13. Explain shortly three main Types of the Government

There are three types of governments:

• Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy

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

#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

#2 Absolute Monarchy

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

#3 Constitutional Monarchy

Kings, queens or emperors share power with elected legislatures.

Generally the Kings are nothing more than figureheads.

The government is a democratic one that limits the monarchs power.

Example: Great Britain

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.

Examples: Greek city states

Democracy

In a democracy, the government is “Rule 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

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.

14. What is the Presidential System?

Presidential&Parlamentary”)

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

The executive role:

List of duty of the American President: 1) Chief of State 2) Chief Executive 3) Commander-in-Chief 4)Chief Diplomat 5) Chef Legislator 6) Chief of Party 7) Voice of the People 8) Protector of Peace 9) Manager of Prosperity 10) World Leader

The executive Function: 1)Symbolic: Dignity of the state abroad; Geremonial function

2) Managerial: Taking care of the business of the state; Making the tough decisions; Ultimate leader of the state.

Presidential systems don’t separate the symbolic and managerial functions of the executive (the same person performs both)

Strength of the presidency: independence (the president is elected every four years independently from the legislature)

Generally, the president is elected on the basis of popular election

In the US: there is however an additional structure called the electoral college (the Founding Fathers distrusted popular vote because it was source of unrest and instability). Therefore the president is indirectly elected. Voters select electors who elect the president.