Political systems

government

a system that creates and enforces laws, makes decisions, and maintains control

political systems

how a government is organized, who has power to make decisions

autocracy

a form of government in which a single person rules

oligarchy

a government ruled by a few powerful people

theocracy

a system of government in which religious leadersrule a country in the name of god, or a god

aristocracy

a form of government in which power is held by the best individuals or by a small privileged class usually determined by their wealth, education or heredity

direct democracy

all voters in a community meet in one place to make laws and decide what actions to take

representative democracy (republic)

a system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for the people

dictatorship

a government controlled by one person, who usually takes power by force, rather than by inheriting it

totalitarian

a political system in which the government has complete control over the lives of individual citizens

constitutional monarchy

a form of government in which the king/queen’s power is limited and the authority to tax and make new laws resides in an elected body

absolute monarchy

a form of government in which one person, usually a member of a royal family, exercises supreme authority

anarchy

absence of law or government; chaos, disorder

feudalism

a social system that existed in Europe during the Middle Ages in which people worked and fought for nobles who gave them protection and the use of land in return

junta/military dictatorship

a military group ruling a country after seizing power

liberalism

being open to new ideas, emphasizes equality

conservatism

maintaining order and traditional values