Forms of Government Flashcards
Life without the existence of any form of government.
Anarchy
Provide 1 out of 6 reasons why we need a government.
• Security of persons
• Security of property
• Administration of justice
• Preservation of state from external danger
• Dealing of state with foreign powers
• Advancement of physical, social, and cultural well-being of people
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
What are the 4 dichotomies?
• Dichotomy 1: Based on Freedom and Rights of the People
• Dichotomy 2: Based on Number of Rulers
• Dichotomy 3: Based on Extent of Powers of the Central Government
• Dichotomy 4: Based on the Relationship of the Branches of Gov’t.
DICHOTOMY 1: BASED ON FREEDOM AND RIGHTS OF PEOPLE
People are powerful in the sense that they have a voice in running the government. There is a wide range of rights and liberties and people have freedom to be who they want to be.
There exists free market economy, and capitalism.
Democracy
DICHOTOMY 1: BASED ON FREEDOM AND RIGHTS OF PEOPLE
Government has full control of the political and economic lives of the people, thus there is an equal distribution of wealth. No rich, no poor.
People have no/very limited rights and liberties:
For example, one cannot criticize the government, the government assigns jobs to citizens, salaries are uniform, and food is sometimes rationed.
Communism
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
A government wherein only one person rules is also referred to as an…?
Autocracy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Rule of a royal-blooded leader.
Kings, queens, emperors, sultans and czars are an example.
Monarchy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Form of monarchy wherein the the monarch has absolute powers.
What they say is the law of the land, and there is no need for a constitution.
Absolute Monarchy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Form of monarchy wherein there is a constitution. There is a parliament doing the nitty-gritty of governance, and the monarch is just a figure-head.
Constitutional Monarchy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Rule of a Dictator. Everything for the glory of the state.
Fascism
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Referred to as “rule of the best”. Originated in Ancient Greece wherein a group of people ruled each polis.
Aristocracy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Leaders under this form of governance are not royal-blooded, but are very rich and powerful. They are usually selfish, corrupt, and are gluttons of wealth, pride, and more power.
Oligarchy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Form of democracy wherein all people decide matters in a meeting. Also referred to as Pure Democracy.
Direct Democracy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Form of democracy wherein people select representatives, then said representatives meet together to decide matters. Also referred to as Representative Democracy.
Indirect Democracy
DICHOTOMY 2: BASED ON NUMBER OF RULERS:
Another term for Direct Democracy.
Pure Democracy