Lesson Transcript

Instructor: Melissa Hurst

The governance of nations differs significantly

based on who has power. This lesson will
differentiate five forms of government: monarchy,
democracy, oligarchy, authoritarianism, and
totalitarianism.

Power Defined
Sociology is the study of human social behavior,
human development, organizations, and
institutions. In order to better understand those
institutions and how humans are organized, it is
important to understand how societies are
governed.

This lesson will discuss and differentiate between

the five main forms of power, or government,
utilized in past and present
societies: monarchy, democracy, oligarchy, aut
horitarianism, and totalitarianism.

Boy: Whoa, what's going on in that country?

Girl: It looks like they aren't happy with their

government.

Boy: Why wouldn't they be happy? Can't they

elect their leaders and play a role in their
government?

Girl: No! There are many forms of government in

which people have no say in any matters, private
or public. All societies are established under some
form of power or government. The well-known
sociologist Max Weber defined power as the
ability to achieve goals even if some people in the
society hold differing opinions and goals. Power
takes on different forms in different societies. Let
me tell you about the five basic forms of
government.
Monarchy
Let's begin with monarchy. Monarchy was the
most common form of government until the 19th
century. Monarchy is a form of government in
which a single family rules from generation to
generation. The power, or sovereignty, is
personified in a single individual.

There are two main types of monarchy that differ

based on the level of power held by the individual
or family currently in power. Absolute
monarchy exists when the monarch has no or
few legal limitations in political
matters. Constitutional monarchies, which are
more common, exist when the monarch retains a
distinctive legal and ceremonial role but exercises
limited or no political power.

The most familiar example of a monarchy is the

constitutional monarchy that exists in the United
Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state
of the U.K. as well as monarch of fifteen other
independent countries. She and the royal family
have ceremonial roles but do not make up the
laws that govern the people.

Democracy
Another form of government is a
democracy. Democracy is defined as a form of
government in which power belongs to the people.
There are two forms of democracy. One is direct
democracy, in which all eligible citizens have
direct participation in the decision making of the
government. The second and more common form
of democracy is representative democracy, in
which citizens exercise their power through
elected representatives. The elected
representatives propose, develop, and create laws
for the citizens to abide by.
The most familiar example of democracy is the
representative democracy that exists in the United
States of America. Americans elect a president
and representatives of Congress.

Oligarchy
The next form of government is
oligarchy. Oligarchy is a form of government in
which all power resides with a few people or in a
dominant class or group within the society. These
groups of people may be distinguished by royalty,
wealth, education, or military control. Sometimes
oligarchy governments are controlled by a few
families who pass their power from one
generation to the next.

Unlike monarchs, however, oligarchs do not have

to be connected by bloodlines in order to inherit
power. For example, one family may have power
for several years, and then the power may be
shifted to another group of people or another
family based on their military ties or wealth. These
decisions are not influenced by the people. They
are influenced solely within the small group of
people with whom the power is held.

The most well-known example is the former Soviet

Union. Other examples of oligarchy governments
are found in the countries of China, North Korea,
and Venezuela
-

List of forms of government

It doesn't stop
at the water's edge

Politics

Theory

Political spectrum

Political party
 Government (forms of)
Practice

International relations

Propaganda

War
Philosophies

Maoism

Political spectrum

White nationalism
Terms

Astroturf

Gun control

Radical feminism
As usual

Committee on the
Elimination of
Discrimination Against
Women
 Mustafa Kemal Atatrk

Sargon of Akkad
Country sections

v-t-e

Ever wondered what all those -ocracies and -archies were? Seek no further than
RationalWiki's list of forms of government.
Anarchism
A form of government (or lack thereof) with no ruling hierarchy, instead decisions
are made at a directly democratic level: laws are created by citizens alone, although
they may be enforced by institutions that are not publicly controlled.
Anarcho-capitalism
A stateless society composed of sovereign individuals living within the constraints of
a corporatist market.
Anarchy
Anarchy is lack of a central government, as there is no one recognized governing
authority; in anarchy there is no effective government (as opposed to an
"ineffective government") and each (rugged) individual has absolute liberty. It is important
to note, however, that the lack of a government to enforce laws does not
automatically imply that there are no laws; anarcho-capitalism in particular posits a form
of anarchy with a body of explicit laws.
Aristocracy
A form of government in which a select few rule based on inherited hereditary right.
Autocracy
A form of government in which the political power is held by a single, self-appointed
ruler.
Capracracy
Rule by goats. Without a doubt, the most superior form of governance known to
man or to goat.
Communist state
A hypothetical stateless entity that follows after socialism as according to Marxist theory.
Corporatocracy
A form of government where a corporation, a group of corporations, or government
entities with private components control the direction and governance of a country.
(See USA.)
Demarchy
A hypothetical political system run by randomly selected deciders decision makers who
have been selected by sortition (drawing lots). Think selecting a legislature or
executive in the same manner that a jury is presently selected.
Democracy
Refers to a broad range of types of government based upon the "consent of the
governed". In its purest form it is the same thing as mobocracy, but it is usually
practiced in the form of a republic or constitutional monarchy, which provides checks
and balances and an establishment that is able to tap an unruly mob on its
collective head. In the US, "democracy" is often mistakenly assumed to mean direct
democracy as opposed to representative democracy (see also Republic).
Despotism
Rule by an all-powerful individual. A less polite term for "autocracy."
Dictatorship
Rule by a dictator instead of a despot. Political science is very nuanced. Technically, a
dictatorship is where the executive holds a disproportionate amount of power, so an
oligarchy (see below) can be a dictatorship, as in the case of South American juntas.
Epistemocracy
A utopian type of society and government in which people of rank, including those
holding political office, are those who possess epistemic humility, whatever that is.
Ethnocracy
A form of government where representatives of a particular ethnic group hold a number
of government posts disproportionately large to the percentage of the total
population that the particular ethnic group(s) represents and use them to advance
the position of their particular ethnic group(s) to the detriment of others. In Nazi
Germany ethnic groups Hitler supported held all the power. Neo-Nazis often
accuse Jews of possessing an ethnocracy in the person of the U.S. government,
which they call the Zionist Occupation Government.
Exilarchy
A form of government, usually theocratic or monarchic, that is established and
constituted for rule over an ethnic or religious diaspora rather than over the place of
origin whence the diaspora originated.
Fascism
Rule by a totalitarian and corporatist government. It has also gone by the
names Nazism, Baathism, Corporatism, and Falangism.
Feudalism
Government by a usually hereditary class of military landowners, who exact goods
and services from a peasant class in exchange for protection. Usually features complex
webs of loyalties and ranks.
Futarchy
System of government proposed by economist Robin Hanson based on the idea of
voting on a certain outcome and then figuring out how to achieve it.
Geniocracy
A system of government first proposed by Rael (leader of the International Ralian
Movement) in 1977, which advocates problem-solving and creative intelligence as
criteria for regional governance. Not, unfortunately, rule by genies, which would be
much more awesome.
Kakistocracy
Government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens, "Government by
the worst." See also United States.
Kleptocracy
A term applied to a government that extends the personal wealth and political
power of government officials and the ruling class (collectively, kleptocrats) at the
expense of the population.
Kratocracy
Rule by those who are strong enough to seize power through force or cunning.
Kritocracy or Krytocracy
Rule by judges. See also judicial activism.
Matriarchy
Rule by women, or a government which regards female humans as entitled to rule
and to exercise power over men.
Meritocracy
A government wherein appointments are made and responsibilities are given based
on demonstrated talent and ability, usually incentivising "merit".
Minarchy
A political ideology which maintains that the state's only legitimate function is the
protection of individuals from aggression.
Mobocracy or Ochlocracy
Rule by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of constitutional authorities;
think Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail "witch/duck" mob.
Monarchy
Rule by an individual for life or until abdication, often hereditary. On a positive note,
a monarchy usually possesses more checks and balances than an autocracy or
dictatorship.
Necrocracy
A government that operates under the rules of a dead ruler. See also North Korea.
Oligarchy
A form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of
society distinguished by royal, wealth, intellectual, family, military or religious
hegemony.
Panarchracy
A political philosophy emphasizing each individual's right to freely join and leave the
jurisdiction of any governments they choose, without being forced to move from
their current locale.
Patriarchy
Rule by men, or a government which regards male humans as entitled to rule and to
exercise power over women.
Plutocracy
Rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth.
Republic
Historical and international definition: Any of a wide variety of non-monarchical
governments where eligibility to rule is determined by law. US definition: Rule by
elected individuals representing the citizen body and exercising power according to
the rule of law.
Socialist republic or people's republic
A state run by a communist party, or worker representative democracy, with a
centrally controlled economy and resources distributed by need and produced by
ability, where workers, or the Party, control the means of production.
Stratocracy
A system of government in which there is no distinction between the military and
the civil power.
Technocracy
A form of government in which engineers, scientists, and other technical experts are in
control of decision making in their respective fields.
Theocracy
A form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil
ruler. Since said god or deity is usually absent from decision making, a self-
appointed or elected leader or leaders of the religion of said god or deity will rule
instead through personal interpretation of the laws commanded by the god in that
religion's (usually written) law.
Theodemocracy
A political system theorized by Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
(Mormons). As the name implies, theodemocracy was meant to be a fusion of traditional republican
democratic rights under the US Constitution combined with theocratic elements.

Timocracy

Either a state where only property owners may participate in government or where rulers are selected
and perpetuated based on the degree of honor they hold relative to others in their society, peer group
or class.

Tyranny

Rule by a selfish or otherwise bad single ruler.

Forms of government
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Part of the Politics series
Basic forms of government
Power structure
A government is the system by which a state or community is controlled.
[1]
In the Commonwealth of Nations, the word "government" is also used
more narrowly to refer to the collective group of people that
exercises executive authority in a state.[2][3][4] This usage is analogous to
what is called an "administration" in American English. Furthermore,
especially in American English, the concepts of "the state" and "the
government" may be used synonymously to refer to the person or group of
people exercising authority over a politically organized territory.[5][6] Finally,
government is also sometimes used in English as
a synonym for governance.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists
of legislators, administrators, and arbitrators. Government is the means by
which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining
the policy of the state. A form of government, or form of state governance,
refers to the set of political systems and institutions that make up the
organisation of a specific government.
Government of any kind currently affects every human activity in many
important ways. For this reason, political scientists generally argue that
government should not be studied by itself; but should be studied along
with anthropology, economics, environmentalism, history, philosophy, scien
ce and sociology.
Contents
[hide]
1Political science
1.1Classifying government
1.2Social-political ambiguity
1.3The dialectical forms of government
1.4Etymology
2Forms of government by associated attributes
2.1By elements of where decision-making power is held
2.1.1Aristocratic attributes
2.1.2Despotic attributes
2.1.3Monarchic attributes
2.1.4Pejorative attributes
2.2By elements of who elects the empowered
2.2.1Authoritarian attributes
2.2.2Democratic attributes
2.2.3Oligarchic attributes
2.2.4Other attributes
2.3By elements of how power distribution is structured
2.3.1Republican attributes
2.3.2Federalism attributes
2.3.3Other power structure attributes
3Forms of government by other characteristic attributes
3.1By socio-economic system attributes
3.2By significant constitutional attributes
3.3By approach to regional autonomy
3.4Theoretical and speculative attributes
4Maps
5See also
6References
7Bibliography
8Further reading
9External links
Political science[edit]
Classifying government[edit]
In political science, it has long been a goal to create a typology or
taxonomy of polities. as typologies of political systems are not obvious. [7] It
is especially important in the political science fields of comparative
politics and international relations.
On the surface, identifying a form of government appears to be simple, as
all governments have an official form. The United States is a constitutional
republic, while the former Soviet Union was a socialist republic. However
self-identification is not objective, and as Kopstein and Lichbach argue,
defining regimes can be tricky.[8] For example, elections are a defining
characteristic of an electoral democracy,[citation needed] but in practice elections
in the former Soviet Union were not "free and fair" and took place in a one-
party state. Voltaire argued that "the Holy Roman Empire is neither Holy,
nor Roman, nor an Empire".[this quote needs a citation] Many governments that
officially call themselves a "democratic republic" are not democratic, nor a
republic; they are usually a dictatorship de facto. Communist dictatorships
have been especially prone to use this term. For example, the official name
of North Vietnam was "The Democratic Republic of Vietnam". China uses a
variant, "The People's Republic of China". Thus in many practical
classifications it would not be considered democratic.
Identifying a form of government is also difficult because a large number
of political systems originate as socio-economic movements and are then
carried into governments by specific parties naming themselves after those
movements; all with competing political-ideologies. Experience with those
movements in power, and the strong ties they may have to particular forms
of government, can cause them to be considered as forms of government
in themselves.
Other complications include general non-consensus or deliberate
"distortion or bias" of reasonable technical definitions to political ideologies
and associated forms of governing, due to the nature of politics in the
modern era. For example: The meaning of "conservatism" in the United
States has little in common with the way the word's definition is used
elsewhere. As Ribuffo notes, "what Americans now call conservatism much
of the world calls liberalism or neoliberalism".[9] Since the 1950s
conservatism in the United States has been chiefly associated with
the Republican Party. However, during the era
of segregation many Southern Democrats were conservatives, and they
played a key role in the Conservative Coalition that controlled Congress
from 1937 to 1963.[10]
Researchers from Halmstad University developed a dataset called
MaxRange designed to define the level of democracy and institutional
structure (its regime-type) on a 100-graded scale where every value
represents a unique regimetype. Values are sorted from 1100 based on
level of democracy and political accountability. MaxRange defines the value
corresponding to all states and every month from 1789 to the present
(continually updated).[11]
Social-political ambiguity[edit]
Every country in the world is ruled by a system of governance that
combines at least three (or more) political and/or economic attributes. [citation
needed]
Additionally, opinions vary by individuals concerning the types and
properties of governments that exist. "Shades of gray" are commonplace in
any government (and its corresponding classification). Even the most
liberal democracies limit rival political activity to one extent or another,
whilst the most tyrannical dictatorships must organize a broad base of
support, thereby creating difficulties for "pigeonholing" governments into
narrow categories. Examples include the claims of the United States as
being a plutocracy rather than a democracy since some American voters
believe elections are being manipulated by wealthy Super PACs.[12]
The dialectical forms of government[edit]
Main article: Plato's five regimes
The Classical Greek philosopher Plato discusses five types of regimes.
They are aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and tyranny. Plato
also assigns a man to each of these regimes to illustrate what they stand
for. The tyrannical man would represent tyranny for example. These five
regimes progressively degenerate starting with aristocracy at the top and
tyranny at the bottom.
Etymology[edit]
arch-, prefix derived from the Greek archon, 'rulership', which means
"higher in hierarchy".[13] The Greek word krtos, "power", which
means "right to lead" is the suffix root in words
like aristocrat and democracy.
Forms of government by associated attributes[edit]
Descriptions of governments can be based on the following attributes:
By elements of where decision-making power is held[edit]
Aristocratic attributes[edit]
Societies with aristocracy attributes are traditionally controlled and
organised by a small class of privileged people, with no intervention from
the most part of society; this small elite is defined as sharing some
common trait.
Term Definition
Rule by the strong; a system of governance
where those who are strong enough seize
Kraterocracy (mi
power through physical force, social
ght makes right)
maneuvering or political cunning. The process
can mimic Darwinian selection.
Rule by the wealthy; a system wherein
governance is indebted to, dependent upon or
heavily influenced by the desires of the rich.
Plutocratic influence can alter any form
Plutocracy government. For instance, in a republic, if a
significant number of elected representative
positions are dependent upon financial
support from wealthy sources, then it is a
plutocratic republic.
Rule by the intelligent; a system of
governance where creativity, innovation,
Geniocracy
intelligence and wisdom are required for those
who wish to govern. Comparable to noocracy.
Rule by the meritorious; a system of
governance where groups are selected on the
Meritocracy
basis of people's ability, knowledge in a given
area, and contributions to society.
Rule by the educated and/or technical
experts; a system of governance where
people who are skilled or proficient govern in
their respective areas of expertise in
technology would be in control of all decision
making. Doctors, engineers, scientists,
Technocracy professionals and technologists who have
knowledge, expertise, or skills, would
compose the governing body, instead of
politicians, businessmen, and economists.
[14]
In a technocracy, decision makers would be
selected based upon how knowledgeable and
skillful they are in their field.
 Rule by the honourable; a system of
governance ruled by honorable citizens and
property owners. Socrates defines a timocracy
as a government ruled by people who love
honour and are selected according to the
degree of honour they hold in society. This
form of timocracy is very similar
Timocracy
to meritocracy, in the sense that individuals of
outstanding character or faculty are placed in
the seat of power. European feudalism and
post-Revolutionary America are historical
examples of this type; the city-
state of Sparta provided another real-world
model for this form of government.
Despotic attributes[edit]
Societies with despotism attributes are ruled by a single entity with absolute
power, whose decisions are subject to neither external legal restraints nor
regular mechanisms of popular control (except perhaps for implicit threat).
That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group,
as in an oligarchy. The word despotism means to "rule in the fashion of
despots".
Term Definition
Power resides in the hands of one single person. That
person may be, for example, an absolute monarch or
a dictator. The Roman Republic made dictators to lead
during times of war; the Roman dictators only held
power for a small time. In modern times, an autocrat's
Autocra rule is that not stopped by any rules of
cy law, constitutions, or other social and political
institutions. After World War II, many governments in
Latin America, Asia, and Africa were ruled by autocratic
governments. Examples of autocrats include Joseph
Stalin, Idi Amin, Muammar Gaddafi, Adolf
Hitler and Gamal Abdul Nasser.
Oligarc Rule by a small number of people. Differently from
hy aristocracy, these people do not rule because they
share a common attribute (strength, intelligence,
 specialization, honour, et cetera) for they are not a
class. It is a specific group that usually constitute the
top sectors of the government, although they still may
be religious, military or noble leaders for example.
Monarchic attributes[edit]
Countries with monarchy attributes are those where a family or group of
families (rarely another type of group), called the royalty, represents
national identity, with power traditionally assigned to one of its individuals,
called the monarch, who mostly rule kingdoms. The actual role of the
monarch and other members of royalty varies from purely symbolical
(crowned republic) to partial and restricted (constitutional monarchy) to
completely despotic (absolute monarchy). Traditionally and in most cases,
the post of the monarch is inherited, but there are also elective
monarchies where the monarch is elected.
Term Definition
A traditional and historical system where the
monarch exercises ultimate governing authority
as head of state and head of government. Many
Absolute
nations of Europe during the Middle Ages were
monarchy
absolute monarchies. Modern examples include
mainly Islamic countries such as Saudi
Arabia and Oman.
Also called parliamentary monarchy, the monarch's
powers are limited by law or by a
Constitutio formal constitution,[15][16] usually assigning them to
nal those of the head of state. Many modern developed
monarchy countries, including the United
Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Canada a
nd Japan, are constitutional monarchy systems.
A form of government where the monarch (and
family) is an official ceremonial entity with no
political power. The royal family and the monarch
Crowned are intended to represent the country and may
republic perform speeches or attend an important
ceremonial events as a symbolical guide to the
people, but hold no actual power in decision-
making, appointments, et cetera.
Pejorative attributes[edit]
Regardless of the form of government, the actual governance may be
influenced by sectors with political power which are not part of the formal
government. Certain actions of the governors, such
as corruption, demagoguery, or fear mongering, may disrupt the intended
way of working of the government if they are widespread enough.
Term Definition
Rule by banks;[17] a system of governance with
excessive power or influence of banks and other
Bankocracy financial authorities on public policy-making. It
can also refer to a form of government where
financial institutions rule society.
Rule by corporations; a system of governance
where an economic and political system is
controlled by corporations or corporate
Corporatocracy interests.[18] Its use is generally pejorative.
Examples include company rule in India and
business voters for the City of London
Corporation.
Rule by nephews; favouritism granted
to relatives regardless of merit; a system of
governance in which importance is given to the
relatives of those already in power, like
a nephew (where the word comes from). In such
Nepotocracy
governments even if the relatives aren't
qualified they are given positions of authority
just because they know someone who already
has authority. Pope Alexander VI (Borgia) was
accused of this.
Rule by the stupid; a system of governance
where the worst or least-qualified citizens
govern or dictate policies. Due to human
Kakistocracy nature being inherently flawed, it has been
suggested that every government which has
ever existed has been a prime example of
kakistocracy. See Idiocracy.
 Rule by thieves; a system of governance where
its officials and the ruling class in general
pursue personal wealth and political power at
the expense of the wider population. In strict
terms kleptocracy is not a form of government
Kleptocracy (m
but a characteristic of a government engaged in
afia state)
such behavior. Examples include Mexico as
being considered a "narcokleptocracy", since its
democratic government is perceived to be
corrupted by those who profit from trade in
illegal drugs smuggled into the United States.
Rule by the general populace; a system of
governance where mob rule is government by
mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of
legitimate authorities. As a pejorative
for majoritarianism, it is akin to
the Latin phrase mobile vulgus meaning "the
fickle crowd", from which the English term
Ochlocracy "mob" was originally derived in the 1680s.
Ochlocratic governments are often a democracy
spoiled by demagoguery, "tyranny of the
majority" and the rule of passion over reason;
such governments can be as oppressive as
autocratic tyrants. Ochlocracy is synonymous in
meaning and usage to the modern, informal
term "mobocracy".
By elements of who elects the empowered[edit]
Authoritarian attributes[edit]
This section needs expansion. You can help by addi
Term Definition
Rule by authoritarian governments is identified in
societies where a specific set of people possess the
Authoritar
authority of the state in a republic or union. It is
ian
a political system controlled by unelected rulers who
usually permit some degree of individual freedom.
Totalitaria Rule by a totalitarian government is characterised by
 a highly centralised and coercive authority that
n regulates nearly every aspect of public and private
life.
Democratic attributes[edit]
Further information: Outline of democracy
Governments with democracy attributes are most common in the Western
world and in some countries of the east. In democracies, large proportions
of the population may vote, either to make decisions or to choose
representatives to make decisions. Commonly significant in democracies
are political parties, which are groups of people with similar ideas about
how a country or region should be governed. Different political parties have
different ideas about how the government should handle different problems.
Term Definition
In a general sense, in a democracy, all the people
of a state or polity are involved in making
decisions about its affairs. Also refer to the rule by
a government chosen by election where most of
the populace are enfranchised. The key distinction
between a democracy and other forms of
constitutional government is usually taken to be
that the right to vote is not limited by a person's
wealth or race (the main qualification for
enfranchisement is usually having reached a
Democracy
certain age). A democratic government is,
therefore, one supported (at least at the time of
the election) by a majority of the populace
(provided the election was held fairly). A "majority"
may be defined in different ways. There are many
"power-sharing" (usually in countries where people
mainly identify themselves by race or religion) or
"electoral-college" or "constituency" systems
where the government is not chosen by a simple
one-vote-per-person headcount.
Demarchy Variant of democracy; government in which the
state is governed by randomly selected decision
makers who have been selected by sortition (lot)
from a broadly inclusive pool of eligible citizens.
 These groups, sometimes termed "policy juries",
"citizens' juries", or "consensus conferences",
deliberately make decisions about public policies in
much the same way that juries decide criminal
cases. Demarchy, in theory, could overcome some
of the functional problems of
conventional representative democracy, which is
widely subject to manipulation by special
interests and a division between professional
policymakers (politicians and lobbyists) vs. a
largely passive, uninvolved and often uninformed
electorate. According to Australian
philosopher John Burnheim, random selection of
policymakers would make it easier for everyday
citizens to meaningfully participate, and harder for
special interests to corrupt the process.
More generally, random selection of decision
makers from a larger group is known
as sortition (from the Latin base for lottery).
The Athenian democracy made much use of
sortition, with nearly all government offices filled
by lottery (of full citizens) rather than by election.
Candidates were almost always male, Greek,
educated citizens holding a minimum of wealth
and status.
Variant of democracy; government in which the
Direct
people represent themselves and vote directly for
democracy
new laws and public policy.
An electocracy is a political system where citizens
are able to vote for their government but cannot
Electocracy participate directly in governmental decision
making and where the government does not share
any power.
Liberal Variant of democracy; a form of government in
democracy which representative democracy operates under
the principles of liberalism. It is characterised by
fair, free, and
 competitive elections between multiple
distinct political parties, a separation of
powers into different branches of government,
the rule of law in everyday life as part of an open
society, and the protection of human
rights and civil liberties for all persons. To define
the system in practice, liberal democracies often
draw upon a constitution, either formally written
or uncodified, to delineate the powers of
government and enshrine the social contract. After
a period of sustained expansion throughout the
20th century, liberal democracy became the
predominant political system in the world. A liberal
democracy may take various constitutional forms:
it may be a republic, such
as France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Taiwan, or
the United States; or a constitutional monarchy,
such as Japan, Spain, or the United Kingdom. It
may have a presidential
system (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, or the United
States), a semi-presidential
system (France, Portugal, or Taiwan), or
a parliamentary
system (Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, India
, Italy, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom).
Variant of democracy; wherein the people or
Representat
citizens of a country elect representatives to
ive
create and implement public policy in place of
democracy
active participation by the people.
Social Variant of democracy; social democracy rejects the
democracy "either/or" phobiocratic/polarisation interpretation
of capitalism versus socialism. It claims that
fostering a progressive evolution of capitalism will
gradually result in the evolution of capitalist
economy into socialist economy. Social democracy
argues that all citizens should be legally entitled to
certain social rights. These are made up of
universal access to public services such as:
 education, health care, workers' compensation,
public transportation, and other services including
child care and care for the elderly. Social
democracy is connected with the trade union
labour movement and supports collective
bargaining rights for workers. Contemporary social
democracy advocates freedom from discrimination
based on differences of: ability/disability, age,
ethnicity, sex, gender, language, race, religion,
sexual orientation, and social class.
Variant of democracy; refers to a system of
government in which lawfully elected
Totalitarian representatives maintain the integrity of a nation
democracy state whose citizens, while granted the right to
vote, have little or no participation in the decision-
making process of the government.
Oligarchic attributes[edit]
Governments with oligarchic attributes are ruled by a small group of
segregated, powerful and/or influential people, who usually share similar
interests and/or family relations. These people may spread power and elect
candidates equally or not equally. An oligarchy is different from a true
democracy because very few people are given the chance to change
things. An oligarchy does not have to be hereditary or monarchic. An
oligarchy does not have one clear ruler, but several rulers.
Some historical examples of oligarchy are the former Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics. Some critics of representative democracy think of the
United States as an oligarchy. The Athenian democracy used sortition to
elect candidates, almost always male, Greek, educated citizens holding a
minimum of land, wealth and status.
Term Definition
Kritarchy Rule by various judges, the kritarchs; a system of
governance composed of law enforcement institutions
in which the state and the legal systems are
traditionally and/or constitutionally the same entity.
The kritarchs, magistrates and other adjudicators
have the legal power to legislate and administrate the
enforcement of government laws, in addition to the
 interposition of laws and the resolution of disputes.
(Not to be confused with "judiciary" or "judicial
system".) Somalia, ruled by judges with the tradition
of xeer,[19] as well as the Islamic Courts Union, is a
historical example.[citation needed]
Rule by the proletariat, the workers, or the working
class. Examples of ergatocracy include communist
Ergatocr revolutionaries and rebels which control most of
acy society and create an alternative economy for people
and workers. See Dictatorship of the proletariat.
[clarification needed]

Rule by social connections; a term invented by the

editorial board of the American technology
magazine Wired in the early 1990s. A portmanteau of
Internet and aristocracy, netocracy refers to a
perceived global upper-class that bases its power on a
technological advantage and networking skills, in
Netocrac
comparison to what is portrayed as a bourgeoisie of a
y
gradually diminishing importance. The netocracy
concept has been compared with Richard Florida's
concept of the creative class. Bard and Sderqvist
have also defined an under-class in opposition to
the netocracy, which they refer to as the
consumtariat.
Rule by military service; a system of governance
composed of military government in which the state
and the military are traditionally
and/or constitutionally the same entity. Citizens with
mandatory or voluntary active military service, or who
Stratocra have been honorably discharged, have the right to
cy govern (not to be confused with "military junta" or
"military dictatorship"). The Spartan city-state is a
historical example; its social system and constitution,
were completely focused on military training and
excellence. Stratocratic ideology often attaches to the
honor-oriented timocracy.
Theocrac Rule by a religious elite; a system of governance
 composed of religious institutions in which the state
and the church are traditionally
and/or constitutionally the same entity. Citizens who
y are clergy have the right to govern.[20] The Vatican's
(see Pope), Iran's (see Supreme Leader), Tibetan
government's (see Dalai Lama) and Islamic states are
historically considered theocracies.
Other attributes[edit]
Term Definition
A society without a publicly enforced government or
political authority.[21][22] Sometimes said to be non-
governance; it is a structure which strives for non-
hierarchical, voluntary associations among agents.
Anarchy is a situation where there is no state. When
used in this sense, anarchy may[23] or may not[24] be
intended to imply political disorder
or lawlessness within a society.
A modern example could be that of hidden web.[citation
needed]

This can be a natural, temporary result of civil war in a

Anarch
country, when an established state has been destroyed
y
and the region is in a transitional period without
definitive leadership.[25] Alternatively, it has been
presented as a viable long term choice by individuals
who oppose the state and other forms of coercive
hierarchies. These individuals typically think people
should organize in non-hierarchical, voluntary
associations where people voluntarily help each other.
[26]
There are a variety of forms of anarchy that attempt
to avoid the use of coercion, violence, force and
authority, while still producing a productive and
desirable society.[27][28]
Anocrac An regime type where power is not vested in public
y institutions (as in a normal democracy) but spread
amongst elite groups who are constantly competing
with each other for power. Examples of anocracies in
Africa include the warlords of Somalia and the shared
 governments in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Anocracies are
situated midway between an autocracy and
a democracy.[29]
The Polity IV dataset[clarification needed] recognised anocracy
as a category. In that dataset, anocracies are exactly in
the middle between autocracies and democracies.
Often the word is defined more broadly. For example, a
2010 International Alert publication defined anocracies
as "countries that are neither autocratic nor
democratic, most of which are making the risky
transition between autocracy and democracy". [30] Alert
noted that the number of anocracies had increased
substantially since the end of the Cold War. Anocracy is
not surprisingly the least resilient political system to
short-term shocks: it creates the promise but not yet
the actuality of an inclusive and effective political
economy, and threatens members of the established
elite; and is therefore very vulnerable to disruption and
armed violence.
Banana A politically unstable kleptocratic government that
republic economically depends upon the exports of a limited
resource (fruits, minerals), and usually features a
society composed of stratified social classes, such as a
great, impoverished ergatocracy and a ruling
plutocracy, composed of the aristocracy of business,
politics, and the military.[31] In political science, the
term banana republic denotes a country dependent
upon limited primary-sector productions, which is ruled
by a plutocracy who exploit the national economy by
means of a politico-economic oligarchy.[32] In American
literature, the term banana republic originally denoted
the fictional Republic of Anchuria, a servile dictatorship
that abetted, or supported for kickbacks, the
exploitation of large-scale plantation agriculture,
especially banana cultivation.[32] In U.S. politics, the
term banana republic is a pejorative political descriptor
coined by the American writer O. Henry in Cabbages
and Kings (1904), a book of thematically related short
 stories derived from his 18961897 residence
in Honduras, where he was hiding from U.S. law for
bank embezzlement.[33]
The theory and practice of Marxism-
Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-
Maoism tung), which states that a continuous revolution is
necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to
keep in touch with the people.
By elements of how power distribution is structured[edit]
Republican attributes[edit]
A republic is a form of government in which the country is considered a
"public matter" (Latin: res publica), not the private concern or property of
the rulers, and where offices of states are subsequently directly or indirectly
elected or appointed rather than inherited.
Term Definition
Rule by a form of government in which the people,
or some significant portion of them, have supreme
control over the government and where offices of
state are elected or chosen by elected people. [34]
[35]
A common simplified definition of a republic is a
Republic government where the head of state is not a
monarch.[36][37]Montesquieu included
both democracies, where all the people have a
share in rule, and aristocracies or oligarchies, where
only some of the people rule, as republican forms of
government.[38]
Rule by a government whose powers are limited by
law or a formal constitution, and chosen by a vote
amongst at least some sections of the populace
(Ancient Sparta was in its own terms a republic,
Constitutio
though most inhabitants were disenfranchised).
nal
Republics that exclude sections of the populace
republic
from participation will typically claim to represent all
citizens (by defining people without the vote as
"non-citizens"). Examples include the United
States, South Africa, India, etc.
 A republic form of government where the country is
considered a "public matter" (Latin: res publica), not
a private concern or property of rulers/3rd world,
Democrati and where offices of states are subsequently,
c republic directly or indirectly, elected or appointed rather
than inherited where all eligible citizens have an
equal say in the local and national decisions that
affect their lives.
A republic, like Germany, India or Singapore, with an
elected head of state, but where the head of state
Parliament
and head of government are kept separate with the
ary
head of government retaining most executive
republic
powers, or a head of state akin to a head of
government, elected by a parliament.
A federal union of states or provinces with a
Federal republican form of government. Examples
republic include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, M
exico, Russia, and Switzerland.
Islamic Republics governed in accordance with Islamic law.
Republic Examples include Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
Countries like China and Vietnam are meant to be
governed for and by the people, but with no direct
Socialist elections. The term People's Republic is used to
republic differentiate themselves from the earlier republic of
their countries before the people's revolution, like
the Republic of China.
Federalism attributes[edit]
This section needs expansion. You can help by addi
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound
together by covenant (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a
governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to
describe a system of government in
which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing
authority and constituent political units (such as states or provinces).
Federalism is a system based upon democratic rules and institutions in
which the power to govern is shared between national and provincial/state
governments, creating what is often called a federation. Proponents are
often called federalists.
Term Definition
Rule by a form of government in which the people, or
some significant portion of them, have supreme
control over the government and where offices of
Federalis state are elected or chosen by elected people. [34]
m [35]
Montesquieu included both democracies, where all
the people have a share in rule,
and aristocracies or oligarchies, where only some of
the people rule, as republican forms of government. [38]
A federal monarchy is a federation of states with a
Federal single monarch as overall head of the federation, but
monarch retaining different monarchs, or a non-monarchical
y system of government, in the various states joined to
the federation.
A federal union of states or provinces with a
Federal republican form of government. Examples
republic include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Rus
sia, and Switzerland.
Other power structure attributes[edit]
Term Definition
Rule by a government based on relatively
Adhocracy disorganised principles and institutions as
compared to a bureaucracy, its exact opposite.
Rule by a government based on small (usually
family) unit with a semi-informal hierarchy, with
Band society strongest (either physical strength or strength of
character) as leader. Very much like a pack seen
in other animals, such as wolves.
Rule by a system of governance with many
Bureaucracy
bureaus, administrators, and petty officials
Rule by a government based on small complex
Chiefdom (Tri
society of varying degrees of centralisation that
bal)
is led by an individual known as a chief.
 Ruled by a data fed group of secluded individuals
that regulates aspects of public and private life
Cybersynacy using data feeds and technology having no
interactivity with the citizens but using "facts
only" to decide direction.
A system of democratic government in which the
ministers of the executive branch derive their
legitimacy from and are accountable to a
Parliamentary legislature or parliament; the executive and
system legislative branches are interconnected. It is a
political system in which the supreme power lies
in a body of citizens who can elect people to
represent them.
A system of government where an executive
branch is led by a president who serves as both
head of state and head of government. In such a
Presidential
system, this branch exists separately from the
system
legislature, to which it is not responsible and
which it cannot, in normal circumstances,
dismiss.
Rule by a government under the sovereignty of
rational laws and civic right as opposed to one
Nomocracy under theocratic systems of government. In a
nomocracy, ultimate and final authority
(sovereignty) exists in the law.
Forms of government by other characteristic attributes[edit]
By socio-economic system attributes[edit]
Further information: Economic system
Historically, most political systems originated as socioeconomic ideologies.
Experience with those movements in power and the strong ties they may
have to particular forms of government can cause them to be considered
as forms of government in themselves.
Term Definition
Capitalis A social-economic system in which owners of means
m of production (machines, tools, factories, etc.)
arrange for workers to use that capital, in exchange
 for payment. The capital owners are entitled to the
products of the workers' labor, and may sell them,
use them, or otherwise do with them as they see fit.
A social-economic system in which means of
production are commonly owned (either by the
people directly, through the commune or
Communi
by communist society), and production is
sm
undertaken for use, rather than for profit.[39]
[40]
Communist society is thus stateless, classless,
moneyless, and democratic.
A social-economic system in which
widespread property ownership as fundamental right;
[41]
the means of production are spread as widely as
possible rather than being centralized under the
control of the state (state socialism), a few
Distributi individuals (plutocracy), or corporations
sm (corporatocracy).[42] Distributism fundamentally
opposes socialism and capitalism,[43][44] which
distributists view as equally flawed and exploitative.
In contrast, distributism seeks to subordinate
economic activity to human life as a whole, to our
spiritual life, our intellectual life, our family life". [45]
A social-economic system of land ownership and
duties. Under feudalism, all the land in a kingdom
was the king's. However, the king would give some of
Feudalis the land to the lords or nobles who fought for him.
m These presents of land were called manors. Then the
nobles gave some of their land to vassals. The
vassals then had to do duties for the nobles. The
lands of vassals were called fiefs.
Socialism A social-economic system in which workers,
democratically and socially own the means of
production[46] and the economic framework may
be decentralized, distributed
or centralized planned or self-managed in
autonomous economic units.[47] Public services would
be commonly, collectively, or state owned, such
 as healthcare and education.
A social-economic system that concentrates power in
the state at the expense of individual freedom.
Among other variants, the term subsumes theocracy,
Statism absolute monarchy, Nazism, fascism, authoritarian
socialism, and plain, unadorned dictatorship. Such
variants differ on matters of form, tactics, and/or
ideology.
A social-economic system in which the state plays a
key role in the protection and promotion of the
economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is
Welfare
based on the principles of equality of opportunity,
state
equitable distribution of wealth, and public
responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of
the minimal provisions for a good life

What Are the Different Types of Governments?

By Remy Melina | February 14, 2011 12:57pm ET

1406
316
178
341
393
MORE
After ousting former president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is in
the market for a new form of government . Here's a
rundown of the various forms of government, with
definitions provided by "The World Factbook."

Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the

monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws,
constitution or legally organized opposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder
brought about by the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in which state
authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.
Advertisement
Commonwealth - a nation, state or other political entity
founded on law and united by a compact of the people for
the common good.
Communist - a system of government in which the state
plans and controls the economy and a single -- often
authoritarian -- party holds power; state controls are
imposed with the elimination of private ownership of
property or capital while claiming to make progress
toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally
shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or
treaty between states, provinces or territories that
creates a central government with limited powers; the
constituent entities retain supreme authority over all
matters except those delegated to the central
government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an
authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the
system of fundamental laws and principles that
determines the nature, functions and limits of that
government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in
which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in
a governing constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in
which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby
his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out
in written law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the
supreme power is retained by the people, but which is
usually exercised indirectly through a system of
representation and delegated authority periodically
renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme
power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for
officers and representatives responsible to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or
small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a
constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a
church.
Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, a
government in which the supreme power is in the hands
of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be
an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally
limited authority.
Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which
sovereign power is formally divided -- usually by means of
a constitution -- between a central authority and a
number of constituent regions (states, colonies or
provinces) so that each region retains some management
of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that
the central government exerts influence directly upon
both individuals as well as upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the
central government are restricted and in which the
component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a
degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power
rests with the voters who chose their governmental
representatives.
Islamic republic - a particular form of government
adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is,
in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws
are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism
developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which
states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the
leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with
the people.
Marxism - the political, economic and social principles
espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he
viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of
historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle
of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists
(business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the
proletariat," to, finally, a classless society -- Communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism
developed by Vladimir Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx;
Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and
shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to
underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is
lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state
or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the
monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a
sovereign - such as a king, queen or prince - with
constitutionally limited authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised
by a small group of individuals whose authority generally
is based on wealth or power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which
the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a
prime minister, premier or chancellor along with the
cabinet ministers - according to party strength as
expressed in elections; by this system, the government
acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to
the parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary
government) - a government in which members of an
executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime
minister, premier or chancellor) are nominated to their
positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly
responsible to it; this type of government can be
dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means
of a no-confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may
dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a
monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation
or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers
by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true
governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and
its head - a prime minister, premier or chancellor - who
are drawn from a legislature (parliament).
Presidential - a system of government where the
executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to
which it is generally not accountable).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the
people's elected deputies (representatives), not the
people themselves, vote on legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of
planning, producing and distributing goods is controlled
by a central government that theoretically seeks a more
just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in
actuality, most socialist governments have ended up
being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling
elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, a government in
which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the
head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute
ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is
recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the Deity's laws are
interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs,
etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate
the individual to the state by controlling not only all
political and economic matters, but also the attitudes,

values and beliefs of its population

Nations:
.
Forms of Government

Constitution
Definitions of the major governmental terms and types of
government are as follows:
Anarchy a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought
about by the absence of governmental authority.
Commonwealth a nation, state, or other political entity
founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the
common good.
Communism a system of government in which the state plans
and controls the economy and a single often authoritarian
party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination
of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make
progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are
equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) a union by compact or treaty
between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central
government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain
supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the
central government.
Constitutional a government by or operating under an
authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system
of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature,
functions, and limits of that government.
Constitutional Democracy a form of government in which the
sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing
constitution.
Constitutional Monarchy a system of government in which a
monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights,
duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by
custom.
Democracy a form of government in which the supreme power
is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly
through a system of representation and delegated authority
periodically renewed.
Democratic Republic a state in which the supreme power
rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and
representatives responsible to them.
Dictatorship a form of government in which a ruler or small
clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or
laws). Also, a system in which the citizens do not possess the
right to choose their own leaders.
Ecclesiastical a government administrated by a church.
Federal (Federative) a form of government in which sovereign
power is formally divided usually by means of a constitution
between a central authority and a number of constituent regions
(states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some
management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in
that the central government exerts influence directly upon both
individuals as well as upon the regional units.

Sponsored Content

49 Photos That Will Change

Your View of These Famous MoviesZimbio

Small But Mighty: Why You

Should Use A Small Head ToothbrushOral-B on Rappler
 Do you have the courage it
takes? Porsche presents the new PanameraPorsche

A Huge Energy Revolution Is

Coming. Find Out How You Can Profit Today.Exponential
Investor

Want to See How Celebrities

Really Live? See Inside These Homes That Are Currently on
the MarketMansion Global by Dow Jones
 Dubai Mansions Offer Luxury
You Can Only ImagineMansion Global
Recommended by
Federal Republic a state in which the powers of the central
government are restricted and in which the component parts
(states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-
government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who
chose their governmental representatives.
Maoism the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism
developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states
that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a
communist state are to keep in touch with the people.
Marxism the political, economic, and social principles espoused
by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of
workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed
from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by
capitalists (business owners), to a socialist dictatorship of the
proletariat, to, finally, a classless society communism.
Marxism-Leninism an expanded form of communism
developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw
imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus
of workers struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy a government in which the supreme power is lodged
in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory,
usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either
a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign such as a king, queen, or
prince with constitutionally limited authority.
Oligarchy a government in which control is exercised by a small
group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth
or power.
Parliamentary Democracy a political system in which the
legislature (parliament) selects the government a prime
minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers
according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this
system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the
people as well as to the parliament.
Parliamentary Government (Cabinet-Parliamentary
government) a government in which members of an executive
branch (the cabinet and its leader a prime minister, premier, or
chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or
parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of
government can be dissolved at will by the parliament
(legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the
cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy a state headed by a monarch who is
not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e.,
the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial
capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a
cabinet and its head a prime minister, premier, or chancellor
who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).
Republic a representative democracy in which the peoples
elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves,
vote on legislation.
Socialism a government in which the means of planning,
producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central
government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable
distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist
governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships
over workers by a ruling elite.
Sultanate similar to a monarchy, but a government in which
the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a
Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign
with constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy a form of government in which a Deity is recognized
as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deitys laws are interpreted by
ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government
subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian a government that seeks to subordinate the
individual to the state by controlling not only all political and
economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its
population

Government comprises the set of legal and political institutions that regulate
the relationships among members of a society and between the society and
outsiders. These institutions have the authority to make decisions for the
society on policies affecting the maintenance of order and the achievement
of certain societal goals. This article provides an overview of the types
of government, the ways authority can be distributed, the divisions
of government, and the functions of government. Separate articles deal
with the origins and development of the concept of the state, the theoretical
and practical development of representation, law, and the study
of government (see political science).

The power of a government over its own citizens varies, depending on the
degree to which it is free of limitations and restraints. The power of
a government abroad also varies, depending on the human and material
resources with which it can support its foreign policy. Governments range in
size and scope from clans, tribes, and the shires of early times to the
superpowers and international governments of today. Until recent times
some governments were strong enough to establish empires that ruled not
only their own people but other peoples and states across national, ethnic,
and language boundaries. The present-day counterpart of the empire is the
superpower that is able to lead or dominate other countries through its
superior military and economic strength. Within the modern nation-
state, government operates at many different levels, ranging from villages
to cities, counties, provinces, and states.

Types of Government

Aristotle, a Greek political philosopher of the 4th century B.C., distinguished

three principal kinds of government: monarchy, aristocracy, and polity (a
kind of enlightened democracy). The differences among them chiefly
concerned whether power were held by one, by a few, or by many. Aristotle
thought that the selfish abuse of power caused each type to become
perverted, respectively, into tyranny, oligarchy, and a lower form of
democracy characterized by mob rule. Monarchy tended to become
tyrannical because it vested authority in a single ruler. Aristocracy,
a government based on birth and privilege, in which the rulers governed for
the good of the whole society, tended to become oligarchy as a
consequence of restricting political power to a special social and economic
class; only a few members of the class would have enough drive and ability
to acquire the power to govern. The polity, likewise, would deteriorate into
ochlocracy, or mob rule, if the citizens pursued only their selfish interests.

Aristotle's classifications suited the societies of ancient times, but they do

not correspond to the power structure of later societies. Modern writers
have developed a variety of schemes for classifying governments, based on
the nature of the ruling class, the economic system, the government's
political institutions, the principles of authority, the acquisition and exercise
of power, and other factors. Some influential writers on government include
Thomas Hobbes, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau,
Karl Marx, Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, and the sociologist Max Weber.

Monarchy

The most common form of government from ancient times to the early part
of the 20th century was monarchy, or rule by a hereditary king or queen.
Monarchy passed through three basic stages, varying according to the
nation and the political and economic climate. The first stage was that of
the absolute monarch. In the Christian part of the world during the Middle
Ages, a conflict developed between the pope and the kings who recognized
his spiritual authority. The pope wanted to expand the power of the church
beyond spiritual matters to include the temporal realm. But some kings
proclaimed that God had given them the right to rule, and by proclaiming
this divine right they were able to give legitimacy to their reigns and limit the
pope's power. (See church and state; investiture controversy.)

Limited monarchy was the second stage. Kings depended on the support of
the most powerful members of the nobility to retain their thrones. In
England and some other Western European countries, the nobility placed
limits on the power of the ruler to govern. This was done in England, for
example, through the Magna Carta. Threatened with the loss of political
and financial support, even the strongest kings and emperors had to accept
a system of laws that protected the rights and privileges of powerful social
and economic classes.

The third stage in the evolution of monarchy was the constitutional

monarchy. Present-day monarchs are nearly all symbolic rather than actual
rulers of their countries. (A few exceptions can be found in Africa and Asia.)
In such monarchies as Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain,
governing power is now in the hands of the national parliaments.

Constitutional Government

Today most governments derive their legitimacy from

national constitutions that provide a legal framework for their rule and
specify how power is to be exercised and controlled. Even one-party states,
such as the traditional Communist countries and other nations in Africa,
Asia, and South America, have found it necessary to establish formal
constitutions. In democratic countries the constitution can be amended or
replaced by popular vote, either directly or through a system of elected
representatives. In authoritarian one-party systems, however, all
political power, including that of revising the constitution, resides with the
leaders of the party. The constitution may thus be only a paper facade, and
in order to understand how the country is governed one must examine the
actual political process.

Democracy

Representative government in the modern world is based not only on a

constitution that provides for it but on the actual rule of lawthe assurance
that provisions of the constitution will be enforced. It requires that citizens
be free to organize competing political parties, engage in
political campaigns, and hold elections according to agreed-upon rules.
Democratic governments vary in structure. Two common forms are the
parliamentary and the presidential. In the parliamentary form
of government, as in Australia, Britain, Canada, or India, all
political power is concentrated in the parliament or legislature. The prime
minister or premier and the officers of the cabinet are members of the
parliament. They continue in office only as long as parliament supportsor
has "confidence" intheir policies. In the presidential form of government,
as in France and the United States, the voters elect a powerful chief
executive who is independent of the legislature but whose actions are
delimited by constitutional and other legal restraints.

Dictatorship

As a form of government, dictatorship is principally a 20th-century

phenomenon. The dictator, often a military leader, concentrates
political power in himself and his clique. There is no effective rule of law.
The regime may or may not have a distinctive political ideology and may or
may not allow token opposition. The main function of a dictatorship is to
maintain control of all governmental operations. There have been some
casesIndira Gandhi in India and several military dictatorships in Latin
Americain which authoritarian rulers have relaxed their control and have
even allowed open elections. In certain Soviet-bloc countries of Eastern
Europe dictators were forced from power in bloodless coups or voluntarily
relinquished their authority to popularly elected officials as
Soviet power declined.

The totalitarian dictatorship, as in Nazi Germany, Communist China, and

the former USSR, is much more thoroughgoing. It seeks to control all
aspects of national life, including the beliefs and attitudes of its people. It
has a set of ideas that everyone is expected to embrace, such as
revolutionary Marxism or counterrevolutionary fascism. At its most extreme,
as during the leadership of Joseph Stalin in the USSR, the power of the
dictator may become more absolute than in any of the earlier forms of
tyranny. Such gross power in the hands of one person results inevitably in
the development of what has been called a cult of personality. The leader is
credited with almost infallible wisdom, because to admit that he or she may
be wrong would deprive the regime of its authority. In some Communist
countries the cult of personality appears to have given way to the
dominance of a group of party leadersa ruling oligarchy. The
administrative complexities of managing a modern industrial state are too
great to be monopolized by an individual leader such as Stalin or Mao
Zedong(Mao Tse-tung). The successor regime in China, for example,
continues to claim infallibility for its policies and doctrines but not for the
leaders. Examples of 20th-century dictators in addition to those already
mentioned include Idi Amin Dada(Uganda), Kemal Atatrk (Turkey),
Fulgencio Batista and Fidel Castro (Cuba), Francisco Franco (Spain),
Saddam Hussein(Iraq), Ferdinand Marcos (Philippines),
Benito Mussolini (Italy), Juan Peron (Argentina), and
Antnio Salazar (Portugal).
Distribution of Authority

Effective government in any form requires a workable method for

distributing authority within the country. The larger and more diverse the
jurisdiction of the government, the stronger the tendency toward a federal
system in which authority is "layered" or distributed among different levels.
In countries with a relatively homogeneous population and with a common
tradition, language, and sense of national history, the central governments
may not be federal but unitarythat is, they may retain most of the
administrative power at the center. Loosely allied autonomous states
sometimes join together to create a type of central government known as a
confederation, in which the central government exists only at the pleasure
of the sovereign members.

Federal Systems

The United States and India with their state governments and Canada and
China with their provincial governments are examples of workable federal
systems in large nations with very diverse populations. Other federal states
include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, and Germany. The
national governments of these countries are clearly more powerful than
those of their subdivisions, even though the constitutions delegate many
powers and responsibilities to the subnational units. In certain prescribed
policy areas a state government may have a high degree of autonomy. In
the United States, for example, state legislatures pass laws having to do
with state affairs; state administrators carry them out; and state judiciaries
interpret them.

Federal systems also include autonomous local governments such as

county governments and municipal governmentsin cities, boroughs,
townships, and villages local governments may stand in a relationship to
their state governments that corresponds to that of state governments with
the national government. The citizens in each jurisdiction elect many of the
public officials. In addition, certain special districts exist with a single
function, such as education or sanitation, and have their own elected
officials.

The layers of government in a federal system may not be clearly defined in

practice. Often the different levels compete for control of functions and
programs. In the United States and other countries the tendency over the
years has been for the national government to become much more involved
in areas that once were the exclusive domain of state or regional
governments. In addition, the distribution of authority has become even
more complex and varied with the rise of large metropolitan areas
the megalopolisand the corresponding new local governmental
organizations such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Unitary States

In unitary states the national government performs all the governmental

functions. Subnational national units administer matters within their
jurisdiction, but their powers are set and delegated by the national authority.
The national government retains the police powerthe inherent power to
provide for the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. Taxation and major
lawmaking powers also rest almost entirely with the national government.

Most nations are unitary states, but their institutions and processes may
differ markedly. Great Britain, for example, is considered a unitary system,
yet a certain degree of regional autonomy exists in Northern Ireland,
Scotland, and Wales, and local county governments perform certain fairly
autonomous functions. In France, however, strict control over the
administrative territorial subdivisions is exercised by the
national government. In other unitary states there exists only token
territorial decentralization.

Confederations

Confederation produces the weakest central government. Member states in

a confederation retain their sovereignty, delegating to the
central government only those powers that are essential for its
maintenance. The individual states jealously guard their power to tax and to
make their own laws. The central government serves as a coordinating
instrument to protect the interests of all its members. It also represents the
confederation in dealings with outside governments, but its actions are
subject to the review and approval of the confederated states.

The weakness of the confederate form of government led the United States
to abandon that system in 1789 after only eight years. Confederations,
however, have also served other nationsGermany and Switzerland, for
exampleas a preliminary step toward a more unified government. No
modern nation-state is organized along confederate lines, yet some
international organizations, such as the British Commonwealth of Nations,
the European Union (formerly the European Community), and the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, have some aspects of a confederation.

Divisions of Government

Various political thinkers have distinguished types of government activity.

Montesquieu was the first, however, to urge the creation of three separate
institutions or divisions of governmentthe executive, legislative, and
judiciala distinction that became common in almost all modern
constitutions. Some governmental structures, notably that of the United
States, are based on the principle of separation of powers at nearly every
level. Executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided into three
branches of government, creating a system of checks and balances among
them and helping to protect citizens from arbitrary and capricious actions
on the part of any of the three branches. Such protection is crucial in the
area of civil rightsthose constitutionally guaranteed rights that shield the
citizen from tyrannical actions bygovernment. Often, in times of grave
national emergency, when the central government needs more power, the
public is willing to grant it. The executive branch usually predominates at
such time (see president of the United States).

Proponents of the separation of powers bring an additional argument in its

favor: they point out that the system diminishes the influence of special-
interest groups over any one branch of government or over
the government as a whole. It is difficult for even the strongest faction to
dominate a government in which the executive is elected by the entire
population, members of the legislature represent different geographical
constituencies, and the judges are appointed by the executive with the
approval of the legislature.

Not all states, of course, have such clear divisions of government, nor do
divisions necessarily guarantee personal liberties. Parliamentary
democratic systems, for example, tend to merge legislative and executive
functions yet control the exercise of power by constitutional methods of
sharing it. Authoritarian states may, however, be constitutionally bound to
have separate organs of government yet actually concentrate power in the
executive.
Functions of Government

Maintenance of Authority

One of the principal functions of government is to remain in power.

Governments do not relinquish their authority unless compelled to do so.
Many of the actions of politicians and civil servants can be explained by the
need to maintain and enhance their power.

Every government strives to increase its legitimacy in the eyes of the

people. It may identify itself with ancient traditions, with hope for the future,
or with fear of a common enemy. Some governments employ repression,
never relaxing their vigils against real or imagined opponents. Even
democracies, when threatened, are likely to engage in a search for
subversives and "enemies of the people."

When a regime draws its main support from a privileged class or group that
decreases in numbers and strength, when a government becomes
ineffective in handling domestic affairs or countering external threats, or
when a society's consensus on the principles and goals
of government evaporates, a government tends to lose authority. The
French monarchy in the 18th century and the Russian monarchy in the 20th
century were based on aristocracies that had lost much of their legitimacy
in the eyes of the people. Eventually these regimes were unable to enforce
their laws, and revolutions swept them from power.

Governments tend, therefore, to foster widespread ideological commitment

to the nation through patriotic ceremonies, propaganda, and civic
education; they employ armed forces and intelligence-gathering
organizations for national defense; they maintain police and prison systems
to ensure domestic order; and they undertake the administration of
supervisory and regulatory functions to carry out national goals by
establishing various bureaucracies to handle each complex function.

Administration

All governments recognize the principle that the public must be protected
and served. The citizen, in effect, surrenders a degree of individual
sovereignty to the government in return for protection of life and property
and the delivery of essential services. Governments supervise the
resolution of conflicting interests, the workings of the political process, the
enforcement of laws and rights, and the monitoring of national income
(see income, national) and international trade; they regulate economic and
social relationships among individuals and private organizations; and they
carry out enterprises such as production of military goods, provision of
postal services, and ownership of power utilities and public works. Among
the most basic services provided by government are the printing and
coining of money, the provision of roads, sewers, water, education,
and social and welfare services.

With the growth of the welfare state, governments began to provide

services such as social security and health insurance. But the scope
of government regulation is now much broader. In the United States
the government sets minimum wages, limits the rates charged by public
utilities, buys farm commodities to keep prices up, forbids the sale of
harmful foods and drugs, sets standards for gasoline consumption by
automobiles, requires manufacturers to install antipollution devices, and
monitors the safety of factories. Federal, state, and local governments in
the United States also engage directly in economic activity. They impose
taxes, produce and consume goods, sell electric power, lend money to
farmers, and insure bank deposits.

In other countries governments intrude even further into the workings of the
economy. In Western Europe governments own and operate telephone,
radio, and television services, railroads, coal mines, and aircraft
companies. In some countries, such as Sweden and Great Britain, the
entire health system is also run by the state. In countries with Communist
governments, such as the former USSR, North Korea, China, and Cuba,
the state has attempted to control the entire economic life of the nation. All
economic planning is centralized in the government and its bureaucracies.
When the system fails to produce the goods and services expected by the
people, the government is forced to increase the level of repression of its
citizens in order to remain in power.
Internal Conflicts

The end of the cold war and the loss of control by the superpowers over
international events have led to a different type of stress on many
governments. The threats to their sovereignty are no longer external. Many
nations, especially those artificially carved out of old empires that expired
during both World Wars, are finding that the arbitrary power that maintained
the central governments is no longer sufficient for the task. The
communication revolution, through radio and the satellite transmission of
television, has truly created a "global village." Citizens no longer live in
isolation. They demand the rights and privileges enjoyed by others.

Another kind of demand governments must try to meet comes from ethnic
and religious groups that in some cases seek autonomy from
the government. Some of these conflicts result in attempts at genocide, and
the rest of the world appears powerless to intervene. These problems are
not limited to Third World countries. NATO has revised its original purpose
of preventing an invasion of western Europe to a strategy of maintaining
smaller mobile forces to prevent the internal breakup of nations. But these
internal conflicts continue to have the potential to produce anarchy and
chaos, threatening entire regions.
International Government

In modern times national governments have become increasingly involved

with one another in supranational systems. The League of Nations,
established in 1919, grew to include more than 90 members. It collapsed in
World War II but was succeeded by the United Nations (UN). The UN, like
the League, is a voluntary association generally without power to act unless
the five permanent members of the Security Council agree. It has, however,
served as a forum for international debate and a convenient meeting
ground for negotiations. The UN has also committed military forces of
member nations in an attempt to limit the scope of conflicts that cannot be
solved by national governments. UN forces have suffered casualties in
some of these conflicts. The United Nations is now an
international government in both theory and reality, and the organization will
continue to face many serious challenges in many parts of the world.

Associated with the UN are a number of specialized organizations that

perform important governmental functions. They include the Food and
Agriculture Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency,
the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Court of
Justice (World Court), the International Labor Organization,
the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organization, and the
International Telecommunication Union.

The specialized agencies have enabled national governments to cooperate

in many practical matters such as setting standards, extending technical
and financial assistance to developing countries, eliminating or controlling
epidemic diseases, and establishing an international monetary system.

Regional associations of nations have usually existed in a loose

confederation for national security purposes or for vaguely defined
geographical and political purposes. The European Union of 15 member
nations has taken the concept of regional association to a much higher
level. It has moved to create a political union among sovereign states, and
its Common Market constitutes one of the major economies of the world.

Reviewed by Thomas B. Hartmann

How to Cite This Article:

MLA (Modern Language Association) style:

Hartmann, Thomas B. "Government." Grolier Multimedia

Encyclopedia. Grolier Online, 2014. Web. 1 July 2014. (use the date you
accessed the page)

Chicago Manual of Style:

Hartmann, Thomas B. "Government." Grolier Multimedia

Encyclopedia. Grolier Online http://gme.grolier.com/article?
assetid=0123980-0 (accessed July 1, 2014). (use the date you accessed
the page)

APA (American Psychological Association) style:

Hartmann, T. B. (2014). Government. Grolier Multimedia

Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 1, 2014, (use the date you accessed the
page) from Grolier Online http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0123980-0

Types of Government
Civics | 10-14 yrs | Interactive
Leave a Reply
7
Gully cricket is popular amongst young boys in India. They just troop into a street with little traffic
outside their homes and start hitting the ball with the bat. Now, there are a number of ways in
which this can be organized.
When only one boy brings a bat, he rules. He keeps batting even when he gets out and he lets
his close friends also bat or as long as they want. If he wants to end the game, he simply walks
away with the bat. Lets call this the Bossy Bully system.
Sometimes all the cricket equipment bat, ball, stump, gloves, etc is contributed by all. So each
boy gets a good batting chance, a chance to wear the pads and gloves. Lets call this the Just
Friends system.
Sometimes there is a coach. In that case, the coach monitors and improves the game of each
and every boy in his tutelage. But you dont get to say whether you like the way he coaches.
This can be the Big Brother system.
If we think of these teams as forms of government and of course you have to imagine that there
are extremely many boys playing in the street, then the bossy bully is a dictatorship; just
friends is a socialist government and or could even be a democracy depending on how you look
at it; a big brother is totalitarian and if one of the players owns the street where the boys are
playing, it would be a monarchy.
There are 7 Types of Government
Democracy
Dictatorship
Monarchy
Theocracy
Totalitarian
Republic
Anarchy
DEMOCRACY
Modern governments are complex and are shaped by historical and political events like wars
and colonialism. A democracy is governed of the people, by the people and for the people. Here
citizens of the country can run for public office. This means the boys in the street get to decide
who is in charge of what equipment is in the pile. Of course, each boy will nominate the person
who best represents his interests.
Democratic elections could be city-wide for municipal governance, state-wide for state
governance or nation-wide for central governance. When the population goes to vote, they
vote for a candidate in their area. When the candidate wins, the political party he belongs to also
wins. The party with maximum votes forms the government.
What happens here? People enjoy freedom.
DICTATORSHIP
In contrast, a dictatorship where a single individual has gained power through force and
everyone has to follow his policies. Hes the big bully. The boys have little to no voice in such a
system. Oftentimes the advisors who control the equipment kit are his close friends. Examples
of dictators are Adolf Hitler in Germany and Fidel Castro of Cuba.
Sometimes you have what is known as a benevolent dictatorship. This is when the dictator
maintains his position as the head of the country for the sake of the country instead of self
interest. Most dictatorships like to portray themselves in the international community as
benevolent but it is not always so.
What happens here? Many people are unhappy in this system.
MONARCHY
A monarchy is another form of government where there is one head of state. In this system a
king or queen rules the country for as long as they are alive. The crown is inherited, usually by
the first born of the family.
In earlier days, monarchs used to have absolute powers and owned all the public land.
Pharaohs for example, claimed to be representatives of the Gods on earth. But nowadays, even
democracies like Great Britain, Sweden, and Spain have kings who are nominal heads of state.
Still it is their signature that turns a bill into a law.
What happens here? Things work well if the king is a good sportsman and cares about
street cricket by choosing the right boys to be prefect of the equipment kit.
THEOCRACY
In countries where any religious institution holds power over the king, the form of government is
called a theocracy. Several Islamic nations fall into this category.
What happens here? Its like saying everyone must eat cucumber sandwiches for lunch
every day.
TOTALITARIAN
There are totalitarian governments where a single group of friends have had control of the pile
of equipment for decades. It is like dictatorship by a party instead of an individual. The regime
maintains complete control of the country by not allowing any other people to form a political
party.
They control all aspects of a citizens public and private life through art, science, and
educational propaganda. The former Soviet Union and Vietnam are examples of totalitarian
governments.
What happens here? Its like having the same class prefect term after term.
REPUBLIC
Some nations are republics, such as the USA. It is a democratic model people are elected
to government office by voters. It is however, headed by a single individual whose office is
also elected by the people the President.
What happens here? This is nicer everyone gets to be prefect for a while.
ANARCHY
And finally, a country that is usually in the throes of a war or civil unrest and no functioning
government is said to be in a state of anarchy.
What happens here? This is somewhat like the snack at someones place after a
particularly gruelling game of street cricket mum has a tough time cleaning up afterwards.
Project
Ask your teacher to divide you into teams. The size of each team will depend on how many
people are in the class, of course. Each team must pick a form of government and get to rule for
the day. Discuss what happens in the classroom during the rule of each government. Is the
room cleaner? Is the blackboard / whiteboard kept ready for the teachers use? Is there less

bullying? Which rule is more fun for ALL ?

Descriptions of governments can be based on:
Economy - what provides the goods and services that are bought, sold,
and used?

Capitalism Socialism Communism

(Russia) (Norway) (Cuba)

In a capitalist or free-market Socialist governments own In a communist country, the

economy, people own their
own businesses and property
and must buy services for
private use, such as
healthcare.
many of the larger industries
and provide education, health
and welfare services while
allowing citizens some
economic choices
government owns all
businesses and farms and
provides its people's
healthcare, education and
welfare.

Politics - how is the government run?

Anarchy
Dictatorship Totalitarian Theocracy Monarchy Parliamentary Republic
(Afghanistan
(Iraq) (China) (Iran) (Jordan) (Israel) (USA)
?)

Rule by a Rule by a A form of A A A republic is Anarchy is a

single leader single governmen monarchy parliamentary led by situation
who has not political t where has a king system is led representativ where there
 been elected party. the rulers or queen, by es of the is no
and may use People are claim to be who representatives voters. Each government.
force to keep forced to do ruling on sometimes of the people. is individually
control. In a what the behalf of a has Each is chosen chosen for a This can
military government set of absolute as a member of set period of happen after
dictatorship, tells them religious power. a political time. a civil war in
the army is and may ideas, or as Power is party and a country,
in control. also be direct passed remains in when a
Usually, prevented agents of a along power as long government
there is little from leaving deity. through as his/her has been
or no the country. the family party does destroyed
attention to and rival
public groups are
opinion or fighting to
individual take its
rights. place.

Authority - who picks the government?

Revolutionary
Totalitarian Oligarchy/Plutocracy Democracy
(USA, France, USSR
(North Korea) (Pakistan) (India)
etc)

The existing structure Rule by a single A form of government which In a democracy,

is overthrown by a political party. consists of rule by an elite group the government
completely new group. Votes for who rule in their own interests, is elected by the
The new group can be alternative especially the accumulation of people. Everyone
very small - such as candidates and wealth and privilege. Only who is eligible to
the military - or very parties are simply certain members of society have vote - which is a
large - as in a popular not allowed. a valid voice in the government. majority of the
revolution. After a Citizens are This can reflect (but is not population - has a
period of time, this allowed and limited to) economic interests, a chance to have
'becomes' one of the 'encouraged' to particular religious tradition their say over
other type of vote, but only for (theocracy), or familial rule who runs the
government (unless the government's (monarchy). country.
there is another coup chosen
or uprising). candidates.