Systems of Government LT I can define different

Systems of Government LT: I can define different types of government systems and demonstrate my understanding of the systems of government by performing a skit that shows key characteristics of one system. A. Democracy B. Oligarchy C. Monarchy D. Totalitarian E. Aristocracy F. Autocracy G. Republic

• the governing body of a nation, state, or community • In charge of: • creating and regulating laws • managing the economy • enforcing policies • This can happen in many different ways, with different levels of freedoms. • Not all governments are the same, and some look very different from each other! Government – What is it?

0 Spectrum of Governmental Power Anarchy Republic Democracy Autocracy & Aristocracy (Monarchy & Oligarchy) Totalitarian (Dictatorship)

• Definition: a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state • Key features: • an ideology that addresses all aspects of life and outlines means to attain the final goal • a single-party system through which the people are mobilized • Usually led by a dictator • Some sense of terror used to control the people • Historical examples: • Hitler’s Germany • Stalin’s Soviet Union • Mussolini’s Italy Totalitarian

• Definition: System of government by one person with absolute power • Key features: • One person in charge who makes all laws and is limited by none • Monarchies are also the rule by one, but usually the next in line to the throne is based on heredity • Historical examples: • Louis XIV (aka the sun king) Autocracy

• Definition: Rule by the few (Greek root words: ‘rule by the best’), usually made up of land owning, wealthy, and influential members of society. • Oligarchy is the main type of aristocracy • Historical Example • Sparta (ancient Greek city-state) Aristocracy

• Definition: a form of government in which all eligible citizens are meant to participate equally • Key Features: • All eligible citizens help make laws and govern • Simple majorities • Eligible citizens: In ancient Greece, eligible citizens did not mean ‘everybody’. Referred to wealthy, male citizens, who were Greek born. • Historical examples: • Athens • Switzerland Democracy

• Republic: system of government where people elect representatives to exercise power for them • What government does the US have? • A Democratic Republic! (we elect people to exercise power for us, but we elect them with a majority vote. ) • Anarchy: Absence of government, no government Republic & Anarchy