Government

Government: Differences from Other Organizations

1. Comprehensive Authority
2. Involuntary Membership
3. Authoritative Rules
4. Legitimate Monopoly of Overwhelming Force

Functions of Government

• Self-Preservation
  To protect the state from domestic and external threats using military and intelligence organizations.
• Supervision and Resolution of Conflicts
• Regulation of the Economy
• Protection of Political and Social Rights
• Provision of Goods and Services

Forms of Government

I. Aristotle’s Classification (in his writing Politics)

1. Monarchy
   Rule by one person, typically based on hereditary succession.
2. Aristocracy
   Rule by a few enlightened and organized groups.
3. Oligarchy
   Rule by a few wealthy individuals.
4. Democracy
   Rule in which the people are vested with supreme power.
5. Republic
   A form of government where power is acquired through elections.

II. Montesquieu’s Classification

1. Republican
2. Monarchical
3. Despotic
   A form of government in which a ruler exercises total personal power over the people.

III. Rousseau’s Classification

1. Autocratic
   A form of government where an individual exercises unrestricted authority.
2. Aristocratic
3. Democratic

IV. Contemporary Forms of Government

1. Monarchy (One-Man Rule)

• 1.1 Traditional Monarchy
  The king or queen maintains their position by a claim of legitimate blood descent.
• 1.2 Constitutional Monarchy
  The king or queen is a ceremonial head of state and a symbol of national unity, but lacks real power.

2. Dictatorship/Monocracy

Rule by non-western royal absolutists or military generals.

3. Oligarchy/Aristocracy

Rule by a few elites, often recruited exclusively from a ruling class.

4. Constitutional Government

• 4.1 Presidential System
  Based on the doctrine of separation of powers. Practiced in the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
• 4.2 Parliamentary System
  Based on the fusion of powers (legislative and executive). Practiced in Western European nations, Scandinavian countries, Japan, India, etc.

Major Organs of Government

The Legislative Body

1. Statute-Making
   Every legislature has the power to make laws.
2. Constitution Making and Amending
   Legislatures have the power to establish and amend the national constitution.
3. Electoral Functions
   Legislatures play a role in selecting top executives, e.g., indirect election of prime ministers and motions of no confidence.
4. Financial Functions
   These are influenced by:
   • Complexity of political, economic, and social conditions
   • Increased population size and territory
   • Topography of the country
   • Population distribution
   • People’s history and psychological makeup

Unitary System of Government

Although the majority of the world’s states are unitary systems, there are significant differences in the institutions and procedures by which central governments interact with their local territorial sub-units.

Types of Power Distribution:

1. Decentralization of power
2. Decentralized authority with strict central supervision
3. Central appointment

Advantages of a Unitary State

• Suitable for relatively small areas and homogeneous populations
• Avoids conflicts of jurisdiction
• Prevents duplication of civil servants and services
• Maintains uniformity of laws, policies, and administration

Disadvantages of a Unitary State

• Overburdens the national legislature with numerous local issues
• Distant authorities may lack adequate knowledge of local needs and interests
• Encourages the development of a centralized bureaucracy

Federal Form of State

In a federal system, power is divided between national and regional governments. It is the direct opposite of a unitary state. A federal state provides for an actual division of powers among independent governments, each exercising control within its scope and over the same people.

Examples: Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, India, Canada, Australia, Brazil

Distinctive Features of a Federal State

• Dual politics
• Dual government structure: federal authority and federal units
• Supremacy of the federal constitution
• Both federal authority and federal units have their own constitutions
• Federal authority has the ultimate power to interpret the constitution
• Federal units maintain autonomy; the central government cannot impose its will on them