Citizen Participation What is the citizens role This

Citizen Participation

What is the citizen’s role? This is a basic question that we must look at when understanding a country’s government.

Autocracy • A single person has complete power.

Autocracy Characteristics Defining Characteristics Elections are free and open Elections are not held or tightly controlled Leaders seize power Constitutional Monarchy + Absolute Monarchy - Dictatorship - - + + - +/- + National Leaders inherit their position + + - Rulers claim power by “divine right” - + - People elect representatives + - - +/- + + + - - + Encourages Free Citizen Participation + - - Limited Citizen Participation - + + People are the sovereign power National leader or leaders are the sovereign power Liberties and rights protected by a constitution Commoners can petition the King Nobles serve and advise the Queen Liberties and rights granted by the national leader(s) Multiple Political Party System One Political Party System

How Leader Gets Power • Inherit the power • Overthrow the government using force

Oligarchy • Very few people have complete power.

Oligarchy Characteristics Defining Characteristics Oligarchy Elections are not held or tightly controlled + Leaders seize power + National leader or leaders are the sovereign power + Liberties and rights granted by the national leader(s) + One Political Party System + Limited Citizen Participation +

How Leader Gets Power • passed on their power from generation to generation

Democracy • The control is put in the hands of the citizens.

Characteristics of a Democracy Defining Characteristics Direct Democracy Representative Democracy All eligible citizens can assemble and vote on issues + - Elections are free and open + + People elect representatives - + People are the sovereign power + + Liberties and rights protected by a constitution +/- + Multiple Political Party System -/+ + Encourages Free Citizen Participation

How Leader Gets Power • Leader is voted by the people

Organize three government types by how many people get to make decisions: Democracy The most people 1. ______ 2. Oligarchy ______ A few people 3. Autocracy ______ One person

Types of Democracy Presidential Democracy or Parliamentary Democracy (there is not just one flavor of soda)

Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems of Government • Presidential • President elected by the citizens • Parliamentary • Prime Minister (PM) selected by the majority party in Parliament

Presidential Democracy Executive Branch President – Elected by the people Legislative Branch Senators-Elected by the people. Judicial Branch Representatives. Elected by the people. In all these position, the people are elect their representative. Supreme Justices. Appointed by President and confirmed by the legislative branch

Parliamentary Democracy Legislature The members of the legislature are elected by the people. The party that has control of the legislature selects the prime minister. The people do not get to elect the prime minister. The power of the government is not divided into branches. The legislature is given the “supreme” power of government by the people.

Similarities • Citizens have the right to vote • Forms of Democracies

Differences • • • Presidential: Separation of Powers President Leaders answers to the people Checks and balances Parliamentary: Legislature controls power Prime minisiter Leaders answers to legislature