Political Systems: Democracy, Monarchy, Authoritarianism

Types of Political Systems

• Different governments organize authority and governance in distinct ways.

Democracy

• Power resides in the people, who elect representatives to govern.
• Direct Democracy involves citizens directly participating in decision-making, as seen in ancient Athens.
• Representative Democracy features citizens electing representatives, like in India and the USA.
• Free elections, the rule of law, majority rule, and protection of rights and freedoms are key features.

Monarchy

• A king or queen rules, often through hereditary succession.
• Absolute Monarchy means the ruler has unchecked power, such as in Saudi Arabia.
• Constitutional Monarchy has the ruler's power limited by a constitution and parliament, for example, the UK and Japan.

Authoritarianism

• Power is concentrated in a single leader or small elite group, with limited political freedoms, as seen in North Korea under Kim Jong-un.
• Censorship, limited political opposition, and centralized control are common features.

Totalitarianism

• An extreme form of authoritarianism features the government having absolute control over all aspects of life (political, social, economic).
• Nazi Germany under Hitler and Stalin's Soviet Union are examples.
• One-party rule, mass surveillance, and propaganda are features.

Federal System

• Power is divided between a central government and regional governments.
• The USA and India are examples of this system.
• Constitutionally divided powers and autonomy for states/provinces are important features.

Unitary System

• The central government holds most of the power, with limited authority given to local governments.
• France and Japan use this system.
• Centralized power, uniform laws, and weaker regional governments are features.

Presidential System

• The president is both the head of state and government, elected separately from the legislature.
• The USA and Brazil are examples of this.
• Separation of powers, fixed terms, and an independent executive branch are key.

Parliamentary System

• The executive (Prime Minister) is chosen from the legislature and depends on its confidence.
• The UK and India are examples.
• A key feature is no fixed term for the Prime Minister, with executive-legislative fusion.

Similarities Among Political Systems

• All political systems have a governing authority that enforces laws and maintains order.
• Democracies have elected governments, while monarchies have kings or queens.
• Regulation of society: All political systems regulate social, economic, and political activities to maintain stability.
• Democracies and authoritarian regimes both have laws and enforcement agencies.
• Political systems rely on some form of legitimacy (traditional, legal, or charismatic) to rule.
• A monarchy's legitimacy is based on tradition, while a democracy's legitimacy comes from elections.
• Every system involves some form of political participation, though the extent varies.
• In democracies, people vote, while in authoritarian regimes, participation is often limited to state-controlled activities.
• Every political system creates and enforces policies, though the process differs.
• Democracies have parliaments making laws, while dictatorships rely on a single ruler's decisions.