Types of Governments APHUG | BHS

Monarchy A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress. The ruling position can be passed on to the ruler’s heirs. In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has absolute power. Swaziland, Brunei, Oman, Qatar But a constitutional monarchy has a democratic government that limits the monarch's control. United Kingdom, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands

Democracy The government is elected by the people in fair, competitive elections. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to have their say over who runs the country. A democracy is determined either directly (where everyone gets a vote on everything), or through elected representatives (who are chosen to vote on certain things). Direct democracy – Switzerland Representative democracy – United States

Communism An economic and/or political system based on the sharing of all work and property by the whole community All goods are to be equally shared by the people following the philosophy: "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need." The government owns property such as businesses and farms. It provides its people's healthcare, education and welfare. China, North Korea, Cuba Soviet Union

Socialism A transitional stage between capitalism and communism Substantial amounts of state-run industry, numerous government social programs Citizens pay high taxes to fund these programs Venezuela, Belarus, Sweden

Autocracy Government by a single person having unlimited power A dictatorship is an autocracy in which domination is achieved through the threat of punishment and violence Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany Sadaam Hussein in Iraq North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan

Totalitarianism This is a country with only one political party. Government controls means of communication, economy, weapons People are forced to do what the government tells them and may also be prevented from leaving the country. Often characterized by intolerance and repression Nazi Germany USSR under Stalin Libya under Qaddafi

Anarchy Anarchy is a situation where there is no government. This can happen after a civil war in a country, when a government has been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place. Anarchists are people who believe that government is a bad thing in that it stops people organizing their own lives. Catalonia during Spanish Civil War Somalia

Resources The Democracy Project BBC Types of Government World Population Under Various Governments Dictator for A Day Types of Governments