Government Systems

Government is a system by which a
society is controlled or ruled
◦ There are limited government systems and
unlimited government systems.
What is a government?

In a limited government power and control is
limited, even for government leaders
◦ Often a written set of rules or guidelines (ex.
Constitution) that ALL members of society must
follow
◦ Citizens are often given personal liberties or
freedoms that the government cannot take away
(ex. Trial by jury, freedom of speech)
◦ There is usually a set of checks/balances to ensure
that no one person or group has too much power
Limited Government

In an unlimited government power and
control are unchecked for government
officials
◦ Power is often held by a small group or one
individual
◦ Government leaders are NOT obligated and
often do not follow the same laws as everyone
else
◦ Citizens have few, if any, personal liberties
Unlimited Government
Types of Governments

A type of government in which political
authority rests with the people
◦ Limited Government
◦ People participate directly in decision making
by voting on decisions
◦ Examples: New England, Ancient Greece
Direct Democracy

A type of government in which a king or
queen rules
◦ Was the most common form up until the last 100
years
◦ Rulers inherit power by birth
◦ At one time, monarchies had unlimited power and
citizens had little say in the running of the country
◦ Today most monarchies are set up as limited
governments and have constitutions that define the
government’s powers
◦ Examples: Great Britain, Spain
Monarchy

A type of government in which people
hold the power to govern and rule; also
known as a republic
◦ Limited government
◦ Government officials are elected by citizens to
make laws and policies
◦ Citizens are responsible for voting and being
informed about the issues that affect them
◦ Examples: United States, Canada
Representative Democracy

A type of government in which power lies
with one individual, a dictator, holds total
power
◦ Unlimited government
◦ Dictators make all decisions/laws for their
country
◦ Citizens have few rights or personal liberties
◦ “absolute power corrupts absolutely”
◦ Examples: North Korea, Cuba
Dictatorship

A type of government in which a small
group of people have control
◦ Unlimited government
◦ The ruling class is usually a wealthy class or
made of top military officials; children usually
inherit their place in power
◦ Citizens have few personal rights
◦ Examples: China, Pakistan
Oligarchy