Government Notes

There are different terms used to describe a country’s government. The names are based on two criteria: citizen participation and division of power between the federal (central) and state (local) governments

Power Distribution: Federal, Unitary, Confederation

Federal / Unitary / Confederation
  • Power is divided equally between one central and several regional authorities
  • Power is shared between the central and regional authorities.
/
  • Uni = one (1)
  • Power is held by one central authority.
  • Example would be a Monarch or Dictator
  • They do not give their power away. They may delegate duties.
/ •Voluntary association of independent states that often only give a few powers to the central authority.
•Have acommon purpose.
•Agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action.
•States/Countries, Regions retain considerable independence.
•Less binding than a federation.

Citizen Participation: Autocratic, Oligarchic, & Democratic Chart

Type of Rule / Who holds the Power / Who can be elected / Who can vote
Autocratic
Nazi Germany; Cuba / Single
ruler / UnlimitedPower for the ruler / No one – citizens have no choice / No citizen participation – no elections are held
Oligarchic
Many medieval governments were oligarchic; China / Small group of people / Group answers only to each other / No one outside the ruling group – the rulers are selected by the group / No citizen participation – leaders are chosen from within the ruling group by the group
Democratic
France; United Kingdom / Citizens of the country / The voters / Any citizen (with some restrictions like age, not in jail, etc.) / Any citizen (with some restrictions like age, not in jail, etc.)

European Governments: United Kingdom, Russia, & Germany Notes

  1. Parliamentary System of the United Kingdom
  2. Unitary System: the central government has all the power
  3. Democracy: citizens of the country hold the power (voting)
  4. Parliamentary Democracy: leader is elected through the legislature, not directly by the people
  5. Parliament is the lawmaking body of the United Kingdom
  6. Composed of the House of Lords and the House of Commons
  7. The monarch is also part of Parliament
  8. Parliament: House of Lords
  9. In the past, these seats were passed down through wealthy families
  10. Now, Lords are elected by the Houseor are appointed by the monarch
  11. Have little power
  12. Can only make suggestionsof ways to improve a bill that is on its way to becoming a law
  13. Parliament: House of Commons
  14. Citizens elect these members
  15. This branch controls the country’s budget (lots of power)
  16. The leader of the political party with the most members becomes the Prime Minister
  17. Head of government (chief executive) and runs the government on a day to day basis.
  18. UK’s Leadership
  19. Prime Minister is the chief executive with the MOST power
  20. Leader of the British Parliament, works with the legislative branch
  21. Runs the government
  22. The monarch is the official head of state (a symbol for the country)
  23. Duties are mostly ceremonial
  24. Role is restricted by the constitution of the United Kingdom
  25. UK’s Citizen Participation
  26. Citizens have personal freedom like those in the US
  27. All citizens are treated equally and have the right to worship as they choose
  28. British citizens have freedom of speech, right to a fair trial, the right to own property and the right to security
  29. Citizens do not directly elect the leaders (only the House of Commons)
  30. Federal System of Germany
  31. Federal System: the power is shared between the central government and the governments of the 16 states
  32. Democracy: citizens of the country hold the power (voting)
  33. Parliamentary Democracy: leader is electedthrough the legislature, not directly by the people
  34. Parliamentary System of Germany
  35. Germany’s parliament is composed of two houses: the Bundestag and the Bundesrat
  36. Germany’s constitution is called the Basic Law
  37. States that Germany is a welfare state: government guarantees people certain benefits when they are unemployed, sick, poor or disabled
  38. Parliament: Bundestag
  39. Has the most power
  40. Citizens of each German state elect its members
  41. Members of the house elect the Chancellor (chief executive of Germany)
  42. Parliament: Bundesrat
  43. Represents the interests of the state governments
  44. Each state government selects representatives for this house
  45. Mainly concerned with laws that affect states, such as education and local government issues.
  46. Germany’ Leadership
  47. Chancelloris the chief executive
  48. Runs the government
  49. Elected by the Bundestag(legislature)
  50. The presidentis the official head of state
  51. a symbol for the country
  52. Duties are mostly ceremonial
  53. Representatives of thelegislature and representatives of thestates choose the president
  54. Germany’s Citizen Participation
  55. Citizens have same basic freedoms like those in the United Kingdom
  56. All citizens are treated equally and have the right to worship as they choose
  57. Have freedom of speech, right to a fair trial, the right to own property, and the right to security
  58. Citizens do not directlyelect the leaders (only the Bundestag)
  59. Federal System of Russian Federation
  60. Federal System: the power is shared between the central government and the governments of the states
  61. Democracy: citizens of the country hold the power (voting)
  62. Presidential Democracy: leader is directlyelected by the people
  63. Russian Federal Assembly
  64. Russia’s legislature is called the Federal Assemblyand is divided into two parts: the Federation Counciland the State Duma
  65. Federal Assembly: Federation Council
  66. Has two representatives from each state
  67. States appoint the council’s members; they are directly elected by the people
  68. One important duty: approve the president’s choices of people to fill different government jobs
  69. Federal Assembly: State Duma
  70. Larger than the Federation Council
  71. Has 450 members who are elected directly by the people
  72. This house controls the budget and makes the laws
  73. Approves the president’s choice for prime minister
  74. Russia’s Leadership
  75. Presidentis the chief executive with the MOST power
  76. Elected by the people (presidential democracy)
  77. Can disband the legislature
  78. President also selects a Prime Minister
  79. helps in the day-to-day running of the government
  80. Similar to USA’s vice president
  81. Russia’s Citizen Participation
  82. Russia’s constitution guarantees human and civil rights for its citizens
  83. All people equal
  84. Russians have the right to life and dignity, freedom of speech, and the right to privacy
  85. Citizens directly elect the leader

Types of Democracies

1