Forms of Government

Forms of Government:
1) As to number of persons exercising sovereign powers

a) Monarchy
the supreme & final authority is in the hands of a single person such as
Louis XIV of France Sun King Ivan IV The first Russian ruler to be formally
crowned as "tsar of all Russia

Queen Cleopatra Egypt

Queen Elizabeth II England

king, queen, emperor, czar

1) As to number of persons exercising sovereign powers

2 types of Monarchy:
Absolute Monarchy ruler rules by divine right Limited Monarchy
ruler rules according to a Constitution

According to Thomas Hobbes (English)

Monarchy is the best form of government.

1) Less division

2) Less scope of corruption

3) Wider consultation (the monarch can select experts and get advice in private) 4) More effective secrecy 5) Less chance of civil war (since the Monarch cannot disagree with himself) 6) Policies will be more consistent 7) Complete obedience to single will (essential to order and security)

2 Ways in which right can be givenup according to Thomas

Hobbes

1) By simply renouncing the right 2) By

transferring the right

> it can be made by promise or contract / covenants

> transferring of right is voluntary

> there is one right that cannot be transferred

the ultimate right to defend our lives

Example of Contemporary Absolute Monarchy

The Sultan of Brunei is both head of state and head of government.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Executive power is exercised by the government.

Brunei has a Legislative Council with 20 appointed members, that only has consultative tasks.

b) Aristocracy
political powers is exercised by few privilege class

derived from the Greek aristokratia

meaning the best'
also known as oligarchy is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society Oligarchies have been tyrannical throughout history.
Example: The French First Republic government under the

Directory A body of five Directors that held executive

power in France

b) Aristocracy
Example: French Aristocracy

aristocrats / elite

Upper Class clergy/priest Middle Class: nobles/merchants/traders Lower Class: commoners/laborers

Voltaire

Rosseau

c) Democracy
the power is exercised or resides in the people

2 types:
1) Direct / Pure Democracy
the will of the state is directly

expressed by the people 2) Indirect / Representative / Republican Democracy

people choose representatives

delegates to govern / rule them

2) As to extent of powers exercised by the CENTRAL / NATIONAL government

a) Unitary Government
control of the national and local affairs is exercised by the central / national government headed by the President that represents the central / national government
e.g. Philippines

2) As to extent of powers exercised by the CENTRAL / NATIONAL government

b) Federal Government
powers of government are divided between national and local affairs
each organ (national & local) is SUPREME within its own sphere
e.g. United States

3) As to relationship between EXECUTIVE and LEGISLATIVE

branches of government

a) Presidential
President is the head of state and of

government
Pres. George Washington 1789-1797 Pres. Manuel Quezon First President of the Commonwealth - 1935

3) As to relationship between EXECUTIVE and LEGISLATIVE

branches of government

b) Parliamentary Government
Prime Minister runs the affairs of the government

President serves as ceremonial / symbolic leader of the state

Example: JAPAN

Constitutional Monarchy
The power of the Emperor is very limited. As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the constitution as the symbol of . . . . .
1) the state 2) the unity of the people

Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and

other elected members of the Diet.
Japan's legislative organ is the National Diet, a bicameral parliament

While sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people.

Akihito
the current Emperor of Japan

Michiko
the current Empress of Japan
Incumbent

Naruhito
Crown Prince of Japan, stands as next in line to the throne

Prime Minister
of Japan

Yukio Hatoyama
since 16 September 2009

Crown Princess

Masako

National Diet of Japan

is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representative, and an upper house, called the House of

Councilors.
Both houses of the Diet are directly elected by the people.

In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally responsible for selecting the Prime Minister

Thailands Prime Minister

Abhisit Vejjajiva,
leader of the Democrat Party, since December 17, 2008

Bhumibol Adulyadej
current

Government:
Constitutional Democratic Monarchy

King of Thailand

1932 - the first written constitution was promulgated

Other Forms of Government:

a) Military Government
government implemented by one state over
another state under their control
e.g. military government during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines

a government run by military junta

Senior General THAN SHWE

e.g. present government of Myanmar (Burma) from 1962 up to present

September 24, 2007 Tens of thousands of monks and civilians march in Burma in the biggest protest so far against

the ruling junta.

b) Revolutionary Government
the power of the government is obtained

through force
e.g. revolutionary government under Emilio Aguinaldo (June 29, 1898)

Other Forms of Government: (As to legitimacy) c) De Jure Government

(Latin) -- rightfully; lawfully; by legal title government that is founded on constitutional law
e.g. the Commonwealth government under Pres. Manuel L. Quezon
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, signing the Constitution of the Philippine Commonwealth; Manuel L. Quezon, President

SIGNING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH, 23 MARCH 1935.

Other Forms of Government: (As to legitimacy) d) De facto Government

government not founded on constitutional law
administration of the state by superior force brought about by revolutions, invasions, insurgency

e.g. revolutionary government under Andres Bonifacio

How will you describe the Philippine Government?

a) representative democracy
through election

b) unitary
control of the national & local affairs by the central government

c) presidential
separation of powers by the 3 branches of government