Who rules

Editor's Notes

• #2: How far should government go to maintain order, provide public goods, and promote equality. In the U.S. (as in every other nations), citizens, scholars, and politicians have different answers. At one end is a belief that govt. should do everything…… At the other is the belief that govt. should not exist. These ideologies from most govt. to least govt. and those that ball in between we will look at today.
• #5: A theocracy ( "theo-" = God, "-cracy" = government) is a government operated under divine rule, or the pretense of divine rule. In practice, this term refers to a government operated by religious authorities who claim unlimited power in the name of God or other supernatural forces. There are many governments--including the United States--in which leaders invoke God, or claim to be inspired by God, or claim to obey the will of God. This does not, in practice, make a government a theocracy. What makes a government a theocracy is when lawmakers actually believe that leaders are governed by the will of God, and write laws predicated on this belief.
• #7: An Autocracy, in which one individual has the power to make all important decisions. The concentration of power in the hands of one person (usually a monarch) was a more common form of government in earlier historical periods. Some countries are still ruled autocratically, such as Iran. An autocracy is a government controlled by one person with absolute power. As unlimited power doesn't usually bring out the best in people, autocracies are often brutal regimes. 6 Different types... 1. monarchy an autocracy governed by a monarch who usually inherits the authority 2. parliamentary monarchy a monarchy having a parliament 3. kingdom a monarchy with a king or queen as head of state 4. empire a monarchy with an emperor as head of state 5. police state a country that maintains repressive control over the people by means of police (especially secret police)
• #8: Dictatorship implies absolute power — one person who takes control — of a political situation, a family, a classroom or even a camping expedition. In government, a dictatorship leaves no room for input from anyone who is not the top guy or gal. In a dictatorship, one person keeps repeating the same command: "My way or the highway."
• #9: government operated by religious authorities who claim unlimited power in the name of God or other supernatural forces.
• #10: A system of government in which one person reigns, usually a king or queen. The authority, or crown, in a monarchy is generally inherited.
• #11: Anarchism (anarchy) values freedom above all else. Because all govt. involves some restriction on personal freedom (example: forcing people to drive on one side of the road), a pure anarchist would object even to traffic laws. It is not a popular philosophy, but it does have supporters. In July 2989, more than 1,500 anarchist from around the world convened in San Francisco. The conference featured more than on hundred workshops on history, philosophy, culture, sexually, and the environment. But the older organizers who wanted to discuss history and debate philosophy had shaved herds and marked they with a fluorescent streak. As at their previous conventions in Chico in 1986, this one erupted in rioting that broke store windows.
• #12: Junta - hu̇n-tə (Hunta) When a government is overthrown, the coalition or group that forms and takes control is called a junta. If the military has seized control, as so often happens, then the group is called a military junta . Junta is pronounced with an initial h sound, which gives you a clue to its origins. It’s from the Spanish junta, for a military or political group ruling the country after it has been taken over
• #13: A system of government in which one person reigns, usually a king or queen. The authority, or crown, in a monarchy is generally inherited. The ruler, or monarch, is often only the head of state, not the head of government. Many monarchies, such as Britain are actually governed by parliaments. Monarchies could be an absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy.)
• #14: In a representative democracy, citizens participate in government by election public officials to make decisions on their behalf. Elected officials are expected to represent the voter’s views and interests that is, to serve as the agents of the citizens and to act for them.
• #15: Democracy means rule by the people. Most scholars believe that the U.S. Britain, France, and other countries in Western Europe are genuine democracies. It emphasizes the procedure that enable the people to govern…meeting to discuss issues, voting in elections, running for pubic office .
• #16: Oligarchy (ol-i-gahr-kee) a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few. 2. a state or organization so ruled. 3. the persons or class so ruling. At one time, the nobility or the major landowners commonly ruled as an aristocracy. Today, a military leaders are often the rulers in a countries governed by an oligarchy.
• #17: Anarchism (anarchy) values freedom above all else.
• #18: Anarchism (anarchy) values freedom above all else. general lawlessness and disorder, especially when thought to result from an absence or failure of government
• #19: Oligarchy (ol-i-gahr-kee) a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few. Today, a military leaders are often the rulers in a countries governed by an oligarchy.
• #20: direct democracy" refers to citizens making policy & law decisions in person, without going through representatives & legislature
• #22: Representative democracy ………citizens participate in government by electing public officials to make decisions on their behalf. Direct democracy ……. Example of direct democracy? A: Town meetings in the northeast. in small towns in Vermont and New Hampshire, where every resident who shows up to the meeting can vote on the issues. Pros and cons of a direct democracy?? I would say the pros are people having their say, but a big con is that the average person doesn't know what they're talking about.
• #23: Oligarchy …..few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few. Representative democracy ………citizens participate in government by electing public officials to make decisions on their behalf.
• #24: Dictatorship implies absolute power — one person who takes control — of a political situation, a family, a classroom or even a camping expedition.
• #25: Monarchy…..King or Queen who inherits the position Theocracy…..a government operated by religious authorities who claim unlimited power in the name of God or other supernatural forces.
• #26: Monarchy ….A system of government in which one person reigns, usually a king or queen. The authority, or crown, in a monarchy is generally inherited. The ruler, or monarch, is often only the head of state, not the head of government. Many monarchies, such as Britain are actually governed by parliaments. Representative democracy ………citizens participate in government by electing public officials to make decisions on their behalf.
• #27: Representative democracy ………citizens participate in government by electing public officials to make decisions on their behalf.