Transcript Forms of Government

Forms of Government
Autocracy

One person rules

Two types: Monarchy and Dictatorship
Monarchy
Power is inherited (Dynasty)
 Limited Monarchy: Some powers have
been given to a legislature or parliament
 (Britain, Scandinavia, Jordan, Monaco)
 Absolute Monarchy: All power in the
hands of the King or Queen

Dictatorship
Power is taken
 Coup d’etat (change of state): Overthrow
of the government
 One Party rule: No elections or rigged
elections
 Iraq (previously), North Korea, China,
Syria
 Pseudo Democracies: Claim to hold
elections but limit who can run

Totalitarianism
Very little freedom (expression, rights of
the accused, etc…)
 Rule through fear
 Police State (secret police)
 Advantage: Tends to be safer than a
democracy
 Communist and Fascist countries tend to
be dictatorships

Democracy
Rule by the people
 Majority Rule
 Minority Rights: No majority religion, race,
etc… can take away the rights of the
minority
 Rule of Law: Laws govern (not people)
and no one is above the law
