7.4+Forms+of+Government

1. What type of government has the United States established? The United States is a democracy because it serves the PEOPLE. It is capatilist because people earn what they work for. It is not communist, where everyone is on the same level. It is a Federal Republic because the representatives are elected and voted for by the people. Regional/Local Government because the states have miniature forms governments. It is Revolutionary because it revolted against the British King and and began their own government.

2. Where did the basic ideas about government come from? 
 * The exact moment in time that government was first “established” scientists do not know. The earliest recordings we have are from about 5,000 years ago. When the population grew in farming, communication between groups increased, and the social pressure rose until new buildings appeared. Cities and states were then organized! **

3. Name the forms of government that fall under the category of AUTOCRACY. Define each and give examples.  Autocracy has two main forms of government, monarchy and dictatorship. Monarchy has a queen or a king and traditional monarchy, the monarch has absolute power. Dictatorship is a rule by a single leader who has not been elected, and may use force to keep control. Autocracy is the ruling by one single person. Dictatorship is a form of government because it is ruled by one leader. Monarchy is also one because there is only one leader. In England there is a monarchy government. It is ruled by one person, the queen. There is also a traditional and constitutional monarchy. A traditional monarchy is in which the monarch has absolute power. A constitutional monarchy is where the monarch does not have absolute power or control.

4. How do some dictatorships and oligarchies try to make it seem as if the people have a say in the government? How does the government really control the people?  Dictatorship is when one person is in rule, and that person has total control. Oligarchy is a form of government in which the power is in the hands of a few people or small group that have the combined power of a dictator. The governments tricked the people and made it seem as if they were doing the right thing and following the rules while they weren’t. The governments didn’t all of a sudden start breaking the rules and changing things, they step by step gradually changed things and began to break the rules. The two governments really neglect and don’t consider the needs and wants of the people. Eventually, they gained control over everything and people went along with it even when a few people smelt something fishy. When dictators have a military to back them up and protect them, they have control over everything. - Kelsey, Parker, and Sandra -

5. What are the two forms of democracy? Describe what happens in each.  ·  **__ Direct democracy __** - When every citizen has a say in decisions, and the decisions are made by majority. It is better in small-scale. Example: In a class of 17, everyone would vote for what ice cream they prefer. 10 voted for vanilla, and 7 voted for chocolate. Therefore, vanilla wins.  ·  **__ Representative democracy __** - When everyone elects a smaller-scale of people to represent their decisions that benefit their views, wants, and needs. Example: In a class of 17, everyone would vote on a few people to be class officers that would choose for the class what ice cream to get.

6. What are the characteristics that make a government a true democracy? In a **__true__** Democracy, everyone who is eligible to vote has the right to say their opinion in who runs the country. Therefore, the government is elected by the people and for the people. There are two different types of Democracy, but in both forms the people get have a say on what decision is made.

 7. What gives voters a choice among candidates? What are some other benefits to this system? Citizens take part in decision making through their representatives, lobbying, and voting. A democracy gives voters a choice among candidates. Benefits to this system are that there are not as many unhappy people and that people get what they want. Other benefit is that it is more likely that all elements of the population are represented. The reps are aware that their job depends on satisfying the needs of the citizens.

 8. What ancient civilizations as well as early American civilizations could be labeled as ThEOCRATIC and why? Are there any THEOCRACIES today? The ancient Hebrews, Tibetans, and Egyptians lived in theocracies for some of their history. They lived in ancient times and were ruled by someone who they thought was their god. There are still theocracies today and many modern Islamic states such as Iran or Afghanistan under the Taliban and Puritan Massachusetts are theocracies. Iran and Afghanistan have unlimited political authority and each are in the hands of religious leaders.

 9. What are the differences between COMMUNISM and SOCIALISM?  In a communist country, the government owns property such as businesses and farms. It provides its people’s healthcare, education, and welfare. In a socialist country, people believe that our actions are shaped by our social structures. The core belief of all socialists is that human beings thrive or die depending on their social relations. To socialists, everything produced in society is a “social product” – socialist’s reason that the product produced. belongs to the society as a whole and not to the individual. Under socialism we have a dictatorship of proletariat which is a government organized for the defence of survival “rights”.

10. Are there any countries today that could be considered OLIGARCHIES? If so, name them. There is one country considered to be an oligarchy today. Pakistan is this country. An oligarchy is a government in which control is put in the hands of a small group of individuals whose authority is based on wealth and power.