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Government Types and Methods

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Government Types and Methods

A community group is planning a Matariki celebration. Use the information below to identify how different systems distribute power and involve people. Then consider how New Zealand’s government works.

Read the briefing

The celebration committee needs to choose a venue and decide how to spend a limited budget. In System A, every adult resident votes directly on each proposal. In System B, residents elect representatives for a fixed term; those representatives debate proposals and can be voted out at the next election. In System C, one ruler makes the decisions and can reject any advice. In System D, a small circle of wealthy business owners controls the budget and makes decisions. These are simplified models: real countries may combine features and do not always fit one label neatly. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The monarch is head of state, while elected MPs form Parliament. The government is led by the Prime Minister and must retain the confidence of Parliament. The rule of law means everyone, including people in government, is subject to the law.

1.Which system in the briefing is closest to direct democracy, where people vote on proposals themselves?

System A
System B
System C
System D

2.Which system is closest to a representative democracy, and what feature makes it representative?

3.Kahu says System D is an oligarchy. Give one piece of evidence from the briefing that supports this description.

4.Freya calls System C an absolute monarchy. Is that label definitely justified by the briefing? Explain what extra information you would need.

5.Complete the statement: New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy because the monarch’s role operates within constitutional arrangements, and it is a parliamentary democracy because .

6.True or false: Under the rule of law, government officials are subject to the law too.

TrueFalse

7.Match each term to its best description.

Direct democracy
Representative democracy
Oligarchy
Rule of law

People elect others to make decisions on their behalf
People vote directly on proposals
A small group holds political power
Everyone, including government, is subject to the law

8.Tevita argues that System B is more accountable than System C. Give one reason from the briefing that supports his argument.

9.The committee wants wider participation but also needs decisions made efficiently. Recommend either System A or System B for the celebration. Give one advantage and one possible drawback of your choice.

10.A committee says, “We held a vote, so our decision must be fair.” Explain why voting alone may not guarantee a fair or democratic decision. Give one safeguard that could help.