Forms of government

LESSON 5
“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and
not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of
our democracy are not a president and senators and
congressmen and government officials, but the
voters of this country”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
Some countries are ruled by one person; others by a
group. There are leaders chosen by the people; there
are those who become leaders by birthright. There are
persons or groups who are given all the powers to
manage the government and the country; while in
other places, power is divided among individuals.
This lesson discusses the different forms of government
and their functions. By evaluating the strengths and
weaknesses of each form of government, we can also
explore the possibilities of improving the current
system of government in the country.
What is Government?

 The governing body of a nation, state, or community.

  The body of persons that constitutes the governing
authority of a political unit or organization: such as. a : the
officials comprising the governing body of a political unit
and constituting the organization as an active agency The
government was slow to react to the crisis.
 Government, whether we refer to the system or institutions
in operation, the group of people in charge, or the process
in use, is the authority that sets rules for a society, helps its
members relate to one another and to others, and keeps it
running smoothly, securely, and peacefully
•The history of mankind has shown that
the government, as the manifestation in
political power in society, is also prone
to the dynamic changes in society. This
explains why governments take different
forms.
•The form of government is essentially
determined by the numbers of rulers, the
way power is exercised by these rulers,
and the ideologies that guide the
government.
 What are those kinds of forms of government?

Some of the different types of government include a

direct democracy, a representative
democracy, republic, socialism, communism,
a monarchy, an oligarchy, and an autocracy.
Here is the example of a political spectrum:
What is Republic form of government?

• form of government in which a state is ruled by

representatives of the citizen body. Modern republics
are founded on the idea that sovereignty rests with the
people, though who is included and excluded from the
category of the people has varied across history.

Which country has republic government?

•The United States, Mexico, India, France, Kenya, South
Korea, Peru, and Indonesia are only a few of the world's
many true republics.
Attributes of a Republican Government

•Power and authority in the government come from

the people.
•Rights of the citizens are protected through a
constitution and voting.
•Power is distributed to representatives based on
majority rule.
•In a republic, the people elect representatives to
make the laws and an executive to enforce those
laws. While the majority still rules in the selection of
representatives, an official charterlist and protects
certain inalienable rights, thus protecting the
minority from the political desires of the majority.
What is monarchy form of government?

•Monarchy, political system based upon the undivided

sovereignty or rule of a single person called the
monarch(king or queen).
•The term applies to states in which supreme authority is
vested in the monarch, an individual ruler who functions as
the head of state and who achieves his or her position
through heredity.
•Monarchy is a political system in which supreme
authority is vested in the monarch, an individual
ruler who functions as head of state.
ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE OF A MONARCHY

1.Balance is still provided in the government.

-The government structure of the United Kingdom is a good example of this. The
primary duties of ruling are given to a Prime Minister, who then reports directly
to the king or queen. Smaller monarchies may still offer direct rule, but for most
governments, they are structured to give the people balance.
2.It can be cheaper to run a monarchy.
-Rulers in a monarchy are often treated to exorbitant wealth. From the lavish
estates where they live to the massive amount of wealth they can provide
themselves, the ruling class separates itself from the other classes in terms of
wealth. From the government’s perspective, however, the wealth of a monarchy
can be more cost-effective than the recurring charges of frequent elections.
 
1 .Class discrimination is more prominent.
-Every society has socioeconomic classes. In a monarchy, they tend to be more
pronounced. Wealth is directly associated with power. If one has no wealth, then
there is no chance to provide influence. In other government structures, those
who have no wealth would still have the opportunity to vote and have their vote
be equal to any other vote.
What is autocracy form of government?

•a system of government by one person with absolute power.

• The authority or rule of an autocrat. Government in which
one person possesses unlimited power.
•In autocratic governments, the power of the ruler is absolute;
dissent is not tolerated. For this reason, scholars have often
linked autocracy with totalitarian regimes, such as that
of Adolf Hitler in Germany and Josef Stalin in the Soviet
Union.
•Autocratic leadership is an authoritarian leadership style. It
requires one individual to make all the decisions for others
without any input or advice. Famous autocratic leaders
include Napoleon Bonaparte, King Henry III, and
Queen Elizabeth I.
What are advantages of autocracy?

• The benefits of autocratic rule are that it allows for quick

decisions, has a clear chain of command, and is the
most productive form of leadership. With only one
person or a small group making decisions, conclusions and
choices come rapidly in the absence of debate from large
governing parties.

What are the disadvantages of autocratic?

•Low Employee Morale. One of the biggest disadvantages of
exercising autocratic leadership is that it can result in low
employee morale. ...
•Leads To Resentment. ...
•Develops A System Of Dependence.
 What is a democracy form of government?

• a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible

members of a state, typically through elected representatives.
• The word democracy comes from the Greek words "demos", meaning
people, and "kratos" meaning power; so democracy can be thought
of as "power of the people": a way of governing which depends
on the will of the people.
• Democracy, literally meaning “rule by the people,” empowers
individuals to exercise political control over the form and functions
of their government. While democracies come in several forms, they
all feature competitive elections, freedom of expression, and
protection of individual civil liberties and human rights.
What are the advantage of democracy?

•A democratic government is a more responsible form of

government, is a stronger form of government. The standard of
making decisions is improved by democracy. The integrity of people is
strengthened by democracy. The wealthy and educated have the same
standing as the poor and less educated. are the advantage of democracy?
•It provides efficient government, guarantees the rights of the people,
provides equality, educates the people, promotes national character, brings
peaceful change of government, believes not in battle axe, but in ballot box.

What are the disadvantage of democracy?

•Democracy is all about political competition and power play. ...

•Consultation in a democracy from many people leads to delays.
•Not knowing the best interest of the people by the elected leaders leads to
bad decisions.
•Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
 UNITARY STATE form of government

What is unitary state form of government?

- unitary state, a system of political organization in
which most or all of the governing power resides in
a centralized government, in contrast to a federal
state.
- One central government controls weaker states. Power is not
shared between states, counties, or provinces.
- Unitary Government. A unitary government is often
described as a centralized government. All powers held
by the government belong to a single, central agency. The
central (national) government creates local units of
government for its convenience.
What is the advantage of unitary state structure?

•The advantages of unitary government are it is single and

decisive legislative. Usually it is more efficient in the used of
tax dollars but fewer people trying to get in on the money. It
is also has a simple management of an economy and the
government are smaller.

What is the disadvantage of unitary state structure?

•Unitary system of government usually tends to create

troubles for the ethnic groups. Even a small country can
have multiple ethnic groups. Their voices might go unheard
as they may be under-represented at the centre. The
concentration of powers may even pave the way for the
despotism of the central government.
FEDERAL STATE FORM OF GOVERNMENT