Notes

power distribution:
confederate: independent states ally, subservient to the states.
unitary: political power is concentrated in the hands of the central government, centralized government can recall or abolish authority given to the other levels of government.
federal: divides power between central and state governments, constitution.

legislative branch - makes laws
executive branch - enforces laws
Presidential Government: divides powers between the chief executive and the legislature.
Parliamentary Government: little separation of powers, more support of political ideas than on what’s best for the general public.

authoritarian government: one party/person holds power,
Despotism - one governs for the benefit of himself (tyranny)
Dictatorship - Absolute power. often intimidation and brutality.
Feudalism - strict social classes: the king, the lords (nobles), the vassals (knights), and the serfs (peasants)
Totalitarianism is a severe, and typically brutal, form of authoritarianism, absolute power over everything.

monarchy: a single person whose right to rule is based on heredity
constitutional monarchies - monarch as ceremonial head of the state, prime minister and Parliament have the political power
absolute monarchy - revolt against the throne is defying God himself, divine right of kings

democracy: balance of power, rule by many
characteristics - participation by the people, consent by the people to accept the government’s actions (“consent of the governed”), acknowledgement of people’s basic rights.
Direct Democracy - town meetings. initiative/voting on means, referendum/vote accept or reject, recall/remove elected officials.
Liberal Democracy - citizens hold the representatives accountable. Worth of the Individual, Equality of All People, Majority Rule/Minority Rights, Compromise, Individual freedom.

5 keys to loyalty: Make People a Priority, Expect Hard Times, Support One Another, Keep Commitments, Stay Connected.