Structures of World Government

1
Structures of World Government

• No two governments are, or ever have been
  exactly alike, for governments are the products
  of human needs and experiences.

2
Three questions help classify the basic
structures of government

• How is power distributed?
• What is the relationship between the legislature
  and the executive?
• Who takes place in the governing process?

3
Geographic Power Distribution

• UNITARY
• FEDERAL
• CONFEDERATE

4
UNITARY

• all power belongs to one body
• local governments are subject to the central
  government and have only those powers given to
  them by the central government.
• Unitary governments are not necessarily
  totalitarian or dictatorships.

5
FEDERAL

• power is divided between a central government and
  several regional governments
• a superior power controls both the central and
  regional governments
• Ex a constitution
• both levels act directly on the people through
  their own sets of laws, officials, and agencies

6
CONFEDERATE

• an alliance of independent states
• a central government has only the powers that the
  member states give it
• the member states act independently on state
  matters however, function as a group when
  matters of common concern arise (such as military
  and foreign trade)

7
Relationship between the legislature and
executive

• PRESIDENTIAL
• PARLIAMENTARY

8
PRESIDENTIAL System

• Separation of legislative executive powers
• Powers are independent and coequal
• Chief Executive is
• chosen separate from the legislature
• holds office for a fixed term
• has powers not subject to the direct control of
  the legislature
• Uses a System of Checks and Balances

9
PARLIAMENTARY System

• Executive branch consists of a Prime Minister
  (PM) or Premier and their cabinet
• PM is a member of parliament - he/she is the head
  of the majority party and is chosen by his/her
  party
• PM selects the cabinet with parliament's approval
• PM is selected by a part of and subject to
  control of the parliament

10
PARLIAMENTARY (cont.)

• The PM and the cabinet remain in office only as
  long as they have the confidence of the majority
  - Vote of No Confidence
• A new PM is either selected by the parliament or
  a general election takes place and all seats of
  parliament go before the voters
• No System of Checks and Balances

11
Participation in the Governing Process

• DICTATORSHIP
• DEMOCRACY

12
Authoritarian Dictatorship

• Those in power do not listen to the will of the
  majority absolute power
• Govt is not accountable for its policies or the
  way they are carried out
• Dictatorships are often militaristic and gain
  power by force
• Two types
• Autocracy one person controls all
• Oligarchy small, self appointed group controls

13
DEMOCRACY

• supreme political power rests with the people
• Rule of the majority
• Power is exercised by the people directly or
  indirectly through a system of representation
  usually involving periodically held free
  elections

14
DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• People represent themselves individually -
  typically in the form of mass meetings
• The (majority) will of the people is translated
  directly into law
• Only works in small communities
• Does not exist on a national level anywhere

15
INDIRECT DEMOCRACY

• More commonly referred to as a Representative
  Government
• A small group of persons chosen by the people
  to act as representatives in expressing the
  popular will
• These people are responsible for the making and
  executing of laws
• Elections determine how well these people are
  carrying out their job
• This kind of government is also referred to as a
  Republic