Political Systems and Democracy: Definitions, Characteristics, and Institutions

DEFINITIONS

DICTATORSHIP: The political system where the authority rules without any limits.

OLIGARCHY: The political system where the power is controlled by a small group.

REPUBLIC: The political system where the head of the state is elected.

MONARCHY: The political system where the head of the state is a king or queen.

DEMOCRACY

Definition: A political system in which people choose the representation, the leaders, the government voting. A form of government in which the supreme power is in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

Main characteristics (agree on them first): Equality, freedom, power division, and representatives

Explanation of the characteristics (short paragraph and an example):

Equality: In democracy, all the people are the same under the law.

Freedom: The right to live in the way you want without being controlled by anyone else. Freedom to choose the religion, freedom to vote for any political party you like, freedom to read or look at any media you like, freedom to choose the language. Freedom is connected with human rights, justice, and equality.

Power division: The political power is divided into three groups: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Executive power is done by the government (is in the hands of the government).

Legislative power is done by the parliament.

Judicial power is done by judges.

Representative: Someone who speaks or does something officially for another person or organization. Representatives are the people you choose to represent you in politics.

INSTITUTIONS

These institutions can be classified as formal or informal.

The informal institutions are, for example, the family or music groups, where friendship or the same interests bring people together.

The formal institutions are those related, for example, to the administration (town council, parliament, etc.).