slideshow definitions Flashcards
authoritarian government
one person/a groupd of people hold power over the whole country.
there can be fake or no elections and censored media
people often have little to no say in the government
they keep their power through the military force
Limited individual rights and freedoms
Rely on coercion (using threats, fear and intimidation) to ensure orderly behaviour
dictatorship
One leader holds absolute power over
the state
Unrestricted power and control
Often have the support of the military
monarchy
Power is passed down from kings and queens to
their children (hereditary)
Before the Magna Carta (Great Charter), monarchs had absolute power = His/Her word was LAW
Royal subjects accepted this because they
regarded their king or queen as God’s
representative on Earth
This was known as the “Divine Right of Kings”
communism
Government owns all the means of
production (Castro’s Cuba, Soviet
Russia)
Goal is to establish an egalitarian
and classless society
democracy
Two or more parties
Free press, media
Free, fair and frequent elections
Equal legal rights and freedoms
Minorities respected
Tolerate opposition and criticism
Elected representatives (MPs)
elements of a democracy
Common Good
Rule of Law
Political Equality
Human Dignity
Political Freedoms
Personal Freedoms
Being Informed and Getting Involved
Respect
common good
Democratic decisions are made for
the good of most of the people
magna carta
Under threat of civil war, King John of England signs the Magna Carta in 1215, which proclaims the Rule of Law
political equality
Every citizen has the same right to vote and run for office and
to speak on public issues
human dignity
Democratic citizens should protect and uphold the dignity of
all people
political freedoms
People can speak freely, form associations, run for office, and
vote without being intimidated
being informed and getting involved
Democratic citizens should communicate openly and
participate individually and collectively in issues that shape their
community, country and world
personal freedoms
People enjoy many personal freedoms such as freedom of
religion and freedom of expression
respect
Democracy protects minorities
Although democracies favour the majority,
minorities are protected by the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms
Democracy encourages peace, respect and
tolerance in citizens
past democracy
Democracy first emerged in Athens, Greece during
the 5th century BCE
It was a limited democracy because only free-born males
were allowed to participate