This Types of Government Interactive Article for Civics & American Government explains the forms of government (autocracy, monarchy, democracy (including direct and indirect democracies and constitutional republics), oligarchy, theocracy, and anarchy) in clear, easy-to-understand terms, with questions and video sidebars throughout the text to enrich understanding and keep students engaged. This introduction to the seven types of government is suitable for middle school Civics, American History, and American Government students.
Compatible with the Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics: SS.7.CG.3.1 Forms of Government.
This resource includes:
✯ A 3-page Types of Government article that describes each of the following types of government with detail and examples:
- Autocracy
- Monarchy (Constitutional & Absolute)
- Dictatorship
- Democracy (Direct & Indirect, plus Constitutional Republics)
- Oligarchy
- Theocracy
- Anarchy
Sidebars throughout the article provide QR codes and URLs to videos for more information and enrichment. These videos go more in-depth into the topics of dictatorships, democracies, and forms of government as a whole. Questions, marked with time-stamps to help students find the answers within the videos, ask main-idea questions to keep the students’ learning on track.
** The sidebar videos require Internet Access & District Access to YouTube to be fully utilized! However, if you do not have internet access, these sidebars are purely optional and can be left out of your instruction. **
Videos Linked:
- Dictatorship VS Monarchy | What is the difference between a Dictatorship and a Monarchy? (3 minutes, 40 seconds)
- MinuteVideo’s “Democracy – a short introduction” (3 minutes, 9 seconds)
- Maggie Martin’s Types of Government (2 minutes, 43 seconds)
✯ A Types of Government Review & Reflection. Students match the forms of government to their definitions and to answer a reflective short response question:
- How do you think life in a dictatorship would differ to life in a democratic country?
✯ The Who Rules? Note-Taking Page. Students can use this graphic organizer to take notes on the article. Pictures depict each type of government (so students have a visual anchor to help with memorization), and students are asked to identify the big idea question: who has the power in each type of government?
This resource comes as a non-editable, printable PDF and includes an Answer Key. There is also a digital version available through TPT Easel, which can be assigned directly to Google Classroom or shared with your students via a link!
What other teachers are saying about this resource:
“Started a good class discussion”
I used this resource with my senior class because they had a limited knowledge about different types of governments and they were really engaged following along with the videos, notes, and it started a good class discussion.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Maria M.
“Great introduction”
Excellent resource, even for my grade sixes. They really learned a lot about governments and it was a great introduction to different types of governments in an easy and clear format.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Melissa L
“Love the flexibility”
I loved the flexibility of this resource. I could use it in my hybrid classroom and also online with my remote students. The content was easy to understand for my students.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Jeanine M.
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