Governments

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Governments
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Political Geography Governments
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What is Political Geography?

• The study of governmental systems from around the
  world

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What is Government?

• An organization that people set up to protect
  their community and to enforce its rules

• Roles of the government
• To protect lives
• To protect liberties
• To protect property of members of the community
• To provide services that the people cannot
  provide on their own

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What are the different types of governmental
systems?
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Monarchy

• Ruled by a family headed by a King or Queen
• The ruler inherits their power - when the ruler
  dies, power is passed to one of the monarchs
  children or close relative
• These monarchs (kings, sultans, emperors)
  surround themselves with followers and advisors
  who help them govern
• Pros Stability
• Cons Limits on Power

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Constitutional Monarchy

• Monarchs share power with an elected legislature
• Parliament
• Usually the monarch serves as the symbolic head
  of state while elected members of Parliament
  govern the country
• Example United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Jordan

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Qaboos Bin Said Al Said Sultan of Oman
Imperial household of Japan (ko shitsu) oldest
continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.
Akihito.
Queen Elizabeth - United Kingdom-constitutional
monarchy
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Kuwait
is a constitutional monarchy
Mswati III of Swaziland, Africas last absolute
monarch in the world.
Cambodia-Sihamoni Cambodia is a constitutional
monarchy
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Republic

• A republic is a government without a king or a
  queen.
• Usually when a country overturns its monarchy it
  will become a republic.
• Republics can be democratic, theocratic, or
  parliamentary.
• An example would be the United States, which is a
  Democratic Republic

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Branches of United States Government
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Democracy

• Government authority is based on the will of the
  people.
• People either vote on issues directly, or they
  elect representatives who make government
  decisions for them.
• People have certain rights whereas they can
  criticize the government freely.
• There are two types that we see
• Direct Democracy
• Representative Democracy

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Direct Democracy

• The very first known democracy was in ancient
  Greece in the 5th c BCE.
• Democracy is Greek for people-power.
• Citizens assembled to make decisions for their
  city-states.
• They voted on these issues directly. This is
  where the term direct-democracy evolved from.

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Representative Democracy

• It is a democracy where different social groups
  elected their own representatives, who then met
  in assemblies.
• Nobles were represented in the Senate
• Government power was divided between two branches
  and voting was on various issues.
• Romans were the first to develop the
  representative democracy.

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• Direct Democracy - in which citizens have direct
  and active participation in the decision making
  of the government.
• Representative Democracy - citizens remain the
  sovereign power but political power is exercised
  indirectly through elected representatives.

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Dictatorship

• One individual holds complete political power
• The leader either seizes control by force or is
  placed into a position of authority by others
• the citizens have no influence over governmental
  policy and do not have the right to choose their
  own leaders
• Pros easy, quick to makes big changes
• Cons corruption, dissent is not allowed

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• What do you think the colors of the map tell us
  about government(s) around the world? What do
  you think each color represents?

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• Countries marked in dark colors are
  authoritarian, and most often dictatorships. Most
  of current dictatorships are in Africa and Asia.

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Communism

• The state plans and controls the economy and a
  single - often authoritarian - party holds power
• the elimination of private ownership of property
  or capital
• Example Cuba, Peoples Republic of China, North
  Korea
• Pros Classless Society
• Cons lack of Freedom

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Theocracy

• Government run by religious leaders. It is an
  old form of government, like a monarchy.
• Government claims to be directed by God or
  divinely blessed.
• No legal separation between church and state
• Citizens of other faiths are often excluded or
  expelled.
• Ancient times rulers were often priests.

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Examples of Theocracy throughout history.
In the Middle Ages, the head of the Catholic
Church, the Pope, ruled extensive territories in
Italy.
The Byzantine Empire was ruled by an emperor who
was also head of the church.
Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were believed to be
gods.
Iran, has both a theocratic and democratic
government. The President and representatives are
elected but are controlled by the Supreme Leader.
In early colonial times, Puritan ministers helped
govern Massachusetts.
The Supreme Leader is an Islamic cleric appointed
for life.
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Anarchy or Failed State

• Nobody in charge, only gangs and warlords.
• Fueled by drugs or desire to control resources.
• Happens when a country collapses.
• Example Somalia, parts of West Africa

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Video Write down 5 NEW things you learn or find
interesting as we celebrate our rights and
freedom using the following
The United States Bill of Rights
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vT8JClfNVhug
1 Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
2 Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia.
3 No quartering of soldiers.
4 Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
5 Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy.
6 Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.
7 Right of trial by jury in civil cases.
8 Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
9 Other rights of the people.
10 Powers reserved to the states.