Forms of government can be categorized based on who rules (types) and how power is distributed (systems). The main types are autocracy, where one ruler holds power; oligarchy, where a small group rules; and democracy, where citizens participate. Systems include unitary states with centralized power, confederations with weak central authority, and federations with shared power between national and regional levels.

1. Forms of Governments

2. To study governments, geographers
look at the following:
Types – Who rules and who participates?
Systems – How the power is distributed?

3. Types of Government are based on
one key question: Who governs and
what is the citizen participation?
There are three types of governments:
 Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy

4. Autocracy
Government in which the power to govern
is held by one person.
Generally the power to rule is inherited or
by military force.
There are three
types of Autocracy.

5. #1 Dictatorship
The leader has not been
elected and uses force to
control all aspects of
social and economic life.
Examples: Adolf Hitler in
Germany and Joseph
Stalin in the Soviet Union

6. #2 Absolute Monarchy
Brunei, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Vatican City.
A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or
empress.
The power is usually inherited or passed
down from family members.
The monarch has absolute power meaning
they can make all decisions
without consulting anyone.

7. #3 Constitutional Monarchy
Kings, queens or emperors share power
with elected legislatures.
Generally they are nothing more than
figureheads (ceremonial).
The government is a democratic one that
limits the monarchs power.
Example: Great Britain

8. Oligarchy
A government in which a few people such
as a dominant clan or clique have power.
The group gets their power from either
military, wealth or social status.
Elections may be held but offer
only one candidate.
Example:
Greek city states
Caudillos - those who
owned large estates throughout
Sparta the land.

9. Democracy
In a democracy, the government is
“Ruled by the people”
There are two forms of democracy
 Direct Democracy – People vote on all the issues.
 Representative Democracy – People elect representatives
and give them the power to vote on issues.
 Example: United States

10. In a democracy….
Individual freedom and equality is
valued.
Free elections are held
Decisions are based on majority rule.
All candidates can express their views
freely.
Citizens vote by secret ballot.

11. Democratic Governments
There are two major kinds of
democratic governments:
Parliamentary
Presidential

12. Parliamentary Democracy
Voters elect members to the Parliament (legislature)
Parliament has two Houses:
 House of Commons: The Political Party with the most
votes in the House of Commons chooses the Prime
Minister, the government’ s leader with no set length
of term.
 House of Lords: Little power with most members
being nobles having inherited their titles.

13. Presidential
Democracy
Voters elect legislators
Voters elect (indirectly) the president.
 Therefore, in the presidential system voters
have a more direct say about those who
serve in two branches of the government :
 Legislative
 Executive

14. Parliamentary Presidential System
System
Executive Executive Legislative
Select
Elec
Elec
Elec t
Legislative
t
t
Elect
Citizens Citizens

15. Systems of Government are based
on one question:
How is the power distributed?
There are three ways governments
distribute power:
 Unitary
 Confederation
 Federal

16. Unitary
One central government controls
everything.
Power is not shared between states,
counties or provinces.
Examples : United Kingdom, France,
the Netherlands, and Spain

17. Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Regional
Authority Authority
Central
Authority
Regional Regional
Authority Authority

18. Confederation
A voluntary association of independent states
that agrees to follow a powerful central
government.
Nations can choose to follow or not follow the
lead of the weak central government.
Examples: Confederate States of America
( 1861-1865), Russian Federation.

19. Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Regional
Authority Authority
Central
Authority
Regional Regional
Authority Authority

20. Federal
Power is shared by a powerful central
government.
States or provinces are given
considerable self rule, usually through
their own legislatures.
Examples: United States, Germany

21. Federation / Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Regional
Authority Authority
Central
Authority
Regional Regional
Authority Authority

22. How is the power distributed?
All key powers State/regional
are held by the authorities
central hold most of
government the power
Unitary Confederation
Strong central Federal
Weaker central
government Shared power
government

23. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
High Participation High Participation
Citizen Participation
Citizen Participation
Government Power
Government Power
Government Power
General Citizens’
Select Citizens’
Participation
Participation
Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation
Autocratic Oligarchic Democracy

24. Putting it all together….
The United Kingdom is an autocratic
constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary democracy and a unitary
system.
The United States is a presidential
democracy with a federal system.
What do those statements mean?

25. What do you remember?
What are the three types of
governments?
Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy
What are the three systems of
government?
Unitary, Confederation, and Federal