systems of government powerpoint (unitary, confederation, federal)updated 2010
TRANSCRIPT
Systems of Governments
What Do You Know?
Name the city, county, state, and country you live in. Beside the name of each place, what is the leader of each kind of government is called?
City – Mayor
Gwinnett – County Commissioner
Georgia – Governor
United States – President
Why are there different levels in our government?
Why Do We Have Governments?
They are organized ways for creating laws/rules designed to protect the well-being of the general public and to help manage conflict.
They determine the power structure (who has the power) within a country.
In some countries, only one person or party maintains centralized control of the government, while in other countries power is shared between individuals and factions.
Why Do We Have Governments?
All countries require governments to function.
Governments provide laws, structure, public services, and national defense.
There are different types of governments:democracies republicsmonarchiesdictatorships
To study governments, geographers look at the following:
Types – Who rules and who participates.
Systems – How the power is distributed.
Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed?
There are three ways governments distribute power:UnitaryConfederationFederal
How Is Power Shared?
Federal
Confederation
Unitary
Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008
Unitary
One central government controls everything.
Power is not shared between states, counties, or provinces.
Examples : United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and former Soviet Union
Unitary Diagram:
Unitary Governments of the World
(All countries in blue)
Confederation
Two Options: A. A voluntary or weak association of independent
states that agrees to follow a powerful central government.
B. Nations can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government.
Examples: Confederate States of America
( 1861-1865), European Union, Switzerland
Confederation Diagram:
Federal
Power is shared by a powerful central government.
States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures.
Examples: United States of America, Federal Republic of Germany
Should the national government, state government, or both have these
powers?List of Powers Shared in a Federal
GovernmentIssue driver’s licenses Make laws for the
environment
Collect taxes Conduct elections
Create marriage laws Punish law breakers
Declare war Create standards for schools
Make agreements with other countries
Defend the country
Coin money Protect citizen rights
Federal System Diagram:
Federal Governments of the World
(All countries in green)
Let’s Talk About IT!
• Let’s get in groups of three.• Number yourselves one, two, and three.
Ones explain to the twos and threes how a unitary government system distributes power.
Twos explain to the ones and threes how a confederation government system distributes power.
Threes explain to the ones and twos how a federal government system distributes power.
Written Summary: How is the power distributed politically?
Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008