Lesson 4: What Different Kinds of Government Are There?


Terms

Aristotle (384-322 BC)  Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers in history. A philosopher is someone who loves learning about things. Aristotle studied different types of government. He wanted to discover what type of government is best for the people. He also studied many other things, such as logical thinking, poetry, and biology.

democracy  A form of government in which all the people have a right to a voice in making the laws that will govern them. They can sometimes use that right directly by creating and voting for laws. But they usually do it indirectly by electing representatives to make laws for them. Once laws are made, it is the responsibility of the executive branch of government to carry them out. The people have the right to choose who will be head of the executive branch. This person might be a president of their country, a governor of their state, or a mayor of their city.

king  A man with the power to rule a country.

queen  A woman with the power to rule a country. Or she might be the wife of a king who has the right to rule.

representatives  A person elected to speak and act for others.