Types of Government

Oldest form of government, ruler inherits power and claim absolute power by divine right or the will of God. 

• Democracy 
• Dictatorship
• Monarchy 
• Republic 

Authority is based on the will of the people; they either vote on issues directly or elect representatives. 

• Totalitarian 
• Democracy 
• Monarchy 
• Dictatorship 

Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom 

• Republic
• Monarchy
• Dictatorship
• Totalitarian 

United States

• Totalitarian
• Monarchy
• Dictatorship
• Democracy 

A system in which the government controls all aspects (social and economic) of individual life.

• Constitutional Monarchy
• Totalitarian System
• Democracy
• Republic 

Any system of government in which the power and authority to rule belongs to a single individual.

• Autocracy 
• Oligarchy
• Republic
• Democracy 

Monarchy, Dictatorship, Totalitarianism 

• Republic
• Democracy
• Autocracy
• Oligarchy 

Monarchs share governmental powers with elected legislatures or serve as ceremonial leaders (United Kingdom, Sweden, and Japan) 

• Absolute monarchy
• Constitutional monarchy
• Totalitarian monarchy
• Republic monarchy 

A system of government in which a single person or small group exercises complete power over others

• Constitutional Monarchy
• Monarchy
• Dictatorship
• Republic 

A government of officials believed to be divinely inspired. A government run by religious leaders. 

• Theocracy
• Totalitarian
• Monarchy
• Republic