Political systems and forms of government
POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT:
Communism:
A socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of a classless,stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production. It is usually considered a branch of the broader socialist movement that draws on the various political and intellectual movements that trace their origins back to the work of theorists of theIndustrial Revolution and the French Revolution.
Federal Republic:
A federal republic is a federation of states with a republican form of government. A federation is the central government. The states in a federation also maintain the federation. Usage of the term republic is inconsistent but, as a minimum, it means a state or federation of states that does not have a monarch.
Theocratic Republic:
The theocratic government, "God himself is recognized as the head" of the state, hence the term theocracy. Theocracy means rule by God or gods and refers primarily to an internal "rule of the heart", especially in its biblical application. The common, generic use of the term, as defined above in terms of rule by a church or analogous religious leadership, would be more accurately described as anecclesiocracy.
Monarchy:
The monarch has total authority over the government and his or her people. A cabinet of advisers might be assembled to assist the monarch, but members of the cabinet do not make the major decisions. This type of monarchy has become increasingly rare, because many countries are wary of giving one person unchecked power. The levels of the citizens' happiness under absolute monarchies can vary widely, and such governments usually are closely scrutinized by other nations.
Communism:
A socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of a classless,stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production. It is usually considered a branch of the broader socialist movement that draws on the various political and intellectual movements that trace their origins back to the work of theorists of theIndustrial Revolution and the French Revolution.
Federal Republic:
A federal republic is a federation of states with a republican form of government. A federation is the central government. The states in a federation also maintain the federation. Usage of the term republic is inconsistent but, as a minimum, it means a state or federation of states that does not have a monarch.
Theocratic Republic:
The theocratic government, "God himself is recognized as the head" of the state, hence the term theocracy. Theocracy means rule by God or gods and refers primarily to an internal "rule of the heart", especially in its biblical application. The common, generic use of the term, as defined above in terms of rule by a church or analogous religious leadership, would be more accurately described as anecclesiocracy.
Monarchy:
The monarch has total authority over the government and his or her people. A cabinet of advisers might be assembled to assist the monarch, but members of the cabinet do not make the major decisions. This type of monarchy has become increasingly rare, because many countries are wary of giving one person unchecked power. The levels of the citizens' happiness under absolute monarchies can vary widely, and such governments usually are closely scrutinized by other nations.
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Republic:
A nation that has such a political order. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them, whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
Democracy:
Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. A political or social unit that has such a government. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.
Communism:
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
Totalitarianism:
A form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state.
Monarchy:
A form of government in which all political power is absolutely or nominally lodged with an individual, known as a monarch ("single ruler"). As a political entity, the monarch is the head of state, generally until their death or abdication and set apart from all other members of the state.
Republic:
A nation that has such a political order. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them, whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
Democracy:
Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. A political or social unit that has such a government. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.
Communism:
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
Totalitarianism:
A form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state.
Monarchy:
A form of government in which all political power is absolutely or nominally lodged with an individual, known as a monarch ("single ruler"). As a political entity, the monarch is the head of state, generally until their death or abdication and set apart from all other members of the state.