Government

1
Government
Sixth Grade Social Studies
2
Compare Contrast Various Forms of Government
Describe the ways government systems distribute
power unitary, confederation, and federal
SS6 - CG1a, CG4a, CG6a
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Ways Government Distributes Power
Unitary
Gives all the power to one central
government/authority.

• Central government has final authority over all
  decisions.
• Unitary central governments are stronger than
  federal central governments - why?
• Many countries have unitary governments,
  including Great Britain, France, Italy, Cuba and
  Bolivia

4
Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
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Ways Government Distributes Power
Confederation
Voluntary association of independent
states/countries

• Often only delegate (give) a few powers to the
  central authority
• Secure some common purpose but each unit has
  final control of its own laws/citizens
• Agree to certain limitations on their freedom of
  action
• States retain considerable independence
• Less binding than a federation
• Why can a confederation be unstable?
• Because members often want to do things their own
  way!

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Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
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List of Confederations

• Iroquois Confederacy (1090present)
• European Union and OPEC
• Historic confederations
• United States of America under the Articles of
  Confederation (17811789)
• Confederate States of America, (18611865)

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Ways Government Distributes Power
Federal (Federation)
Power is divided between one central government
and the government of smaller political units
like states.

• Most federal systems give a lot of power to lower
  governments to handle local affairs
• The central government handles issues that
  concern the entire country (armed forces,
  negotiating treaties, etc)
• Countries with a federal government include the
  United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico,
  Venezuela and Brazil

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Federation / Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
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Review!Match each phrase to the correct
government system each system will have two
phrases

• Unitary System
• Confederation
• Federal System

1. France is an example
2. Loose alliance
3. Political units control their own laws
4. Central govt divides power
5. Central govt has all power
6. United States is an example

• France is an example
• E. Central govt has all power

• B. Loose alliance
• C. Political units control their own laws

• D. Central govt divides power
• F. United States is an example

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Sample Test Question

• In Mexicos government, power is divided between
  central and regional authorities. This is an
  example of which government type?
• A. Unitary
• B. Confederation
• C. Federal
• D. Parliamentary

Corresponds to SS6- CG1a, CG4a, CG6a
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Sample Test Question - Answer

• In Mexicos government, power is divided between
  central and regional authorities. This is an
  example of which government type?
• A. Unitary
• B. Confederation
• C. Federal
• D. Parliamentary

Corresponds to SS6- CG1a, CG4a, CG6a
13
Compare Contrast Various Forms of Government
Explain how governments determine citizen
participation autocratic, oligarchic, and
democratic.
SS6 - CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
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How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
High Participation
High Participation
General Citizens Participation
Select Citizens Participation
Citizen Participation
Government Power
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Government Power
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation

• Democracy

Oligarchic
Autocratic
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How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Autocracy
One leader holds complete power citizens have
limited, if any, role in government

• Oldest form of government
• An autocracy is the opposite of a democracy
• Maintain power through inheritance or ruthless
  use of the military and police power
• Examples
• Dictatorship (Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini,
  Joseph Stalin)
• Absolute Monarchy (king/queen/emperorKing of
  Saudi Arabia)

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How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Oligarchy
Government by the few - control rests with a
small group of people with power

• The group gets its power from military power,
  social power, wealth, religion or a combination
• Citizen has a limited role.
• Example apartheid system in South Africa, where
  a small group of whites held power over the black
  majority from 1948 to 1994 and Communist China
  where leaders in the communist party and armed
  forces control the government

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How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Autocracy Oligarchy

• Sometimes they claim they rule for the people
• In reality, the people have very little say in
  both types of government
• Example May hold elections with only one
  candidate or control the results in various ways
• Example Even when these governments have a
  legislature or national assembly, they often only
  approve decisions made by the leaders

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How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Democracy
The people hold supreme power

• Usually, people exercise their power by electing
  officials (voting!!)to represent them
• All citizens have equal rights to participate in
  government regardless of their position or wealth
• Examples The United States, Canada, Brazil,
  Mexico, Great Britain

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Review!!Read the statements by political leaders
below. Write A if they head an autocratic
government, O if they head an oligarchy and D if
they head a democracy.

• I am proud to serve as president of a country
  where everyone has equal rights.
• My wealth and position will keep me in power in
  this society.
• I will imprison anyone who criticizes my
  government. I am in total control.
• There is no reason to explain our position to
  the people. We are in control here.
• Where can I register to vote for the
  presidential election?

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Review!!Read the statements by political leaders
below. Write A if they head an autocratic
government, O if they head an oligarchy and D if
they head a democracy.

• I am proud to serve as president of a country
  where everyone has equal rights. D
• My wealth and position will keep me in power in
  this society. A
• I will imprison anyone who criticizes my
  government. I am in total control. A
• There is no reason to explain our position to
  the people. We are in control here. O
• Where can I register to vote for the
  presidential election? D

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Sample Test Question

• What is a basic way citizens of a democratic
  nation can influence the government?
• A. voting
• B. working
• C. obeying laws
• D. consuming goods

SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
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Sample Test Question - Answer

• What is a basic way citizens of a democratic
  nation can influence the government?
• A. voting
• B. working
• C. obeying laws
• D. consuming goods

• SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

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Compare Contrast Various Forms of Government
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic
governments Parliamentary Presidential
The main difference between the two main forms of
democracy is the relationship between the
legislative and executive branches of government.
SS6 - CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
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Describe the two predominant forms of democratic
government parliamentary and presidential
Parliamentary Democracy
The Legislature (Parliament) controls the power.

• The majority party in the legislature forms a
  government headed by a prime minister, who is
  chosen by the legislature.
• The prime minister and his cabinet are members of
  the legislature, and the prime minister answers
  to the legislature (fusion of powers).
• The govt will stay in office for a specified
  period unless the prime minister loses support of
  the majority in the legislature on an important
  vote. If that happens, the prime minister must
  resign and elections are held immediately.
• Examples Canada, Great Britain, Australia

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Describe the two predominant forms of democratic
government parliamentary and presidential
Presidential Democracy
The President is constitutionally independent of
the legislature.

• The executive and legislative branches are
  separate bodies elected independently by the
  citizens (separation of powers).
• There are checks and balances where each branch
  can overrule the other.
• The president answers to the voters, not to the
  legislature.
• The people elect the president and elections are
  held at set intervals.
• Examples The United States, Brazil and Mexico

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ReviewPlace check marks next to the items that
fit each government system.
Parliamentary
Presidential

• Legislature controls power
• Separation of powers
• Prime minister
• President
• Leader answers to people
• Leader answers to legislature
• Checks and balances
• Elections are held if leader forced to resign
• Leader elected by the people

• Legislature controls power
• Separation of powers
• Prime minister
• President
• Leader answers to people
• Leader answers to legislature
• Checks and balances
• Elections are held if leader forced to resign
• Leader elected by the people

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Sample Test Question

• In which system of government does the
  legislature elect the executive leader of the
  government?
• A. democratic
• B. communist
• C. parliamentary
• D. totalitarian

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
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Sample Test Question - Answer

• In which system of government does the
  legislature elect the executive leader of the
  government?
• A. democratic
• B. communist
• C. parliamentary
• D. totalitarian

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
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Sample Test Question

• Which statement about Great Britain's
  parliamentary system of government today is true?
• A. Members of both houses of Parliament are
  elected for life.
• B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will
  debate.
• C. Members of Parliament do not belong to
  political parties.
• D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by
  voters.

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
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Sample Test Question - Answer

• Which statement about Great Britain's
  parliamentary system of government today is true?
• A. Members of both houses of Parliament are
  elected for life.
• B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will
  debate.
• C. Members of Parliament do not belong to
  political parties.
• D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by
  voters.

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
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Sample Test Question

• In most democratic countries, the government is
  divided into three branches executive,
  legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the
  legislative branch is the
• A. Parliament
• B. prime minister
• C. Supreme Court
• D. governor general

SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
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Sample Test Question - Answer

• In most democratic countries, the government is
  divided into three branches executive,
  legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the
  legislative branch is the
• A. Parliament
• B. prime minister
• C. Supreme Court
• D. governor general

SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
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Compare Contrast Various Forms of Government
Compare the federal-republican systems of Brazil
and Mexico to the dictatorship of the Cuba,
distinguishing the form of leadership and the
role of the citizen in terms of voting and
personal freedoms.
SS6CG2
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Brazil Federal Republic

• Federal Government divides power between the
  national (federal) and local (state) governments
• Republic Decisions are made by elected
  officials who represent the people
• Brazils leader is a president elected by the
  citizens
• President serves a 4 year term
• Voting is mandatory for citizens between 18 and
  70 who can read
• Brazils citizens enjoy personal freedoms like
  freedom of speech and freedom of assembly

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Mexico Federal Republic

• Federal Government divides power between the
  national (federal) and local (state) governments
• Republic Decisions are made by elected
  officials who represent the people
• Mexicos leader is a president elected by the
  citizens
• President serves a 6 year term and has more power
  than the other branches of government
• Mexicos citizens enjoy personal freedoms like
  freedom of speech and freedom of assembly

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Cuba Communist Dictatorship

• Communist The government plans and controls the
  economy and a single party (the communist party)
  holds power
• Dictatorship A ruler or small group have all
  the power
• Cuba has a president, but he is a dictator with
  absolute authority who was not originally elected
  by the Cuban citizens he seized power in 1959

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Cuba Communist Dictatorship

• Cubas president controls all aspects of Cuban
  life through the Communist Party and the people
  he chooses to put in govt positions.
• Cubas citizens can vote BUT they can only vote
  for candidates selected by the only political
  party, the Communist Party.
• Cuban citizens do NOT have personal freedoms like
  freedom of speech.
• Cuba does not have free trade or enterprise.

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Review!!Answer TRUE or FALSE for each question

• Brazils government leader is an elected
  president.
• Mexicos leader is a prime minister.
• Cubas leader is a dictator who seized power.
• In Brazil, you dont have to vote if you dont
  want to.
• Citizens have freedom of speech in Mexico and
  Brazil.
• There are many political parties in Cuba.
• Cuba has free elections where anyone can run
  for office.
• You can say anything you want about the
  government in Cuba.

TRUE!
FALSE!
TRUE!
FALSE!
TRUE!
FALSE!
FALSE!
FALSE!
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Sample Test Question

• Which term describes how political power is
  distributed in Brazil?
• A. aristocratic
• B. confederation
• C. federal
• D. unitary

SS6CG2
40
Sample Test Question - Answer

• Which term describes how political power is
  distributed in Brazil?
• A. aristocratic
• B. confederation
• C. federal
• D. unitary

SS6CG2
41
Sample Test Question

• What type of government does Mexico currently
  have?
• A. communist
• B. monarchy
• C. parliamentary democracy
• D. Presidential democracy

SS6CG2
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Sample Test Question - Answer

• What type of government does Mexico currently
  have?
• A. communist
• B. monarchy
• C. parliamentary democracy
• D. presidential democracy

SS6CG2
43
Sample Test Question

• What statement about political parties is true
  about Cuba?
• A. There are many political parties.
• B. There is only one legal political party.
• C. The leader of the political party cannot be
  president.
• D. Those running for office many not be in the
  Communist Party.

SS6CG2
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Sample Test Question - Answer

• What statement about political parties is true
  about Cuba?
• A. There are many political parties.
• B. There is only one legal political party.
• C. The leader of the political party cannot be
  president.
• D. Those running for office many not be in the
  Communist Party.

SS6CG2