16/11/2013
After ousting former president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is in
the market for a new form of government . Here's a
rundown of the various forms of government, with
definitions provided by "The World Factbook."
Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the
monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws,
constitution or legally organized opposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder
brought about by the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in which state
authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.
Commonwealth - a nation, state or other political entity
founded on law and united by a compact of the people for
the common good.
Communist - a system of government in which the state
plans and controls the economy and a single -- often
authoritarian -- party holds power; state controls are
imposed with the elimination of private ownership of
property or capital while claiming to make progress toward
a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared
by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty
between states, provinces or territories that creates a
central government with limited powers; the constituent
entities retain supreme authority over all matters except
those delegated to the central government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an
authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the
system of fundamental laws and principles that determines
the nature, functions and limits of that government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which
the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a
governing constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which
a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her
rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written
law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme
power is retained by the people, but which is usually
exercised indirectly through a system of representation and
delegated authority periodically renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power
rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and
representatives responsible to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or
small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a
constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, a government
in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the
ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute
overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited
authority.
Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which
sovereign power is formally divided -- usually by means of
a constitution -- between a central authority and a number
of constituent regions (states, colonies or provinces) so
that each region retains some management of its internal
affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central
government exerts influence directly upon both individuals
as well as upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central
government are restricted and in which the component
parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of
self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the
voters who chose their governmental representatives.
Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted
by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory,
a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required
to be compatible with the laws of Islam.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism
developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which
states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the
leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the
people.
Marxism - the political, economic and social principles
espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed
the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces
that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat
(workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a
socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a
classless society -- Communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism
developed by Vladimir Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx;
Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and
shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to
underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is
lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state
or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the
monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign
- such as a king, queen or prince - with constitutionally
limited authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a
small group of individuals whose authority generally is
based on wealth or power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the
legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime
minister, premier or chancellor along with the cabinet
ministers - according to party strength as expressed in
elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual
responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary
government) - a government in which members of an
executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime
minister, premier or chancellor) are nominated to their
positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly
responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved
at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no-
confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve
the parliament if it can no longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch
who is not actively involved in policy formation or
implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a
monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental
leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a
prime minister, premier or chancellor - who are drawn from
a legislature (parliament).
Presidential - a system of government where the executive
branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is
generally not accountable).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the
people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people
themselves, vote on legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of planning,
producing and distributing goods is controlled by a central
government that theoretically seeks a more just and
equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality,
most socialist governments have ended up being no more
than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, a government in which
the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of
a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a
sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is
recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the Deity's laws are
interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs,
etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the
individual to the state by controlling not only all political
and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values and
beliefs of its population.
