Types & Forms of Government

PowerPoint available at: This lesson is Part II of our look at “systems of government,” such as Federal, Unitary & Parliamentary, and “forms” of government. Forms of Government examines: direct democracy, representative democracy, absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy, socialism, communism, autocracy, and oligarchy. Students will learn how Ancient Athens developed the first democracy, but that it was a direct democracy. They will learn how the United States has a representative democracy or a republic, but that there are examples of direct democracy in the U.S. in the form of “referendum” and “initiative” legislation. Students will look at monarchies and how this popular form of government mostly dissolved with the advent of democracy, the Enlightenment Era and events such as the Magna Carta and Glorious Revolution. Saudi Arabia’s monarchy is provided as an example of the few remaining absolute monarchies. An introduction to socialism is provided with its rise during the Industrial Revolution and the complex meaning of this form or ideology today and its link to social welfare programs such as universal healthcare and free education. A brief overview of Communism is provided and what this form of government meant for the Soviet Union whose collapse is also introduced. The remaining communist countries are provided as well as the idea of how these few remaining governments are opening towards privatization. Finally the terms of describing who holds power: autocracy and oligarchy are included with definitions and examples. Like most of the videos on Mr. Raymond’s Civics EOC Academy this video ends with a review “quiz.” As this is Part II of Systems of Government and Forms of Government this “quiz“ covers both videos. Remember that the PowerPoint in this video as well as a variety of lesson plans and activities are available at Teachers Pay Teachers. Mr. Raymond’s Civics . Academy was designed for students taking the Florida Civics End-of-Course (EOC) Exam. However, as many states are implementing Civics Exams, these videos will work for all students of Civics, US Government, and US History. Currently students have to pass a civics state exam in order to graduate in Idaho, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona, North Dakota, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah – as well as state social studies tests such as Texas’ STAAR exam. These videos look at all of the civics benchmarks that will be tested on most state civics exams. As a civics teacher I have often looked for civics YouTube video clips to show my students. I hope these videos will serve as a supplement to lessons for civics teachers, US history teachers, US government teachers and their students. While they might be a little basic for AP Government students, they could serve as a refresher of basic concepts and content. I have also thought that these videos could help those who are going to take the naturalization test to become US Citizens. I have also been reached by parents whose children are taking Florida Virtual School’s (FLVS) Civics class. All content in this video is for educational purposes only… ***For noncommercial, educational, and archival purposes under Law of Fair Use as provided in section 107 of the US copyright law. No copyrights infringements intended***