Anarchy
a state without government and laws
Authortorian
controlling all aspects of citizens' economic, political, and social lives
Confederacy
A loose union of independent states
Country
a political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government
Democracy
government in which the people rule
Dictatorship
a system of government in which power is in the hands of one person who has total control
Divine Right
the idea that people are chosen by a god or gods to rule
Federal system
a government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments
Government
an institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the people under its control
Monarchy
a system of government in which a king, queen, or emperor exercises supreme powers of government
Nation
a group of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes religion
Oligarchy
a system of government in which a small group holds power
Republic
a government in which voters hold sovereign power; elected representatives, responsible to the people, exercise that power
Social contract
theory that by contract, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens
Sovereignty
the supreme and absolute authority within territorial bounds
State
a political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government
Totalitarian
a system of government in which the government has total control
Unitary system
A government that gives all key powers to the national or central government
Parliamentary government
form of democratic government in which the elective assembly holds both executive and legislative powers
Presidential government
form of democratic government in which executive, legislative, and judicial powers are separated
Constitution
a plan that provides the rules for government
Constitutional government
a government in which a constitution has authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern
Autocracy
a system of government by one person with absolute power.
Theocracy
A government controlled by religious leaders