Citizen Participation and Types of Government: Autocracy vs. Democracy, Study notes of Political Systems

Download Citizen Participation and Types of Government: Autocracy vs. Democracy and more Study notes Political Systems in PDF only on Docsity!

Citizen Participation in Government

Autocracy and Democracy

What is Citizen Participation?

In each country, the people have different rights to participate in the government.

• In some countries, any citizen can run for office or vote in elections.
• In other countries, there are restrictions placed on who can run for office and who can vote.
• There are also countries where NO citizen can vote and there are no elections.

Autocratic Governments:  Have a single ruler with unlimited power.  Citizens cannot participate in the selection of the ruler or vote on the country’s laws.  One benefit – decisions for the country can be made quickly. However…the needs of the citizens may be ignored. The leader may make poor or selfish decisions that hurt the citizens.

Autocracy  Generally the power to rule the country is inherited (kings/queens) or is taken by military force.  There are two main types of autocracies: Dictatorship Absolute Monarchy The leader uses force to The monarch has absolute power Control the citizens. (no constitution) over the citizens. Example? Hitler

Democratic Governments:

There are two forms of democratic governments:

Presidential Parliamentary

Both are designed to represent and protect the rights of the

citizens

Presidential Democracy  The citizens vote directly for the leader of the country.  Citizens also vote for members of the legislature, but separately from the leader.

• The leader of the country does not make the laws.
• The legislature does this.  Example: United States, Russia, Mexico

Graphic Organizer

 What is Citizen Participation? (Explain in your own words) Citizens have different rights to participate in their country’s government. Those rights can be restricted or non- restricted.  What are the two types of Government?

1. Autocratic
2. Democratic

Explain an Autocratic Form of Government?

• Single ruler with unlimited power.
• Citizens can’t participate in selection of ruler or vote on laws.
• Citizens may have little to no power
• Power to rule is inherited (king/queen) or taken by military force.

What are the two main types of autocracies and explain each one?

• Dictatorship – The leader uses force

to control the citizens

• Absolute Monarchy – The monarch

has absolute power (no constitution)

over the citizens

What are the two forms of democratic governments and explain each one? Presidential democracy:

• Citizens vote directly for the leader of the country.
• Citizens vote for members of the legislature, but separately from leader of the country.
• The leader of the country does not make the laws it is the legislature that makes the laws.
• Example countries- US, Russia, Mexico

Summarizer

 Write three things you have learned from today’s lesson. ( Please be as detailed as possible)

STOP

Government Mascots

Create a mascot that will represent your group’s vocabulary

word “Can be a real OR made up thing!”

Draw and color your mascot on the paper provided

Be sure to give your mascot a creative name.

Write down at least 3 reasons why/how your mascot

represents your group’s vocabulary word.

Autocratic Governments Democratic Governments Explain an Autocratic form of government?

• Single ruler with unlimited power.
• Citizens can’t participate in selection of ruler or vote on laws.
• Citizens may have little to no power
• Power to rule is inherited (king/queen) or taken by military force. Explain a Democratic form of government? - Citizens hold the power of the government - Citizens participate in their government. - Citizens can become leaders. - Citizens vote for leaders and laws. What are the two main types of autocracies and explain each one?
• Dictatorship – The leader uses force to control the citizens
• Absolute Monarchy – The monarch has absolute power (no constitution) over the citizens What are the two forms of democratic governments and explain each one? Presidential democracy: - Citizens vote directly for the leader of the country. - Citizens vote for members of the legislature, but separately from leader of the country. - The leader of the country does not make the laws it is the legislature that makes the laws. - Example countries- US, Russia, Mexico Parliamentary democracy: - Citizens vote for members of the legislature - Citizens do not directly vote for the leader. - Legislature choose the country’s leader among its members of the legislature. - The leader is part of legislature so he/she help make the laws. - Example countries – United Kingdom, Canada, Australia