democracy & authoritarianism

• democracy is the government by the people, either directly or through elected representatives
• direct democracy - all citizens vote on every issue
• representative democracy - electing officials to represent them
• liberal democracies are countries that have free elections, freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and movement.
• liberal democracies are countries that have free elections, freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and movement
• authoritarian regimes are governments where power is held by one person or group who control everything
• socialist democracies prioritize social welfare over economic growth
• authoritarian regimes are governments where power is held by one person or group who do not allow any opposition.
• liberal democracies are based on individual rights and freedoms
• authoritarian regimes have one person/group making decisions without input from others
• authoritarian regimes are governments with no real opposition party, limited civil liberties, and little tolerance for dissent.
• totalitarianism is an authoritarian regime with complete control over society
• totalitarianism is an authoritarian regime with complete state control over society
• totalitarianism is an extreme form of authoritarian rule characterized by strict control over most aspects of public and private life.
• dictatorship is when one individual has absolute power over their country
• democracy is the government system where people choose their leaders through voting
• democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people
• socialist democracies are based on collective ownership of the means of production
• the two main types of democratic systems are representative democracy and direct democracy
• Advantages of democracy:

  • Development as time goes on with feedback
  • Room for mistakes and corrections
  • Quality decisions
  • Everyone has the right to knowledge and freedom of speech
• Disadvantages of democracy:

  • Splits society
  • The elected government might not be the best for decision-making 
  • Delayed results
  • Almost “messy” in a way since a new person is elected making it hard for plans to be carried out
• Representative Democracy - A form of democracy that allows citizens to elect representatives who will make decisions on behalf of them.
• Direct Democracy - A type of democracy where all eligible voters have an equal say in the decision-making process.
• Democracy is a system of governance where people choose their leaders through free, fair elections.
• In a democracy, everyone has the right to vote and participate in the political process.
•  Authoritarian regime Advantages: 

  • Efficient time (no waiting around)
  • Consistent results (since nobody decides for themselves)
  • More productivity 
• Authoritarian regime Disadvantages: 

  • Too much pressure on one individual 
  • No freedom, or individual rights
  • No time for feedback
  • Dishonesty 
• What factors led to the formation of governments?

  As society gets more complex and grows there must be laws.

  The early governments formed due to conflicts between people who didn’t share the same opinions and experiences. These issues included land and property, the purchase and sale of goods, and public peace. So to resolve these issues they recorded laws and made sure everyone understood the rules. 
• How were Monarchies formed, and how did they stay in power?

  Monarchies formed through elections, or inheritance, during the Middle Ages. Kings came into power. They stayed in power often because they were able to persuade people that their right to rule had been granted by God, and when one died another from the bloodline would take power. Churches supported them in this.
• Both T’ai Tsung and Louis XIV were absolute monarchs meaning they were believed to have been sent by God. The difference is that  Louis XIV used his power for his benefit and believed he had the right to tax people heavily to pay for his lifestyle. On the other hand, T’ai Tsung believed that power like his own should be used for the benefit of the people and land, and a ruler who used his power like Louis XIV was just arrogant enough to destabilize their land and people. He believed a system like that would lead to disloyal citizens.
• In the modern day and age citizens “run” the government, while back in Athens citizens elected officials who run the government.  They also had similar rules like only citizens were allowed to participate and only free male adults who were born in Athens could call themselves citizens.

  Athens was a direct democracy and modern democracy is indirect.
• The English Bill of Rights prevented the establishment of Catholic religious institutions but didn't separate church and state. Reflecting Locke's influence on America's founding fathers, the American Bill of Rights separated church and state