Use the chart to synthesize how diverse government structures impact society and human rights.
Government Structure Impact on Society Impact on Human Rights
Democracy • Grants more freedom in society
• Stronger protections for minority groups
• Stronger protections for traditional social institutions • Citizens can freely elect their governmental representatives, who themselves are citizens of the same country
• Equal access to voting, free elections, freedom of speech and press
• Rights that are protected from government limitations
Social Democracy • Public ownership and cooperative ownership of property
• Broad participation of citizens in governance
• Presence of workers’ unions • Rights of citizens in social democracies vary based on individual countries’ constitutions
• Access to free health care and education
Totalitarian • Little or no civic activity in society
• Traditional social institutions are undermined
• Members of society, in particular minority groups, face threat of violence • No freedom of speech or the press
• People may not speak out against the government
• Individual freedoms are largely restricted
Theocracy • Members of other religious groups do not receive equal treatment
• Freedoms related to reproductive and marriage choice are often restricted • People do not have religious freedom
• People can’t vote on governmental decisions
Write 1–2 sentences that synthesize the impact diverse government structures have on society and human rights
3 answers