1. Types of government

2. Constitutional Monarchy
Definition: A political system where the hereditary ruler (king or queen) serves as head of state, but his or her powers are limited by the constitution
Characteristics:
Hereditary ruler
Constitution
Examples: England, Norway, Thailand

3. Oligarchy
Definition: a government in which the power is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite
Characteristics:
Powers is with small group of elite
Voting is usually limited to a few
Examples: South Africa before 1994, Bolivia

4. Theocracy
Definition: A form of government where the ruler claims to be ruling on behalf of a set of religious ideas, or as direct agents of a deity
Characteristics:
Religion dominated
Examples: Iran, Vatican City

5. Dictatorship
Definition: A form of government where power is held by a single person who may or may not have been elected
Characteristics:
Usually, dictator has control of the military
Little or no attention paid to public opinion
Single ruler
Examples: Sudan, Cuba, Venezuela

6. Fascism
Definition: A government with a strong centralized government with stringent social and economic control often led by a charismatic dictator
Characteristics:
Fervent patriotism
Government control socially and economically
Examples: Germany ( ); Italy ( )

7. Democracy
Definition: A form of government where supreme authority rests with the people; government is elected by the people
Characteristics:
Recognition of individual rights and freedoms
Majority rules
Free and fair elections; everyone is eligible to vote
Examples: Argentina, Ancient Greece

8. Republic
Definition: a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
Characteristics:
Representatives of the people make decisions
Free and fair elections
Examples: United States, France, Turkey

9. Anarchy Definition: A situation where there is no government
Characteristics:
Often occurs after a civil war
No recognizable governmental system exists
Often plagued by groups struggling to establish power
Examples: Afghanistan

10. Capitalism
Definition: people own their own businesses and property and must buy services for private use, such as healthcare
Characteristics:
Free enterprise system
Private ownership of capital goods
Investment decisions made by private decision, not government directive
Examples: United States

11. Socialism
Definition: An economic ideology where the basic means of production is primarily owned and regulated by the government
Characteristics:
Government owns and controls major industries and key services
Examples: Vietnam, Laos

12. Communism
Definition: Political and economic theory derived from Karl Marx whereby all property is publicly owned
Characteristics:
State owns your land
Examples: Cuba, North Korea

13. Unitary Government
Definition: All powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency
Characteristics:
A single central organization
Example: Great Britain

14. Federal Government
Definition: a government in which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments
Characteristics:
Division of powers
Example: United States, Australia, Canada

15. Confederation Definition: a alliance of independent states
Characteristics:
Confederate government has only the powers to handle the matters that the member states have assigned to it
A cooperation
Example: European Union, United States under the Articles of Confederation

16. Presidential
Definition: a government that features separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches
Characteristics:
Distinct executive and legislative branches
Separation of powers
Written constitution
Examples: United States

17. Parliamentary
Definition: government where the executive is made up of the prime minister and the ministers cabinet
Characteristics:
Prime minister is leader of the majority party
Prime minister and cabinet are members of the legislative branch, the parliament
Cabinet is chosen from members of parliament
Example: Israel