Autocratic Oligarchic and Democratic Governments 3 Ways Governments

Autocratic, Oligarchic, and Democratic Governments 3 Ways Governments Determine Citizen Participation in Government

Autocratic Governments n Government in which one person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little if any role in the government. n Can not participate in elections or selecting the ruler n Rulers are dictators

Examples of Autocratic governments n Cuba, North Korea, Iraq under Saddam Hussein

Oligarchic Government n Government by a few, sometimes a government in which a small group exercises control often for corrupt and selfish purposes. The citizen has a very limited role. n Ruler is elected from a group of wealthy, landowners, or people who have the military support

Examples of Oligarchic governments n Iran-theocracy-small religious group rules n Certain African countries

Democratic Governments n Government by the people in which the supreme power is held by the people and exercised directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held FREE elections.

n “Democracy is of the people, for the people and by the people. ” Abraham Lincoln

Characteristics of Democracy n Sovereignty of the people n Government based upon consent of the governed n Majority rule but minority has rights n Guarantee of basic human rights n Free and fair elections n Equality before the law n Due process of law n Constitutional limits on government

Two Types of Democracy n 1. Presidential: A system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature. n ** The president is elected by the people of the country and not the legislature

Two Types of Democracy n 2. Parliamentary: A system of government where the elected representatives choose the leader of the country instead of the people. The leader (sometimes called the prime minister) answers to the legislature.

Parliamentary System • Prime Minster –leader, heads Parliament, the law making body • Parliament selects Prime Minister • Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament • May have a head of state with little power – King or Queen Presidential System • Legislaturelawmaking body • President-Leader Citizens elect lawmakers Leader heads the military & runs the government • President is elected • Legislature and President serve for a fixed amount of time • President does not make the laws • President is the head of state and chief executive