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Exploring Government Systems

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Exploring Government Systems

You are advising a youth civic group comparing how governments make decisions and how people can influence them. Read the case files, then complete the tasks. Use evidence from the information on this worksheet.

Case files: who holds power?

A government system describes how public power is organised and how decisions are made. The labels below describe features that can overlap: a country may be a democracy and a constitutional monarchy at the same time. Aotearoa New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Voters elect members of Parliament. The party or parties able to command the confidence of the House form the government. Parliament debates and passes laws; ministers lead government departments; courts interpret and apply the law. The monarch is head of state, represented in New Zealand by the Governor-General, and acts according to constitutional conventions. People can also influence public decisions through submissions, petitions, peaceful protest and contact with representatives. In Republic A, one leader and a small group make most national decisions. Elections are held, but opposition groups have difficulty organising and independent news reporting is restricted. People have few effective ways to replace national leaders. In Kingdom B, a monarch is head of state. A constitution and elected parliament limit the monarch’s formal powers. Voters choose representatives, and the government must retain the support of parliament. In State C, the constitution describes the country as socialist. The state directs much of the economy, and one political party holds the leading role in national government. In practice, countries that describe themselves as socialist or communist can differ in how their economies and political institutions work.

Case

Who can influence national decisions?

What limits or concentrates power?

Aotearoa New Zealand

Voters elect MPs; people can also make submissions, petition, protest peacefully and contact representatives.

Parliament, ministers and courts have distinct roles; constitutional conventions limit the monarch’s role.

Republic A

Elections occur, but opposition groups have difficulty organising.

One leader and a small group make most decisions; independent news reporting is restricted.

Kingdom B

Voters choose representatives.

A constitution and elected parliament limit the monarch’s formal powers.

Decode the systems

Use these terms carefully: democracy involves meaningful public participation in choosing leaders or influencing decisions; authoritarian government concentrates power and restricts political freedoms; a constitutional monarchy has a monarch as head of state whose powers are limited by rules and conventions; a republic has no hereditary monarch as head of state. A system’s name alone does not tell you everything about how power works.

1.Match each term with its best definition.

1. Suffrage
2. Legislature
3. Constitution
4. Citizen participation

C. Fundamental rules and principles for governing a country
A. The right to vote in elections
B. The institution that debates and passes laws
D. Ways people take part in public life and influence decisions

2.Which description best fits Aotearoa New Zealand in the case file?

A parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
An absolute monarchy
A government led by one unelected ruler

3.Because New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy, the monarch personally decides which laws Parliament passes. Decide whether this statement is true or false, then correct it.

TrueFalse

4.Which two details in Republic A suggest that it is authoritarian? Select both.

One leader and a small group make most national decisions
Independent news reporting is restricted
A constitution limits a monarch’s formal powers
Voters elect representatives who can debate laws

5.Kingdom B has a monarch, a constitution, an elected parliament and a government that must keep parliament’s support. Which conclusion is best supported?

It is a constitutional monarchy with democratic features
It is an absolute monarchy because it has a monarch
It is a dictatorship because parliament exists

6.Complete the sentence: In New Zealand, voters choose to represent them in Parliament.

7.A group of young people wants their local council to improve a shared public space. Give two ways people in New Zealand can participate in public decision-making, using the case file.

8.Write one feature from the case files that shows power is limited or shared, and one feature that shows power is concentrated.

9.Use the shapes below to sketch a simple model showing how power is organised in New Zealand. Label at least three parts and use arrows to show a relationship, such as voters electing MPs or Parliament passing laws. This is a simplified model, not a complete account of government.

10.A classmate says, “If a country holds elections, it must be a democracy.” Use evidence from Republic A to explain why this claim is too simple.

11.In two or three sentences, compare Kingdom B and Republic A. Include one difference in who holds power and one difference in how people can influence government.