Who Rules? Forms of Government Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards identifying the major forms and classifications of government based on the iCivics reading.

Autocracy

A government in which one person has all the power.

Monarchy

A form of autocracy in which a king or queen rules the country, usually coming to power through their family line.

Dictatorship

A form of government where one leader has absolute control over citizens' lives.

Democracy

A form of government in which citizens hold the political power.

Representative Democracy

A democracy in which citizens elect leaders to represent their rights and interests in government.

Direct Democracy

A democracy in which citizens are directly involved in the day-to-day work of governing the country without representatives.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a small group of people has all the power, meaning "rule by a few."

Junta

A small group of people—usually military officers—who rule a country after taking it over by force.

Theocracy

A government that recognizes God or a divine being as the ultimate authority, using religious law to settle disputes and rule the people.

Anarchy

A state of existence in which nobody is in control, or everyone is, without being subject to any nation or government.