Government Formation and Types

Government Formation

Types of Governments

• Unitary System: Power is held by the central government, which makes decisions for the entire country.
• Federal System: Power is divided between a central government and smaller regional governments.
• Confederal System: A loose alliance of independent states that cooperate on certain matters.

Forms of Government

• Monarchy: A king or queen holds significant power, often hereditary.
• Republic: Power is held by the people or their elected representatives.
• Authoritarian: A single person or group holds complete control, often without free elections.
• Totalitarian: A highly centralized and controlled government that seeks to regulate all aspects of citizens' lives.

Government Branches

• Legislative: Makes laws, often comprising a parliament or congress.
• Executive: Enforces laws, headed by a president or prime minister.
• Judicial: Interprets laws, comprising a system of courts.

Systems of Government

• Presidential System: The president serves as both head of state and head of government.
• Parliamentary System: The prime minister serves as head of government, while a separate head of state (e.g., monarch) exists.
• Semi-Presidential System: A mix of presidential and parliamentary systems, where the president and prime minister share power.

Coalition Governments

• Formed when no single party holds a majority of seats in the legislature.
• Parties negotiate to form a governing coalition, often with policy compromises.

Government Stability

• Factors affecting stability:
  • Political culture and history
  • Institutional design (e.g., electoral systems)
  • Economic conditions
  • International relations and pressures

Government Formation

Types of Governments

• In a Unitary System, the central government possesses all the power and makes decisions for the entire country.
• A Federal System divides power between a central government and smaller regional governments, which have some autonomy.
• A Confederal System is a loose alliance of independent states that cooperate on certain matters, but each state retains significant power.

Forms of Government

• A Monarchy is a system where a king or queen holds significant power, often inherited through family.
• In a Republic, power is held by the people or their elected representatives, and leaders are usually chosen through elections.
• An Authoritarian government is characterized by a single person or group holding complete control, often without free elections.
• A Totalitarian government is a highly centralized and controlled system that seeks to regulate all aspects of citizens' lives.

Government Branches

• The Legislative branch is responsible for making laws, often comprising a parliament or congress.
• The Executive branch is responsible for enforcing laws, headed by a president or prime minister.
• The Judicial branch is responsible for interpreting laws, comprising a system of courts.

Systems of Government

• In a Presidential System, the president serves as both the head of state and head of government.
• In a Parliamentary System, the prime minister serves as the head of government, while a separate head of state (e.g., monarch) exists.
• A Semi-Presidential System is a mix of presidential and parliamentary systems, where the president and prime minister share power.

Coalition Governments

• A Coalition Government is formed when no single party holds a majority of seats in the legislature.
• Parties must negotiate to form a governing coalition, often with policy compromises.

Government Stability

• Factors affecting government stability include:
  • Political culture and history
  • Institutional design (e.g., electoral systems)
  • Economic conditions
  • International relations and pressures