Asia Government

Distribution of Power
 Unitary
a form of government in which
power is held by one central
authority
 Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power

Regional Regional
Authority Authority

Central
Authority
Regional
Regional
Authority
Authority
 Confederation
voluntary associations of
independent states that, to secure
some common purpose, agree to
certain limitations on their power
 Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power

Regional Regional
Authority Authority

Central
Authority

Regional Regional
Authority Authority
 Federal
a form of government in which power is
divided between one central and several
regional authorities
 Federation / Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power

Regional Regional
Authority Authority

Central
Authority

Regional Regional
Authority Authority
Citizen Participation
 Autocratic

government in which one person possesses

unlimited power and the citizen has little if
any role in the government.
 Oligarchic

government by the few, sometimes a

government in which a small group
exercises control especially for corrupt and
selfish purposes. The citizen has a very
limited role.
 Democratic

a government in which the supreme power

is vested in the people and exercised by
them directly or indirectly through a
system of representation usually involving
periodically held free elections.
How Governments Determine
Citizen Participation
High Participation High Participation
Citizen Participation

Citizen Participation
Government Power
Government Power

Government Power
General Citizens’
Select Citizens’

Participation
Participation

Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation

Autocratic Oligarchic Democracy

Democratic Governments
 Parliamentary

a system of government having the real

executive power vested in a cabinet
composed of members of the legislature
who are individually and collectively
responsible to the legislature. May have a
Prime Minister elected by the legislature.
 Presidential

a system of government in which the

president is constitutionally independent
of the legislature
In Japan, the prefectures (Japan’s word for
states or provinces) do not have any
independent authority. Instead, they carry
out the laws and policies of the national
government. This is an example of what
system of government?
A. Unitary
B. Confederation
C. Federal
D. parliamentary
How does a democratic government
differ from an oligarchic government?

A. Role of the citizen

B. Law making process
C. Judicial system
D. Role of individual states
In a parliamentary government, unlike the
presidential system, the head of
government belongs to which branch?

A. Judicial
B. National
C. Executive
D. Legislative
Asia Government
 Federal Republic of India

 Although India is a republic, individual states are

more tightly controlled by the central
government than states in the United States.
India has a President and a Prime Minister. The
President is the head of state while the Prime
Minister is the head of government. The
President is elected by an electoral college to 5-
year term. The Vice-President is elected by both
houses of Parliament. The Prime Minister is
generally the head of the party that enjoys a
majority in the legislative branch. All citizens 18
and over may vote for their legislators.
 Pratibha Patil
since 25 July 2007
The President is elected
by the elected
members of the
Parliament of India as
well as of the state
legislatures and
serves for a term of
five years.
 Manmohan Singh
in office since 22 May 2004
The head of government of the
Republic of India, and head of
the Council of Ministers,
appointed by the President to
assist the latter in the
administration of the affairs of
the executive in India. The
Prime Minister is responsible
for bringing proposal of
legislation. The Prime Minister
is appointed by the President,
and recognized as leader of
the majority party in the two
Houses of the Parliament of
India.
The People’s Republic of China
 Although China is called a republic, true power
lies with the ruling Communist Party. China has
a President and a Premier. The President is the
head of state while the Premier is the head of
government. The President and Vice-President
are elected by the National People’s Congress.
The Prime Minister is the head of the ruling
party, the Chinese Communist Party. While there
are elections for the National People’s Congress,
there is truly only one political party, the
Chinese Communist Party. The State Council,
which functions as a cabinet, is appointed by the
National People’s Congress.
 Hu Jintao 15 Nov 2002 -
Currently the Paramount
Leader of the People's
Republic of China, holding the
titles of General Secretary of
the Communist Party of China
since 2002, President of the
People's Republic of China
since 2003, and Chairman of
the Central Military
Commission since 2004,
succeeding Jiang Zemin in the
fourth generation leadership
of the People's Republic of
China.
 Increased population means more
resources are needed to meet the needs
of the growing population. Due to fears of
overpopulation in China, the government
has introduced a One Child Policy
encouraging families to have only one
child. If families have more than one child
there are financial penalties.
The Constitutional Monarchy of
Japan
 The Emperor of Japan (head of state) is
merely a “symbol of the state.” True
executive power resides with the Prime
Minister (head of government), and the
Cabinet of Ministers, who are part of the
legislative branch of government. There
are universal voting rights for all adult
citizens.
Emperor Akihito The symbol of the state
and of the unity of the
Japanese people. He is
the head of the
Japanese Imperial
Family. He is also the
highest authority of the
Shinto religion. Under
Japan's present
constitution, the
Emperor is the "symbol
of the state and the
unity of the people," and
is a ceremonial
figurehead in a
constitutional monarchy
 Yukio Hatoyama
The Prime Minister is
appointed by the
Emperor of Japan after
being designated by the
Diet from among its
members, and must
enjoy the confidence of
the House of
Representatives to
remain in office. The
Prime Minister is the
head of the Cabinet and
appoints and dismisses
the Ministers of State.
Yukio Hatoyama has
been prime minister
since 16 September
2009.
 Chief of state includes the name and title
of the titular leader of the country who
represents the state at official and
ceremonial functions, but who may not be
involved with the day-to-day activities of
the government.
 Head of government includes the name
and title of the top administrative leader
who is designated to manage the day-to-
day activities of the government.
 For example, in Japan, the emperor is the
chief of state, and the prime minister is
the head of government. {In the US, the
president is both the chief of state and the
head of government.}
The emperor holds a ceremonial role as head of state

The prime minister is the head of government

The government’s true power lies with the Prime Minister and
the Cabinet

Based on the information above, which term identifies

Japan’s government?
A. federal republic
B. communist state
C. constitutional monarchy
D. autocratic confederation
 a national government as well as 28 state
governments

the leader of each state legislature's majority is

appointed governor by the president

citizens of each state elect state legislatures

Based on the information above, which term identifies
India's government?
A. federal republic
B. communist state
C. constitutional monarchy
D. autocratic confederation
COUNTRY TYPE OF GOV’T How do they become Form of Leadership Personal
leaders in this country? Freedoms?

India Federal President – President – head of 18 and

Democracy Electoral College state older
Prime Minister – Head of Prime Minister – vote
Majority legislative head of gov’t
branch

China Republic President – chosen by President – head of None

(fake) National People’s state
Congress Premier (Prime
Lead by Premier (Prime Minister) Minister) – head of
Communist – Head of the Ruling government
Party Party (Communist Party)

Japan Constitutional Emperor – Inherited Emperor – head of 18 and

Monarchy Prime Minister – chosen state older
by the Diet and emperor Prime Minister – vote
gives blessing head of
government