Government

The dictionary defines Government as “the System by which a community or country is governed” In many countries the word Government instills fear or loathing, but in the US, Government inspires justice and service. Although we joke about them, our Governments are there to serve us and promote our best interests. It is said “people get the Government they deserve”, so let’s look at what types of Governments there are, and wonder about the character of those so governed.

Types of Government

Autocratic Monarchy
Rule by a Monarch where the Emperor, King, Prince, Shah or Amir is the source of power and ‘above the law’.

Crown Prince Dipendra of the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal murdered his father and mother on June 2, 2001 and became King for three days before dieing from self inflicted wounds.

Constitutional Monarchy
Rule of a Monarch limited by Constitution or convention. Emperor, King, Prince, Sheik etc largely ceremonial and symbolic.

Crown Prince Frederick, heir to the world’s oldest throne delighted Denmark by marrying Australian born Mary Donaldson in a fairytale wedding on May 16, 2004 in Copenhagen.

Autocracy
Rule by a single individual with unlimited power unhampered by constitution or parliament.

Saddam Hussein gained power in 1979, purging rivals and eliminating potential opposition. He squandered the nation’s oil wealth upon his extended family, his personality cult and wars.

Direct Democracy
A system of rule where the final say on all important decisions is determined by the people through referendum or voting.

Neutral Switzerland’s highly educated citizenry vote on almost everything and the people take a serious interest in their nation’s affairs, often frustrating their politicians and world leaders.

Representative Democracy
Systems where voters elect representatives who meet in a parliament and represent those in their electorate or those who voted for them. There are many variations of the type.

In May 2004 India’s 670 million voters went to the polls in the world’s largest ever election and stunned experts by bringing the Gandhi family-dominated Congress Party back to power.

Republic
A political system where the head of state is not a monarch and is usually a President, elected by the nation’s citizens.

In Ancient Greece, the birthplace of democracy, hereditary male citizens participated in their Republic debating philosophical issues in amphitheatre, while their slaves toiled.

Theocracy
Government by God or God’s appointed representatives, or those implementing God’s will.

The Vatican and Iran are today’s two theocratic Governments. The Pope’s authority stems from St Peter’s succession and Iran’s supreme Council of Guardians is answerable to Allah.

One Party Dictatorship
Government by a single political party occupying all the positions and offices of power.

Sixteen republics formed the USSR ruled by the Communist Party from the 1917 October Revolution now called “The Great Mistake”. The Soviet Union died with the party in 1991.

Tyrannical Democracy
The rule by a Tyrant under cover of democracy, often through voter intimidation, vote buying or election fraud.

Ferdinand Marcos President of The Philippines was deposed by Manila crowds in 1986 after election fraud exposed the nations ‘democracy’ as a cover for his corrupt tyrannical misrule.

Military Dictatorship
Supreme Government authority resides with the Military who rule either directly or through appointed representatives who act as puppets of the Military.

CIA backed Chilean General Augusto Pinochet seized power from Salvadore Allende’s Socialists in 1973 ushering in a new era of efficient, prosperous but authoritarian rule.

Anarchy
Lawless government of the mob where the institutions of the state cease to be respected or lose their authority.

The 1988 collapse of Siad Barre’s hated “Scientific Socialism” regime plunged Somalia into an ungovernable patchwork of horror with rival clan-based warlords enslaving their tribes.

Student Democracy
Student agitation or protest which results in democratic or national policy change.

In April 1960 Seoul University students in Korea brought down the corrupt regime of Syngman Rhee ushering in constitutional change and new elections, but ultimately Military rule.

Mediaocracy
Government by the media and PR consultants in the interests of ratings, characterised by policy changes dictated by opinion poll statistics.

Richard Nixon’s 1968 election victory resulted from a carefully managed television oriented campaign which presented him as a strong, wise and honest intellectual which he was not.

Governments in the USA
The United States of America has governments at three levels

Federal           State          Municipal

Federal Government branches
Executive
Constituting the President, Vice President and appointed members of his Administration.
The American voter elects an Electoral College, which elects the President and the President selects cabinet Secretary’s who head his Administrations Departments. The President’s Administration implements his policies within the confines of the Law and with the approval of Congress.

Legislative
Congress forms the Legislative branch of Federal Government. Made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, they make new laws and regulate the actions of the Presidents and his Administration and approve his Cabinet and Judicial appointees.

Judicial
The Courts form the Judiciary and ensure the actions and decisions of both the Administrative and Legislative branches of government are within the constitution and consistent with other laws. The nations highest court is called The Supreme Court and is made up of 12 members appointed by the President when a vacancy occurs.

Your Federal Government’s Departments and Agencies

Presidents of the USA www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents	First Wives of US Presidents www.geocities.com/Athens/
Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov	Inland Revenue Service – Department of the Treasury www.irs.ustreas.gov
Department of Defense www.dod.gov	Department of Education www.ed.gov
United States Department of Health and Human Services www.os.dhhs.gov	US Department of Energy www.doe.gov
US Department of State www.state.gov	United States Department of the Treasury www.ustreas.gov
US Customs Service www.customs.ustreas.gov	US Immigration Service www.uscis.gov
US Department of Housing and Urban Development www.hud.gov	Federal Highway Administration www.fhwa.dot.gov
Department of Energy – Environment Protection www.eh.doe.gov	Federal Electoral Commission www.fec.gov
US National Archives and Records Administration www.archives.gov	United States Army www.army.mil
US Navy www.navy.mil	United States Marine Corp www.usmc.mil
US Air Force www.af.mil
The Central Intelligence Agency www.cia.gov	Federal Bureau of Investigation www.fbi.gov