Types of Government Flashcards
What is a Monarchy?
A form of government ruled by a Monarch.
In absolute monarchy, a supreme autocratic authority hold state power. Typically a single family will inherit this power.
The majority of monarchies are constitutional monarchies where the state of head serves cerimonial roles with limited state powers. Typically, the people will elect members of a parliament to make laws and run the country. (Bonus: Australia is a constitutional monarchy!)
List one:
What is an example of a Monarchy?
Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Spain, and Cambodia.
What is a Democracy?
A form of government where people determine the law, which holds supreme power under the constitution. Laws are made through the parliament, consisting of representatives chosen by the people. Decisions are made transparently.
List one:
What is an example of a Democracy?
Norway, Iceland, Sweeden, New Zealand, Finland, Ireland, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Switzerland.
What is a Republic?
A government system without a monarch; they can be authoritarian or democratic. External countries are not involved in ruling the state.
In a democratic republic, laws ae made by representatives chosen by the people, that must comply with the constitution and/or a bill of rights that specifically protects the rights of the minority from the will of the majority.
What is an example of a Republic?
Angola, Argetnina, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Panma, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Korea, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
These are only the Presidential Republic countries
What is a Dictatorship?
A single person that has absolute authority to rule the state.
An authoritarian form would have one person make the law and control how the law is enforced, usually through brutal means.
A dictator seizes control of the state by force or through an election process that is corrupt. They are not held accountable of their actions.
List one:
What is an example of a Dictatorship?
General Franco in Spain (1939-1975), Kim Dynasty in North Korea (1948-Present), Saddam Hussein in Iraq (1979-2003), Augusto Pinochet in Chile (1973-1990) etc.
What is Communism?
A government system of social organisation based on the idea of a single party or group of people who run the state, with the collective vision that serves the interest of the community. Private ownership is limited or banned, enabling the ruling party to control all resources in the society. The party elects itself and usually remains in power for many years.
List one:
What are examples of Communism?
China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea.
What is Totalitarianism?
Absolute power is held over the lives of citizens and enforced through police terror, indoctrination, and persecution to maintain total control, through coersion and repression.
What is an Oligracy?
When the few extremely rich and privileged people hold power.
