Types of Governments

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.
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.

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
economy, people own their
own businesses and property
and must buy services for
private use, such as
healthcare.

Socialist governments own

many of the larger industries
and provide education, health
and welfare services while
allowing citizens some
economic choices

In a communist country, the

government owns all
businesses and farms and
provides its people's
healthcare, education and
welfare.

Politics - how is the government run?

Dictatorsh Totalitaria Theocrac Monarch Parliamenta

Republic
ip
n
y
y
ry
(Iraq)
(China)
Rule by a
Rule by a
single leader single
who has not political
been elected party.
and may use People are
force to keep forced to do
control. In a what the
military
government
dictatorship, tells them
the army is and may
in control.
also be
Usually,
prevented
there is little from leaving
or no
the country.
attention to
public
opinion or
individual
rights.

(Iran)
(Jordan)
(Israel)
A form of A
A
governmen monarchy parliamentary
t where
has a king system is led
the rulers or queen, by
claim to be who
representative
ruling on sometimes s of the
behalf of a has
people. Each is
set of
absolute chosen as a
religious
power.
member of a
ideas, or as Power is political party
direct
passed
and remains in
agents of a along
power as long
deity.
through as his/her
the family party does

(USA)

Anarchy
(Afghanistan
?)

A republic is Anarchy is a
led by
situation
representativ where there
es of the
is no
voters. Each government.
is individually
chosen for a This can
set period of happen after
time.
a civil war in
a country,
when a
government
has been
destroyed
and rival
groups are
fighting to
take its
place.

Authority - who picks the government?

Revolutionary

Totalitarian

Oligarchy/Plutocracy

Democracy

(USA, France, USSR

etc)
The existing structure
is overthrown by a
completely new group.
The new group can be
very small - such as
the military - or very
large - as in a popular
revolution. After a
period of time, this
'becomes' one of the
other type of
government (unless
there is another coup
or uprising).

(North Korea)

(Pakistan)

(India)

Rule by a single A form of government which

In a democracy,
consists
of
rule
by
an
elite
group
the government
political party.
who
rule
in
their
own
interests,
is elected by the
Votes for
especially
the
accumulation
of
people. Everyone
alternative
wealth
and
privilege.
Only
who is eligible to
candidates and
parties are simply certain members of society have vote - which is a
a valid voice in the government. majority of the
not allowed.
This can reflect (but is not
population - has a
Citizens are
limited to) economic interests, a chance to have
allowed and
particular religious tradition
their say over
'encouraged' to
who runs the
vote, but only for (theocracy), or familial rule
(monarchy).
country.
the government's
chosen
candidates.

REMEMBER: nearly every country in the world is ruled by a system that combines 2
or more of these (for example, the USA is not a true capitalist society, since the
government actually provides some services for its citizens). Additionally, one
person's opinion of the type of government may differ from another's (many argue
that the USA is actually a plutocracy rather than a democracy).
Anarchism: A form of government 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.
Anarchy: Anarchy is lack of a central government, as there is no one recognized governing
authority; in anarchy there is no effective government and each 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, selfappointed ruler.
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.
Demarchy: A hypothetical political system run by randomly selected decision makers who have
been selected by sortition. 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, which provides checks and balances and an establishment that is able to tap
an unruly mob on its collective head.
Epistemocracy: A utopian type of society and government in which people of rank, including
those holding political office, are those who possess epistemic humility.

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 originates.
Fascism: The country is ruled 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 which was first proposed by Rael (leader of the
International Ralian Movement) in 1977 and which advocates problem-solving and creative
intelligence as cariteria for regional governance
Gerontocracy: A form of oligarchical rule in which an entity is ruled by leaders who are
significantly older than most of the adult population.
Kakistocracy: Government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens, "Government by
the worst."
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: A government by those who are strong enough to seize power through force or
cunning.
Kritocracy or Krytocracy: A government ruled by judges.
Kritarchy: A form of order springing from judgments made from principles of natural rights.
Matriarchy: A government by women, or a government which regards female humans as
entitled to rule and to exercise power over men.
Meritocracy: A government or other organization 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: A government 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: A form of government in which supreme power is absolutely or nominally lodged
with an individual, who is the head of state, often for life or until abdication. A monarchy usually
possesses more checks and balances than an autocracy or dictatorship.
Noocracy: A social and political system that is based on the priority of human mind.
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: Government 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 definition: any of a wide variety of non-monarchical governments where
eligibility to rule is determined by law. US definition: power resides in elected individuals
representing the citizen body and government leaders exercise power according to the rule of
law.
Socialist republic or Peoples Republic: A state run by a communist party, or worker
representative democracy, where decisions are typically centrally made, and resources are
distributed by need and produced by ability, where workers, or the Party control the means of
production .
Sociocracy: A system of governance using consent-based decision making among equivalent
individuals and an organizational structure based on cybernetic principles.
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 written law.
Theodemocracy: A political system theorized by Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day
Saint movement (Mormons). As the name implies, theo-democracy was meant to be a fusion of
traditional republican democratic rights under the United States Constitution, combined with
theocratic elements.
Timocracy: Either a state where only property owners may participate in government; or a
government where rulers are selected and perpetuated based on the degree of honour they hold
relative to others in their society, peer group or class.