How a community makes decisions and uses its authority.

Citizens have a say, directly or through elected representatives.

Citizens vote on everything.

Citizens elect officials to make decisions.

One person or group holds all the power.

Rule by a king or queen.

Rule by a single leader with absolute power.

State controls every aspect of life.

A small group holds power.

Power is shared between central and regional governments.

No central authority; decisions are made through voluntary cooperation.

Increased global trade, connections, and interactions.

Multiple countries form an organization for mutual benefit.

Positive: Revitalize economies, provide mutual defense. Negative: Environmental challenges.

Compact: efficient. Elongated: difficult communication and defense. Prorupted: extension hard to control. Perforated: dependence.

They can weaken it as they have economic power that transcends borders.

Technology has made the world smaller and more interconnected, challenging state sovereignty.

Power is shared between central and local governments.

Power is primarily held by the central government.

Roundish, center easily accessible from all borders, efficient trade and communication.

Long and stretched out; difficult communication and defense.

Compact with a large extension; extension might be hard to control.

Has another state entirely within its borders; landlocked state is dependent.

Focuses on trade and economic benefits between countries.

States working together for mutual defense.

Companies that operate across multiple countries, weakening state sovereignty.

Borders become less important for trade and information flow.