Principles of Government Chapter 1 Section 2 FORMS
- Slides: 6
Principles of Government Chapter 1
Section 2 FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Classifying Governments • No two governments are exactly alike – to classify governments political scientists look for ways to describe, compare, and analyze different systems. – Who can participate in the governing process? – How is governmental power distributed geographically? – What is the relationship between the executive and legislative bodies?
How Many Can Participate? Democracy Dictatorship • All citizens participate • Only a small number of people participate. • Not responsible to the will of the people • Those in charge hold absolute power – Directly – Indirectly • The government is responsible to the will of the people • The people hold the power.
How is power distributed? • Unitary – One central agency that holds all power. Central government does not share power. • Federal – Power is shared between the central and various local government agencies. • Confederate – An alliance of independent states, power is retained by various local governments.
Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches Presidential Parliamentary • The Executive branch and the Legislative branch are separate, independent, and coequal. • The Executive branch is formed from members of the Legislative branch.
