POL101 LESSON 5

Types of Governments

Monarchies

• Absolute Monarchy: Ruler holds absolute powers; serves as chief executive, legislator, and judge.

• Constitutional Monarchy: Monarch's powers are limited by law; promotes political, social, and economic stability.

Democracies

• Pure Democracy: Direct expression of the will of the state by the people; mass meetings or assemblies.

• Representative Democracy: Will of the state expressed through officials chosen by the populace.

Government Structures

• Centralized (Unitary) Government: Single supreme will from which all political power radiates.

• Federal Government: Authority divided between two organizations, each with a distinct sphere of authority.

Government Forms

• Parliamentary Government: Fusion of executive and legislative branches; cabinet members are also legislators.

• Presidential Government: Separation of powers among executive, legislative, and judicial branches; includes checks and balances.

Authoritarianism vs. Totalitarianism

• Totalitarian Government: Controls all aspects of life; rights exist only on paper (e.g., Fascism, Nazism, Communism).

• Authoritarian Government: Less harsh; absolute authority with limited civil rights (e.g., Spain under Franco).

Economic Systems

• Capitalism: Often found in democratic systems; focuses on private ownership.

• Socialism: Collective ownership and government management of production and economic activity.

Legal Distinctions

• De Jure Government: Legally recognized government.

• De Facto Government: Exists without international recognition; may be temporary or concurrent with a de jure government.