Systems of Government

Systems of Government:

In this class we will examine several basic models of government.  For each form of government you will be asked to consider the following questions:

     (1) how does this government maintain itself/how is it structured?

     (2) what are the benefits/advantages of this form of government?

     (3) what are the disadvantages/dangers of this form of government?

     (4) how is power transferred in this form of government?

     (5) what historical/current examples of this type are there?  Who were/are proponents of this system of government and why?

The 12 basic models (and related key terms you should know) which we will examine in class are as follows:

     Anarchy (Amish, Tolstoy, Christiania in Copenhagen)

     Dictatorship (coup d'etat, tyrant, autocrat, enlightened despot, benevolent dictator, Socrates)

     Monarchy (succession, primogenitor, nepotism, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Shakespeare, divine right)

     Constitutional Monarchy (balance of powers)

     Oligarchy (plutocracy, aristocracy)

     Corporatocracy (corporocracy, corporate police state)

     Theocracy (fundamentalism)

     Totalitarian Government (Orwellian, fascism, Stalinism, Maoism)

     Direct (Pure) Democracy (mob rule, majority)

     Republican (Representative) Government (politician)

     Democratic Republic (checks and balances, separation of powers)

     Parliamentary Democracy (Prime Minister, Chancellor, coalition)

California State Framework and Guidelines - Grade 12