Africa

Governments
How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
High Participation High Participation

Citizen Participation

Citizen Participation
Government Power

Government Power
Low or No Participation Low or No Participation

Autocracy Democracy
 Autocracies
1. Dictatorship- force
2. Absolute Monarchy- king,
queen, emperor
3. Constitutional Monarchy*
Autocracy- role of the citizen
•No ability to participate
in the selection of the
ruler or in the creation
of laws.
Autocracy- Benefit
•Decisions for a country can be
made quickly.
•Because only 1 person is
making the decisions
Autocracy- Drawbacks
•Needs of the people
may be ignored or
unheard
 Democracy
• puts power with the
citizens
• Individual freedom is
encouraged
• Free elections held
• Majority rules
Democracy- Types
1. Parliamentary
2. Presidential
Parliamentary Presidential
System System
Executive
Executive Legislative

Select

Legislative
Elect

Citizens Citizens
Democracies: Role of the Citizen
•To vote for whoever the
government is set up to vote
for
Democracy- benefit
•The voices of the people
can be heard
Democracy- Drawback
•Everything takes MUCH
longer, because more than 1
person is making the
decisions
Republic of South
Africa
• Parliamentary Democracy
• Leadership: the president is indirectly
elected by the National Assembly
(legislative branch elected by the
people) for a 5-year term
• Acting President: President
Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA
• Voting Rights (suffrage): all citizens
can vote at 18 years old
• Personal Freedoms:
freedom of speech- YES
https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2018/02/15/cyril-
ramaphosa-south-africa-new-president-tv.cnn

• Cyril Ramaphosa, who was

ANC secretary-general at the
time, stands next to President
Nelson Mandela as he holds up
a copy of the new South African
Constitution at its signing in
1996.
• “Say hello to Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa's new
President. He was confirmed just hours after former
President Jacob Zuma stepped down. Ramaphosa
pledged to be a "servant of our people." He's spoken out
against corruption, noteworthy because it was years of
corruption-related scandals that drove Zuma from office.
Ramaphosa was a trade union leader during the days of
apartheid and was the chief negotiator for Nelson Mandela,
who thought so much of Ramaphosa that he wanted him to
succeed him when his historic presidency ended”
• February 15th CNN.
 Federal Republic of
Nigeria
• Presidential Democracy
• Leadership: very similar structure to
the US. President & VP are elected by
the majority to serve 4 year terms
• President: Muhammadu BUHARI
• Voting Rights (suffrage): 18 years
old
• Personal Freedoms:
freedom of speech- YES.
 Republic of
Kenya
• Presidential Democracy
• Leadership: Very similar structure
to the US. President & Deputy
President (VP) are elected through
a majority vote
• President: Uhuru KENYATTA
• Voting Rights (suffrage): all
citizens can vote at 18 years old
• Personal Freedoms:
freedom of speech- YES
Government Instability Impacts Standard of Living
• Government instability throughout Africa is the main hindrance in
combating AIDS and famine across Africa
• Government instability is the result of civil wars, strong dictatorships,
and corrupt government leaders
• Many governments in Africa place a heavy emphasis on their
military and ignore medical issues and food shortages
• The instability of governments can be traced back to consequences
of the African slave trade and the European colonization