Middle School Social Studies

Political Systems
Type

Who makes rules?

Where is power from?

How to choose leaders?

How much power?

Absolute Monarchy

Monarch (King, Queen).

Usually divine right (i.e. god).

Birthright - rulers are chosen

because they fit the traditional
requirements due to birth (i.e.
oldest male child of previous
leader).

Absolute power to create and

enforce the laws as the monarch
sees fit.

Aristocracy

Varies - an aristocracy can be Tradition and wealth.

applied to different forms of
governments. Usually this
applies to monarchy, but it has
applied to various forms of
democracy.

Birthright - aristocrats are born

into their role as nobles, which
typically comes with wealth
and political influence.

The power of aristocracies vary

from firm power over the wealth of
a country to being an advisory
group to the ruler who may listen
to them or ignore them.

Constitutional Monarchy Elected government (i.e.

Parliament) holds real power
while a monarch holds
symbolic power.

The people.

Elections choose the

The elected government has the
governing officials while
power to create and enforce laws
birthright selects the monarch. according to the documents and
traditions that created the
government. Monarchs have
mostly ceremonial power.

Democracy

Elected government.

The people.

Elections.

The elected government has the

power to create and enforce laws
according to the documents and
traditions that created the
government.

Oligarchy

A small group of people.

Varies (the people, divine

right, birthright, etc.).

Varies.

Typically oligarchs have complete

power as a group, but can provide
some checks and balances on
each other (i.e. the Roman
Triumvirate).

5/3/2016