PAD240:

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION TO
GOVERNMENT
PREPARED BY:
NURFAIZAH ABBDULLAH

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 TOPIC COVERED:
1.1 Definition of government.
1.2 Forms and system of government:
1.2.1 Monarchy
1.2.2 Republic
1.2.3 Presidential and Parliamentary
system
1.2.4 Federal and unitary system

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 DEFINITION OF
GOVERNMENT
The body of people and institutions that make and
enforce laws for society- Ranney

Refers to the regular enactment of policies, decisions

and matters of state on the part of the officials
within a political apparatus- Giddens, et. al

Consists of institutions responsible for making

collective decisions for society i.e. the top political
level within such institutions- Hague & Harrop
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 Cont .

government as a having a purpose for which

people live together cannot be realized unless
they are properly organized and accept certain
rules of conduct. It also can be called as a
agency that created to enforce such rules of
conduct and to ensure obedience among the
society- A.C. Kapur

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Therefore, government is a group of people
that is authorised to make and enforce laws,
regulations and rules- Puyok

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 FORMS AND SYSTEMS OF
GOVERNMENT
1. Monarchy
2. Republic
3. Presidential and parliamentary system
4. Federal and unitary system

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 MONARCHY
Originated from Greek ‘monarkhia’ – means ‘Single’ /
‘One’ / the rule of one.

Hereditary rule by one person-Roskin et al

Political system based upon the undivided sovereignty

or rule of a single person- Encyclopaedia Britannica

In some countries, the monarchs are elected by a council.

E.g Henry IV of England chose by Parliament to replace
Richard II; YDPA in Malaysia is elected by the Council
of Rulers.
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ABSOLUTE MONARCHY LIMITED MONARCHY

• Refer to the form of • Refer to the power to rule

government where its held by a ruler as the symbol
political power is held by of supremacy & sovereignty
one supreme ruler. • Power by monarchy is
• Monarch has absolute power limited by the constitution
• E.g. Brunei, Saudi Arabia, • Monarch is head of state
Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, • Task & duties are being
Swaziland. outlined in constitution
• Monarch position as the
head of the state – symbolic
position
• E.g. Malaysia, The Bahamas,
United Kingdom, Sweden,
Spain, Netherlands.
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 REPUBLIC
Derived from the Latin word ‘res publica’, ‘public thing’

A political system without a monarch- Roskin et al

Form of government in which a state is ruled by

representatives of the citizen body-Encyclopaedia
Britannica

Almost all countries around the world are republics. E.g.

Russia, United States of America, Turkey, Indonesia,
Urganda

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Features:

People hold real power through a representative system. The

people directly or indirectly elect representatives which are
accountable to them.

Regular election.

Not solely based on the principle of majority rule as the minority is

not neglected.

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PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

CONSTITUTION

Legislative Executive
Judicial Branch
Branch Branch

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CHARACTERISTIC PRESIDENTIAL PARLIAMENTARY
Principle Separation of powers Fusion of powers
Head of State President YDPA (nominal executive)
Head President: Prime Minister:
of Government -Elected for a fixed term (4 to 5 -No fixed term
yrs) -Can be overthrown
-Can be impeached by the through vote of no
legislature confidence
-independent from both the -appoints his cabinet
legislature & judiciary members
-appoints heads of department -elected by YDPA based
(secretaries) on the political party that
-select the members of cabinet has the majority votes
-elected by people

System Direct democracy Indirect democracy

(representative system)
Examples United States of America, Malaysia, Italy, Japan,
Philippines, Indonesia, Maldives, Ireland
Brazil

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 FEDERAL AND UNITARY SYSTEM
Federal

Foedus- covenant, compact, treaty, league, or alliance between

state for mutual support and joint action (Moten)

A way of organising a nation so that two or more levels of

government have formal authority over the same area and
people (Edwards III et. al)

E.g. Malaysia, Canada, Australia, U.S.A

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Has two sets of governments (divisions of power that
clearly stated in the constitution):

– Central govt.
– Provincial, regional or unit govt.

Courts have the power to interpret

Amendments of laws & statutes
the constitutions in order to solve
required both agreement and must
dispute between central and
be aligned with the constitution
regional govt.

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Unitary

centralize its power to the central

government

Provinces & branches only implement its

power according to what being delineated
by the central govt.

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Central government holds absolute
authority and regional government lacks of
autonomy.

Central government may redraw or abolish

the boundaries of regional govt.

E.g. United Kingdom, France, Japan,

Singapore, Belgium
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Thank you

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