Democracy
Citizens hold the political power.
Representative Democracy
Citizens elect leaders to represent their rights and interests.
Direct Democracy
No representatives. Citizens are directly involved in the work of governing.
Dictatorship
A ruler with absolute power over the citizens. Often rules through force.
Monarchy
Government in which a king or queen rules the country. Reign is passed down through the royal family.
Constitutional Monarchy
King or queen shares power with a popularly elected parliamentary government.
Theocracy
Authority over the people is held by religious leaders who represent divine power and retain authority through religious beliefs. Theocracies are almost always combined with some other form of government (dictatorship, monarchy, democracy).
True or False: A monarchy can be like a dictatorship or it can be part of a democracy.
True. In some countries monarch is part of a democracy; in other countries the monarch has complete control.
True or False: A dictatorship can also be a democracy.
False. You can't have a democracy if citizens have no control (which they do not in a dictatorship).
True or False: Theocracy can co-exist with a monarchy.
True. Some countries, like Saudi Arabia, have a monarch and the country is ruled by religious law.
True or False: Theocracy can co-exist with democracy.
True. Some countries, like Iran, are ruled by religious law, but the citizens vote for government leaders.
One person is in charge. What kind of government is it?
Dictatorship
Citizens often have no rights. What kind of government is it?
Dictatorship
Led by a queen or king. What kind of government is it?
Monarchy
Leader often shares power with other parts of government. What kind of government is it?
Monarchy
Democracy where citizens elect others to serve in government. What kind of government is it?
Representative Democracy
Democracy where citizens participate in lawmaking themselves. What kind of government is it?
Direct Democracy
God and religious law are the government's authority. What kind of government is it?
Theocracy
One person leads a country and controls the government. He says citizens can vote for candidates, but he chooses who the candidates are. What kind of government is it?
Dictatorship
A country is led by a president who is elected by the citizens every four years. Citizens also elect representatives to serve in a legislature. What kind of government is it?
Democracy or Representative Democracy.
A country is led by a king. The basic laws of the country state that the country's constitution is based on a holy book and other religious traditions. What two kinds of governments would this be?
Monarchy and Theocracy
A country is led by a president who is elected by the citizens. The rule of law in the country is based on religious beliefs. What two kinds of governments would this be?
Democracy and Theocracy