Types of government Politics and Law 2 A

Types of Government • There are two broad categories: • Liberal democratic AND •

Democratic government Two types • Direct- All citizens are leaders, involved in decisions and

Democratic government • • • Free and fair elections Representative parliaments Accountable executives Open

Democratic government • Leader- limited power, right to rule comes from the people as

Democratic government • The Law-basic principle of the rule of law, law is supreme

Non-democratic government • The leader- Unlimited power, not accountable to anyone. Right to rule

Non- democratic government • The law- Law is at the will of the leader.

Examples • Absolute monarch- power based on hereditary right. Saudia Arabia, Monaco (most countries

Examples • Oligarchy-modern term for aristocracy, often generals and the wealthy, ie South America

Examples- Dictatorships/ Autocratic • Negative connotations- allows no opposition and rule is unfair/unequal. •

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Types of government Politics and Law 2 A

Types of Government • There are two broad categories: • Liberal democratic AND • Traditional/authority based (Non-democratic)

Democratic government Two types • Direct- All citizens are leaders, involved in decisions and often chosen by lot. Examples- Ancient Athens • In-direct- Vote for representatives to make decisions. Examples- Australia, UK, USA

Democratic government • • • Free and fair elections Representative parliaments Accountable executives Open participation Just and equitable legal system

Democratic government • Leader- limited power, right to rule comes from the people as they are chosen and removed by them. • People- Individuals are citizens, with human rights(ie/ legal, political and social).

Democratic government • The Law-basic principle of the rule of law, law is supreme and there is formal equality before the law. (pg 469). • Communication and change-open and society is dynamic.

Non-democratic government • The leader- Unlimited power, not accountable to anyone. Right to rule based on- physical power, birth or religious authority. • The people- Individuals are subjects, position in society decided by birth not merit, limited human rights.

Non- democratic government • The law- Law is at the will of the leader. Different laws for the rulers, they were above the law. • Communication and changeinformation controlled, and society static.

Examples • Absolute monarch- power based on hereditary right. Saudia Arabia, Monaco (most countries used this system before democracy) • Aristocracy- power is held by an elite section of society. Pre-revolution France

Examples • Oligarchy-modern term for aristocracy, often generals and the wealthy, ie South America and Burma.

Examples- Dictatorships/ Autocratic • Negative connotations- allows no opposition and rule is unfair/unequal. • Two types- Authoritarian-ie Zimbabwe’s Mugabe • Totalitarian systems- want control on all aspects of life. Ie- Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, current North Korea. • Read pgs 22/ 23 together.