1. History and Forms of
Government
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2. The Development of Government
• Force Theory – claimed by violence or threat of
violence
• Evolutionary Theory – developed through
families and tribes
• Divine Right Theory – God(s) gave power to
those in charge
• Social Contract Theory – people give up some
of their freedoms to the state for promote the
well being of all
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3. Beginning
• Families or tribes
– one leader
– customs & superstitions
– influenced decisions
• 10,000 yrs. ago established villages
– little government
– provided protection and food
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4. Ancient Times
• -3500 BC small cities w/ services
• rulers usually religious leaders
• -Divine Right - rule came from god
• -Military enforced rules
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5. Greeks
• city-states 1st democracy
• Aristotle & Plato 300 BC
– Rule of Law
• everyone must follow
the law
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6. Romans
• philosopher power
from the people
• Cicero people have
natural rights
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7. Middle Ages
• -700’s feudal system • Gave way to:
w/ lord & vassals • Absolute Monarchy &
• some court customs Constitutional
still used Monarchy (England)
• rule by divine right & • Constitutional Law –
power all men must obey the
– from the church law
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8. Modern Times
• Colonial governments of the 1700’s had
legislatures
• US and French revolution establish
representative democracy
• By 1900’s much of Europe was under
totalitarianism
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9. Forms of Government
• Aristotle classified government by the
number of rulers
• Each category could be
– Virtuous – benefit of all
– Corrupt – benefit of the ruler
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10. Autocracy - ruled by one person
• two types
– Monarchy - hereditary rulers have the power
for life
• Caesar king, queen, czar, or sultan
– Dictatorship – governed with a ruler with
unlimited power
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11. Monarchy
• Before 1900’s
• Mostly Absolute Monarchy - unlimited
power
• Few Constitutional Monarchy – Limited
power by law
• Today most monarchs are ceremonial
– executive power is held by a prime minister
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12. Dictatorship
• Power acquired & maintained through fear
violence and force war, revolution &
assassination
• limit personal freedoms
• depend on military and police
• some gain power legally
• Today many still rule
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13. Oligarchy - Ruled by few people
• Several Types
– Aristocracy
– Theocracy
– Junta
– Authoritarianism
– Totalitarianism
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14. Oligarchy Cont.
• Aristocracy – ruled by a privileged few,
usually with inherited wealth social rank &
ability
– feel they are superior
– idea of equality added to decline
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15. Oligarchy Cont.
• Theocracy – controlled by priests or
priestesses with civil and religious
authority god handed down government
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16. Oligarchy Cont.
• Junta – small group of
military officers take
control of a government
– usually one officer takes
power and it
– turns into a dictatorship
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17. Oligarchy Cont.
• Authoritarianism– power is in the hands
of the party leaders
• legislatures pass without debate party
policies
• rights usually violated
• absolute loyalty
• usually ends up totalitarian a dictatorship
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18. Oligarchy Cont.
• Totalitarianism – • One political party
total government • Lead by dictator
control over political, • demand absolute
economic, cultural loyalty
religious, or social • Can be an autocracy
activities no personal
(dictatorship)
freedom
• Sometimes an
• individual servant of
oligarchy (Junta or
state
Communism)
• terror tactics used by
secret police 18

19. Democracy
• Ruled by many
people
• Two types
– Direct
– Indirect
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20. Direct Democracy
• People make the laws
themselves
– citizens vote on laws
• Initiative
• Referendum
• Recall
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21. Indirect Democracy
• People choose representatives to make laws for
them
– aka. representative demo. or republic
• Elect a set number of reps. to a legislative body
– congress, assembly, parliament, senate, council or
legislature
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22. Geographic Power Distribution
• Unitary – All power held and given by a
Central Government
• Federal – Power is shared by central and
local governments Division of Power
• Confederate - Alliance between
independent states (countries) that has
only the power given to it
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