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Government Systems Overview

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Government Systems Overview

A coastal community must decide how to manage a water supply, settle disputes and prepare for emergencies. Explore four ways societies have organised power, then use evidence to advise the community.

Four systems at a glance

Read the profiles. These are simplified overviews: practices varied across time and place. DIRECT DEMOCRACY — In ancient Athens, eligible adult male citizens could attend an assembly, speak and vote on some decisions themselves. Women, enslaved people and resident foreigners were excluded. Large meetings allowed direct participation by those eligible, but excluded most residents. MONARCHY — In ancient Egypt, a pharaoh held supreme authority, supported by officials who administered the kingdom. Decisions could be made quickly and coordinated across a large territory. Power was concentrated in one ruler and succession often followed a royal line. OLIGARCHY — In ancient Sparta, political power was shared among a relatively small group, including two kings, a council of elders and citizen assemblies with restricted roles. This could support stable leadership, but most people had little or no political influence. IWI AND HAPŪ DECISION-MAKING — In pre-colonial Aotearoa, Māori political life was organised through whānau, hapū and iwi, with authority shaped by relationships, whakapapa, mana and tikanga. Rangatira held leadership responsibilities, and collective discussion and agreement were important in many contexts. Practices differed between communities; there was no single central government for all Māori.

1.Which system is most closely associated with each feature? Write the system name for each clue.

Eligible citizens vote directly on proposals at an assembly
Supreme authority is held by one ruler
Political power is held by a relatively small group
Authority and responsibilities are organised through whānau, hapū and iwi

Iwi and hapū decision-making
Oligarchy
Direct democracy
Monarchy

2.True or false: In ancient Athens, every resident of the city could vote in the assembly. Correct the statement if it is false.

TrueFalse

3.Which system’s profile explicitly says that practices differed between communities and that there was no single central government for all Māori?

Direct democracy in Athens
Monarchy in Egypt
Oligarchy in Sparta
Iwi and hapū decision-making

Decision-making challenge

The coastal community has 120 residents. It needs to choose one plan: A) build a shared rainwater tank, B) repair the stream crossing first, or C) delay both projects and save money. The plan must be chosen fairly, and residents need to understand who has a say.

4.If every adult resident could attend a meeting and vote on one of the three plans, which broad system would this most resemble? Give one reason.

5.The community elects a small council to decide quickly, but residents worry they will not be heard. Name one possible benefit and one risk of giving decisions to a small group.

6.Fill each blank using the profiles: In a monarchy, authority is concentrated in . In an oligarchy, political power is held by .

7.Select ancient Athens’ direct democracy or ancient Egypt’s monarchy. Explain one strength and one limitation of that system, using evidence from its profile.

8.A student says, “All Māori communities made decisions in exactly the same way.” Use the iwi and hapū profile to explain why this claim is inaccurate.

9.Compare any two systems in the profiles. State one similarity or difference in who held power or how decisions were made. Support your comparison with details.

10.Recommend one decision-making approach for the coastal community. Explain how it could balance effective decisions with residents having a voice. There is no single correct recommendation; justify yours.