions

• Con: Hard to get international assistance​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Confederate Government

• A federal government tries to find balance between a unitary and confederate government

• Strong central government, but gives states powers of their own. ​

• U.S. started as a confederacy but moved to a federal government when it ratified its constitution in 1787.

• Congress can make laws, collect taxes; states can pass their own laws too​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Federal Government

​

Legislative and executive branches are combined into a single unit called the parliament. ​

Parliamentary System

People who make decisions (legislative branch) is separate from the people who carry out decisions (executive branch)

Presidential System

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​​Pro: Keeps any part of government from being too strong

President can only pass laws decided on by congress

President can reject laws passed by congress

Con: If president and congress never agree progress may never be made​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Presidential Government

​

• ​Made up of elected officials from different political parties

• Head of the political party with the most members serves as the prime minister

• Prime Minister: Head of the parliament

• UK, Greece, Israel​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Parliamentary Government

​