Early Societies

god-kings (Egyptian Pharaohs)

Early Forms of People Power

- Direct Democracy

- Republic               

Direct Democracy (Ancient Athens)

citizens vote/ majority rule

Republic (Ancient Rome)

citizens vote for officials who make decisions

Despots/ Tyrants

Monarchs who ruled for own personal benefit

Constitutions

power of government limited by rules/laws

Totalitarianism

government tries to control ALL aspects of society

Ex: Nazi Germany/Soviet Union

Monarchy

monarchs positions is inherited:

- Constitutional (Great Britain)

- Unlimited (Saudi Arabia)

Dictatorship

one person has all of the power/ keeps power thru forces

Ex: Cuba

Theocracy

religious leaders control government

Ex: Iran

Single-Party

only one political party allowed to exist/ all leaders belong

Ex: China (Communist)

Parliamentary

- voters elect rep/leader comes from legislature (Prime Minister)

- monarch/ president largely a ceremonial firgurehead

Ex: Great Britain/Israel

Presidential

nationally elected president leads the government

Ex: the US

How is the power of government distributed?

- Unitary

- Confederate

- Federal

Unitary

national government has all of the power

Ex: Japan

Confederate

regions (states) have all of the power of the government

Ex: Original USA/ no one today uses this

Federal

power is shared between states and national government

Ex: USA