Forms of Government

Anarchism (Anarchy): A form of government (or lack thereof) 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.

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, self-

appointed ruler.

Communism: A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading

to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works

and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Democracy: Refers to a broad range of types of government based upon the "consent of

the governed." It is usually practiced in the form of a republic, which

provides checks and balances and an establishment that is able to maintain

order in and laws in society.

Despotism: Rule by an all-powerful individual. A less polite term for "autocracy.“

Dictatorship: Rule by a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has

absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession, instead of a despot.

Facism: Rule 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.

Monarchy: Rule by an individual for life or until abdication, often hereditary. On a

positive note, a monarchy usually possesses more checks and balances than

an autocracy or dictatorship.

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 status.

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: Rule by elected

individuals representing the citizen body and exercising power according to

the rule of law.

Socialism: A state run by a communist party, or worker representative democracy, with a

centrally controlled economy and resources distributed by need and

produced by ability, where workers, or the Party, control the means of

production.

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.

Tyranny: Rule by a selfish or otherwise bad single ruler. They use power oppressively or unjustly.