Types of Governments

Classifying Government

Monarchy or Republic

Ask who makes the rules – a lifelong

leader or elected representatives?
 Monarchy

 A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor,

empress, etc.
 The ruling position can be passed on to the
ruler’s heirs.
 In some traditional monarchies, the monarch
has absolute power.
 But a constitutional monarchy, like the United
Kingdom, also has a democratic government
that limits the monarch's control.
 Republic
A republic is a country that has no
monarch.
 The head of the country is usually an
elected president.
 Classifying Government

Democracy or Dictatorship

Ask who holds the power -- the people

or a small group of leaders?
 Democracy

 In a democracy, the government is

elected by the people. Everyone who is
eligible to vote has a chance to have his
or her say over who runs the country.
 Dictatorship
 A dictatorship is ruled by a single
leader. The leader has not been elected
and may use force to keep control.

 In a military dictatorship, the army is in

control.
 Classifying Government

Unitary or Federal

Ask whose authority is limited – regional

governments or the central government?
 Federal or Unitary
Unitary - very strong central government;
states have weak authority (United
Kingdom)

Federal - central and states governments

share authority (United States)

Confederation - independent states agree

to certain limitations on their freedom of
action and establish a joint way to consult
(Switzerland)
 Classifying Government

Parliament or President

Ask who is in charge – the legislative

branch or an elected president?
 Types of Monarchies

Parliamentary - The monarch does not make

policy; he or she is a figurehead. (United
Kingdom)

Absolute – The supreme power is in the hands of

a ruler who usually rules for life by hereditary life.
(Saudi Arabia)

Constitutional - The monarchy is guided by a

written constitution that lists laws and
responsibilities. (Japan, Bhutan)
 Types of Republics
Representative Democracy - The people’s elected
representatives vote on legislation. (United States)

Federal Republic - The power of the central

government is restricted, the states or provinces
have some self-government, and ultimate power is
held by the voters who choose their representatives.
(United States, India)

Confederation - a combination of representative

democracy and direct democracy
 Rule by Many
Democracy - a government in which the
supreme power is held by the people and
exercised by them directly or indirectly through a
system of representation (It usually involves
periodically held free elections.)
--Constitutional Monarchy
--Constitutional Democracy
--Parliamentary Democracy

(Great Britain, United States, Israel)

 Rule by A Few
Oligarchy - a government by the few,
sometimes a government in which a small
group exercises control especially for
corrupt and selfish purposes (The citizen
has a very limited role.)
--Communism
--Totalitarianism
--Military Dictatorship
--Theocracy

(People’s Republic of China, Libya, Iran)

 Rule by One
Autocracy - a form of government in which
one person possesses unlimited power and the
citizen has little if any role in the government
--Absolute Monarchy
--Dictatorship

(Switzerland, Brunei)

[Interesting Note: The Sultan of Brunei, whose title has

passed within the same dynasty since the 15th century,
is the head of state and head of government in Brunei.
There is no elected legislative body.]
COMMON TERMS

Federal republic - USA, Austria, and Germany are republics governed by

representative democracy in which the states play a crucial role.

Confederation - Switzerland is a federal republic governed by a

combination of representative democracy and direct democracy.

Islamic Republic - Countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran are republics
governed in accordance with Islamic law.

People's Republic - Countries like China and North Korea are meant to be
governed for and by the people but generally without direct elections. This
name is generally used by communist states.

Democratic Republic – This term applies to the United States, but it is often
used by communists and it is similar in meaning to People's Republic.