1. Democracy Supreme political authority rests with the people
Can be either direct or indirect
Indirect: aka Representative; people are elected to express the will of the people.

2. Dictatorship Oldest and most common form of government
Those in power have absolute, unchallengeable, authority
Either autocracy or oligarchy
Autocracy: single person holds political power
Oligarchy: power to rule is held by a small group
Cuba

3. Unitary A centralized government
All government powers held by a central agency
Central agency creates local units for convenience
NOT a dictatorship
France

4. Federal
Powers of government are divided between central government and local governments
Division of powers cannot be changed by local or national level alone

5. Confederate An alliance of independent states
Central organization handles matters member states assign to it
European Union

6. Presidential
Executive and legislative branches are separate but coequal (have same amount of power)
Branches can block actions of the other branches

7. Parliamentary Executive (Prime Minister)
Prime Minister and Cabinet are members of legislative branch
Prime Minister is the leader of majority party
Great Britain