TOPIC 1

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

MISS JUNAIDA HJ ISMAIL

junaida516@kedah.uitm.edu.my
A2 3004
04 - 4562509
INTRODUCTION
Government & politics is one of the components in Political Science
Government and politics is a subject that analyzes in detail the forms of
government, political parties, pressure groups, judiciary body, legislative body,
executive body, voters and elections.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITIC
Government in Latin and Greek means to shows or to direct or to guide.
The responsibility of government - to administer the society in the country.
Hobbes The life of the society will be in complete disorder without a definite body
to administer them,
Aristotle, Government will ensure that life of the society is systematic and
harmony.
Government acts as a decision maker which plays the following role;

Make decision on who gets what, when and why refers to the distribution of the
national resources
Resolve problems and conflicts in the society

Motivate the society to perform task that cannot be done by a single individual
Demand is increasing & competition for a better standard of living is also increasing.
From the all aspect society is becoming complex so the functions of political institution
is becoming more specialized
DEFINITIONS OF GOVERNMENTS

- A.C. Kapur (2006: 83), defined government as a having a purpose for which people live
together cannot be realized unless they are properly organized and accept certain rules
of conduct. It also can be called as a agency that created to enforce such rules of conduct
and to ensure obedience among the society.
- Government also can be consider as a essential of State.

- Government is the focus of the common purpose of the people occupying a definite
territory and it is through this medium that common policies are determined, common
affairs are regulated and common interests promoted.

- As a conclusion, GOVERNMENT can be know as a body exclusively exercise legitimate

use of force in making regulations enforcing them within given territorial area OR Body of
people that make and enforce law in society
THE CHARACTERISTIC OF GOVERNMENT
-There are several characteristic of government;

- Government is an institution or agency in controlled of a certain territorial

area;

- Government is one part of the elements of the state;

- Government is the purpose for which people live together cannot be
realized unless they are properly organized and accept certain rules of
conduct;
- Government is required to ensure obedience among people
- Government consists of people who run the executive, legislative and
judicial bodies of the state;
- Government is an agency through which the state determines and carries
out its policies.
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
PRESIDENCY
USA
INDONESIA
PHILIPINES

PARLIAMENTARY
UNITED KINGDOM
MALAYSIA
REPUBLIC
SOUTH KOREA
SINGAPORE
UNITARY
UNITED KINGDOM
SINGAPORE

CONFEDERAL
EU
OLD GERMAN
CONFEDERATION
FEDERAL
USA
MALAYSIA

MONARCHY
BRUNEI
KUWAIT
SAUDI ARABIA
HISTORICAL STUDY ON THE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Its is started since human explore the knowledge on political science
Based on A.C. Kapoor 1981, The early works to identify the structures and forms of
government was performed by Aristotle
Aristotle categorized the forms of government by dividing into 3 basic forms ;
Monarchy
Aristocracy
Mix Government
His study also includes the Tyranny, oligarchy & democracy Government
This traditional classification is based on two main principles ;
1st Principe : If a certain ruler possesses sovereignty, his ruling is known as monarchy
2nd Principe: If sovereignty existed belongs to a small group from the population, it is
known as aristocracy.
* However, if sovereignty held by large group in population Known as Polity
 Aristotle differentiates the forms of government by classifying them into two parts ;
Normal Government - is a government that rules based on laws & justice.
Ruling normally has the objective to increase harmonization & peace in the
country as well as to avoid cruelty & coercion . Monarchy, Aristocracy & polity
government are forms of government which is normal.
Abnormal Government The abnormal form are tyranny, oligarchy and
democracy
Aristotle, Monarchy is the best form of government, whereas tyranny is the worst
form of government.
Aristotle believes that democracy is a form of rule administer by a large group of
people. not too good because too many opinion & much conflicts
Because too many weakness in Aristotle's theory, the Modern writes suggest 3 forms
of government Aristocracy, Monarchy & Democracy Government Used until the end
of the World War II
A French political Philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu classified government into 3
main;
Republic - divided into Many People or A Few People
Monarchy Power is possess by an individual, it is still being controlled by the law people in the
society
Despotic Is the worst from of government, its is held by one individual
Based of Blondel (1981), Montesquieu identified relationship between type of
government & type of society, economic stability, nationalism enthusiasm and education
will outline the country;s form of government.
 Rousseau, divided forms of government into
Monarchy
Aristocracy
Democracy
He also classified aristocracy government into 3 class ;
Natural
Elective
Inheritance
Feel that elective aristocracy government is good & aristocracy based on
inheritance is not good. Direct democracy is the best form of government.
Kapoor (1981), Bluntschli agrees with the classification done by Aristotle. But he
add another class of government which is Theocracy.
Theocracy it is a form of government in which the supreme power is held by
god or ideology or human being that have super power.
Human with supernatural power Gods Assistant

Bluntschli (Kapoor, 1981) states theocracy is a form of government that is normal

but becomes abnormal when there are negative elements included.
It will become a government call IDOLOCRACY
FORMS OF GOVERNMENTS
MONARCHY
Originated from Greek monarkhia means Single / One / the rule of one
Divided into Absolute Monarchy & Limited Monarchy / Constitutional Monarchy
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
-Refer to the form of government where its political power is held by one supreme
ruler.
- Strength 1. Decision on the nations administrations & welfare can be made &
implemented immediately. 2. Policies that can be implemented within a given
period of time, usually in a long-period of time. 3. Ruler has a lot of power & stable
position.
- Weakness 1. People do not have much freedom of speech. 2. It contradicts
with the principle of sovereignty & democracy. 3. There is no control the monarchs
power. This can encourage coercion & cruelty.
- E.g. Russia (before the Revolution 1917 & Great Britain practices absolute
Monarchy.
 LIMITED MONARCHY / CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
- Refer to the power to rule held by a ruler as the symbol of supremacy & sovereignty
- Power by monarchy is limited by the constitution
- Monarch is head of state
- Task & duties are being outlined in constitution
- Monarch position as the head of the state symbolic position
- Administration of the state is carried out by the Prime Minister
- Prime Minister is been elected during general election & he is leader of the ruling party.
- Power posses by the monarch as the head of religion is maintained or persevered. Monarch
act according to the advice from the Prime Minister
- Strengths 1. Chief of executive / Prime Minister has the credibility as a leader as he being
elected by the people. 2. Human rights is persevered as the people have the opportunity to
choose their own leader. 3. Justice is preserved & respected as this system can avoid misuse
of power & cruelty.
- E.g. Malaysia & England Practice a constitutional Monarchy Systems
ARISTOCRACY
Originally means a form of government that is lead by more than one ruler, who is among the
best individual in the society. Rulers conduct their responsibility base on good & divine principles.
In Greek, Aristo best , Kratos - Power
Greek Philosophers feel aristocracy is the best form of government
Ruling based on morale, ethics & intellect
These principles have been integrated in the nation administration to maintain peace & harmony
The power is held by a small group of people chosen among the society.
Group of people is an elite group / the ruling class
Will change to oligarchy when particular group of people contains corrupted people
Strengths 1. Quality is being stressed in ruling. The best people can rule. 2. It is a moderate
system. Every changes occur in the government administration system is done incrementally.
Weaknesses 1. Ruling by a small group of people usually make decision for the sake of their
own needs, not for the sake of the society. 2. Cruelty & coercion exist when the citizens are not
given the freedom of speech on political matters. 3. Dissatisfaction among citizens who feel that
their roles as citizen are being neglected. 4. Ruling becomes rigid & changes in administration are
too slow. This gives negative impact to economic & social stability.
DEMOCRACY
Originated from the word Greek. It means People power. Demos Citizens or humans &
Kratos Power / the rule of the people prevails to make the regime legitimate in the real sense.
Characteristic of Democracy Government:
- Action based on demand Be rational & be active in the nations political matters , and after
ascertaining
the wishes of people.
- Need Tolerance decision made concerning on the nations administrations & involves rules by
majority.
- Gives Appropriates Chances to individual to developed themselves.
- Power to make political decisions is vested in all the people
- Each adult citizen has the same opportunity as every other adult citizen to participate in the
decision-making process. One persons, one Vote .
- E.g: U.S, U.K., Canada, Malaysia, Bangladesh etc
- Similar with the Islamic Perspectives which are having shura = consultations, baiah =
affirmation of community loyalty, maslahah = public interest, ikhtilaf = divergence of opinions and
etc
Two types of democracy
-Direct Democracy
- Systems in which all citizens make policy & law without intermediaries. Citizen have the right to
voice their opinion & demand, directly or indirectly on public matters. The Athenian system is
referred to as direct democracy all adult, male citizens (women, slaves, foreigners, and free
men under twenty years of age) were permitted to play an important part in the governance of
the community.
- 3 features: a) popular participations, b) majority rule and c) political equality
- Direct democracy should be: a) The number of citizen must be small, b) property and wealth
must be distributed equally, c) the society must be culturally homogeneous and d) Those who
administer the laws must not be allowed to function independently of the popular will that made
the laws in the first place.
-Indirect Democracy Refers to the form of government in which the citizen choose their
representative to performs national task on their behalf. Tasks includes regulating laws, improve
people safety & security, increase citizen standard of living, preserved peaceful & harmony
environment within the country. People opinion & demand will be voice up to the government
through these representatives ( elected for the certain period / time)
- Indirect Democracy: a) Citizens are at least one place removed from actual decision making,
b)elected representatives stand in place of or act on behald of voters.
c) Free competitiveelections at all or most levels of governments as symbol of sovereignty of
people and
d)elections as an effective and efficient way of organizing political succession.