Lesson 1.3 ISS test

Lesson 3 Review: Forms of Government

Lesson 3A: Forms of Government

History of Government

• Tribes: Early human societies often organized into tribes, led by elders or chiefs. Decisions were typically made communally or by consensus.
  
  

• City-states: Independent political units consisting of a city and its surrounding lands. Common in ancient Mesopotamia, Greece (e.g., Athens, Sparta).
  
  

• Empires: Large territories or groups of people ruled by a single sovereign power. Examples: Roman Empire, Persian Empire.
  
  

• Revolutions: Often marked shifts in governance (e.g., American Revolution, French Revolution) from monarchies or colonial rule to more democratic or representative systems.
  
  

Monarchy

• Absolute Monarchy: A form of monarchy where the monarch has total power, unchecked by laws or constitutions.
  
  

  • Saudi Arabia: Modern example of an absolute monarchy. The king rules by decree and law is based on Islamic principles.
    
    

• Divine Right of Kings: The belief that monarchs are appointed by and answerable only to God, not to the people.
  
  

• Constitutional Monarchy: A monarchy limited by laws and a constitution; the monarch serves as ceremonial head of state.
  
  

  • United Kingdom: A constitutional monarchy where the monarch (King Charles III) performs symbolic duties.
    
    

    • Head of State: The monarch; represents the country, attends ceremonies.
      
      

    • Royal Assent: Formal approval by the monarch required to enact legislation.
      
      

    • Head of Government: The Prime Minister (e.g., Rishi Sunak in 2025); holds executive power.
      
      

Democracy

• Direct Democracy: Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.
  
  

  • Athens, Greece: Birthplace of direct democracy. Citizens participated in assemblies and votes.
    
    

  • Sortition: Random selection of citizens for public office or decision-making roles.
    
    

  • Ho Boulomenos: Greek term meaning "any citizen who wishes" — expressing openness of participation.
    
    

  • Philosopher Plato: Critic of direct democracy. Believed it could lead to mob rule and poor decisions by unqualified masses.
    
    

• Indirect (Representative) Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Most modern democracies operate this way.
  
  

Republic

• A system where power rests with elected individuals representing the citizen body, and leaders are subject to a constitution.
  
  

  • United States: A federal republic and representative democracy.
    
    

  • Democracy or Republic?: The U.S. is technically both — a democratic republic. It uses democratic principles (elections) within a republican structure (elected officials bound by the Constitution).
    
    

Theocracy

• A form of government in which religious leaders or institutions hold political power.
  
  

  • Egypt (Ancient Civilizations): Pharaohs were both kings and gods; religion and government were intertwined.
    
    

  • Islamic Theocracy: Combines political leadership with Islamic law.
    
    

    • Iran: Modern Islamic theocracy.
      
      

      • Supreme Leader: Highest-ranking political and religious authority (currently Ayatollah Khamenei).
        
        

      • President/Parliament: Elected positions with limited power under the authority of the Supreme Leader.
        
        

      • Sharia: Islamic law forming the basis of legal and social systems.
        
        

  • Roman Catholic: Religious leadership influences governance.
    
    

    • Vatican City: Theocracy ruled by the Pope, who is both head of the Catholic Church and head of state.
      
      

Dictatorship

• A government where one person holds absolute power, often taken by force and maintained by fear or propaganda.
  
  

• Military Dictatorship: Control is maintained by the military or a general.
  
  

• The first “real” dictator: Often credited to Lucius Cornelius Sulla or Julius Caesar in Rome, though "dictator" had different implications in ancient Rome.
  
  

• Totalitarianism: Extreme form of dictatorship where the state seeks to control all aspects of life (e.g., thought, media, education).
  
  

• North Korea: Modern example of a totalitarian dictatorship.
  
  

  • 38th parallel: Dividing line between North and South Korea.
    
    

  • Korean War (Armistice): 1953 ceasefire ended active fighting, but no peace treaty was signed.
    
    

  • Juche (Hermit Kingdom): North Korean ideology of self-reliance; promotes isolation and nationalism.
    
    

  • Gift & Fear Politics: Citizens rewarded for loyalty (gifts), punished for dissent (fear).
    
    

  • Great Famine: 1990s famine caused by economic mismanagement and isolation, killing hundreds of thousands.
    
    

  • Core, Wavering, & Hostile Class: Social classification system ranking citizens' loyalty to the regime.
    
    

  • DMZ: Demilitarized zone between North and South Korea; one of the most fortified borders.
    
    

  • Nuclear Program: Central to North Korea’s power projection and diplomatic leverage.
    
    

  • Kim Il-Sung: Founder and first leader of North Korea.
    
    

  • Kim Jong-Il: Son of Kim Il-Sung; ruled with cult of personality and isolation.
    
    

  • Kim Jong-Un: Current leader; maintains totalitarian control, expanded nuclear ambitions.