Republic of the Philippines

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Commission on Higher Education
ILLANA BAY INTEGRATED COMPUTER COLLEGE, INC.
Tomawis Bldg. Poblacion 1, Parang, Maguindanao, BARMM, Philippines
Telephone No. (064) 425-0257; Email: [email protected]

POLSCI : POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

AND NEW CONSTITUTION

MODULE 3
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
 I. INTRODUCTION

Governments are like flavors of ice cream. Sometimes more is just better. The
governance of nations differs significantly based on who has power. This module will
differentiate the forms of government.

II. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

a. familiarize and identify the different forms of government; and
b. differentiate the different forms of government.

III. DISCUSSION

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Presidential system
The presidential system is a democratic and republican government in which a head of
government leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch. This head of
government is in most cases also the head of state, which is called president. In presidential
countries, the executive is elected and is not responsible to the legislature, which cannot in
normal circumstances dismiss it. Such dismissal is possible, however, in uncommon cases, often
through impeachment.

Parliamentary form
A parliamentary government is a system in which the powers of
the executive and legislative branches are intertwined as opposed to being held separate as a
check against each other's power, as the Founding Fathers of the United States demanded in the
U.S. Constitution. In fact, the executive branch in a parliamentary government draws its
power directly from the legislative branch.

Authoritarian

In an authoritarian regime, the government has total control. Authoritarian regimes have

typically earned this control by forceful means. While this seems pretty cut and dried, it is
anything but. Authoritarian regimes aren’t always easy to recognize. They might still hold
elections and have branches of government, but only a small group holds the power, not the
people. A good worldly example of an authoritarian government is Cuba. 

Democracy

Another big government type is democracy. In direct contrast to an authoritarian

government, a democracy exists when the people hold the power. Different types of
democracy include direct and representative. If you’ve ever wondered about the United States’
government type, democracy is your answer. But they’re not the only example of democracy in
the world. Canada, Sweden, and Columbia are a few other examples. 
 Monarchy

A monarchy isn’t as common as a democracy, but you still hear about them. In a

monarchy, one family rules the roost, so to speak. And their title is passed down through the
generations. However, much like a democracy, who is in charge isn’t totally cut and dried. 

In an absolute monarchy, the king or ruler is in control of all the government. The more
common constitutional monarchy has a royal family, but they serve mostly as ceremonial
figures. As an example, think of the United Kingdom and Queen Elizabeth. She is the queen, but
the parliament has most government control. 

Oligarchy

Similar to a monarchy, an oligarchy places power in a few people. However, titles aren’t

passed down through the family or even from one person. Instead, it could be a group of people
such as a country’s wealthy. The power might be passed down from one family to another, but it
has nothing to do with bloodlines. Examples through history include China and the Soviet
Union. 

Totalitarian

When you think of a totalitarian government, it takes absolute power to the extreme.
These leaders control not only the government but the personal lives of their people. Citizens
have no say in government, and the totalitarian regime is 100% in charge. This type of
government is forceful and extreme. Remember Hitler and Nazi Germany? That was
totalitarianism at play! 

Anarchy

Anarchy isn’t a type of government; it’s actually the absence of one. In an anarchist

society, a central governing body doesn’t exist. Many times, anarchy will take center stage when
a government collapses. A few historical examples include Albania in 1997 and Germany after
the first world war.

Aristocracy

To remember aristocracy, think aristocrat. In an aristocracy, the wealthy or noble hold the

power. These privileged few leaders make up the ruling class or elite. Historically, Ancient
Greece had an aristocratic government. A modern example is the royal family in the U.K., and to
some aspects, the Kennedys in the United States. 

Dictatorship

Typically, a dictatorship goes hand-in-hand with an authoritarian and totalitarian

government. In this government form, a dictator rules and they typically assert their authority
using military power, which is called a military dictatorship. There have been many dictatorships
throughout history. Famous examples include Joseph Stalin’s rule of the Soviet Union and
Saddam Hussein’s rule of Iraq. North Korea falls into this list as well. 

Federalism

Federalism is all about dividing power. Not only does the government have central
power, but local states or regions also have their own specific powers. For example, in the U.S.,
the federal government is the central power, but the individual states all have their own regional
and state governing laws. This means state laws might be different in California than they are in
Tennessee. 

Republicanism

Many times, you see ‘Republic of’ this or ‘Republic of’ that. When something is a true
republic as in republicanism, it means the citizens have the power. They have the voting power
and the power to make changes in their government. Now, republicanism can get quite confusing
because it typically goes hand-in-hand with federalism and theocracy. Examples include France
and India. 

Theocracy

Types of governments are about who rules. In a theocracy, the ruler is God or a deity.
The creation of laws comes from religious texts, scriptures, and spiritual leaders. A theocracy
also mixes with other types of governments. For example, Iran is an Islamic democracy, and the
Vatican government is dictated by the Christian religion and pope. 

Tribalism

Indigenous tribes around the globe use a form of government called tribalism. In this
form of government, you follow the dictates and rules of your tribe, which is made of specific
people groups or those with the same ideals. There can be a council of elders making decisions,
but not always. Each tribes make up is unique. While tribalism is becoming less and less
common, tribes in Africa still use this form of government. 

Capitalism

While capitalism is actually a type of economy, many times, it works to drive a

government and political power. In capitalism, the government doesn’t run the economy; instead,
private-ownership corporations and businesses do. While the U.S. is a mixed economy, many
would consider it capitalistic. Other examples include Switzerland and Hong Kong.

Communism

When it comes to what type of government China has, most people might think of
communist. Actually, China is probably one of the most famous historical examples of a
communist government. However, in modern China, the answer isn’t as simple as that. 

So, what is communism? A theory created by Karl Marx, communism is where

everything is publicly owned rather than privately like in capitalism. It’s an attempt to create a
classless society, but it typically happens through a violent revolution. Beyond China,
communist examples include Vietnam and Laos. 

Socialism

Socialism and communism form from the same ideals of Karl Marx for a utopian,
classless society. However, while communism uses violence to achieve its aims, socialism places
emphasis on making small changes through reforms and laws. Additionally, communism doesn’t
have private property, while in socialism, you can own property, but industry is regulated by the
government. Socialist examples found around the world include Algeria and Tanzania. 
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT CHART
ASSESSMENT TASK

General Instructions: Encode your answers in a long bond paper with the font of Bookman
Old style and size of 12. Copy and answer the following questions and send your answers to our
Google Classroom. Make sure that your answer should only focus in the idea or thought that was
being asked per questions. Please be reminded that the submission of your assessment task is on
or before the Prelim examination.(10 points each, a total of 50 points)

Questions

1. What is political science both in its traditional and modern meaning? Discuss briefly.
2. What are the boundaries of politics? Does it exist everywhere? Explain.
3. Differentiate Monarchy and Oligarchy form of government.
4. Compare Totalitarian with Dictatorship by discussing their similarities and differences.
5. How is presidential system of government distinguished from parliamentary form?
Explain briefly.

Criteria for Scoring

Originality & Accuracy : 5 pts.

Grammar, Format & Spelling : 5 pts.
Organization & Relevance : 5 pts.
TOTAL 15

RESOURCE/MATERIALS

Online
Modular Platforms

REFERENCES

https://www.slideshare.net/janet25/types-of-government-27187794

https://thebestschools.org/magazine/common-forms-of-government-study-starters/

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/different-types-of-government-around-the-
world.html