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Forms of government

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For the topic, see Forms of government and Government

This article lists forms of government and political systems, according to a series of different ways of categorising them. The systems listed are of course not mutually exclusive, and often have overlapping definitions (for example autocracy, authoritarianism, despotism, totalitarianism, monarchism and tyranny).

Contents 1 Alphabetical list with hierarchy 2 By approach to regional autonomy 3 By political franchise 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Alphabetical list with hierarchy

The following list groups major political systems in alphabetical order. The various subtype political systems are listed below the main system of government.

• Authoritarian (The Rule of the few)
  • Authoritarianism
  • Aristocracy
  • Communist state
  • Corporatism
  • Despotism
  • Diarchy
  • Dictatorship
    • Military dictatorship
    • Stratocracy
    • Enlightened absolutism
  • Kleptocracy
  • Monarchy
    • Absolute monarchy
    • Despotism
    • Duchy
      • Grand Duchy
    • Enlightened absolutism
    • Elective monarchy
    • Emirate
    • Hereditary monarchy
    • Popular monarchy
    • Principality
    • New Monarchs
    • Self-proclaimed monarchy
  • Plutocracy
    • Timocracy
  • Police state
  • Theocracy
  • Tyranny
  • Videocracy

• Anarchy (Absence of organized government)
  • Ochlocracy
  • Tribalism

• Anarchism (Government of consent, not coercion)
  • Anarchist communism
  • Libertarian socialism
  • Libertarian municipalism
  • Anarcho-syndicalism
  • Green anarchism
  • Isocracy
  • Libertarianism
  • Libertarian Guard
  • Local Government
  • Minarchism

• Democracy (The Rule of the many)
  • Consociationalism
  • Deliberative democracy
  • Democratic socialism
  • Direct democracy
  • Participatory democracy
  • Representative democracy
    • Parliamentary system
      • Westminster system
      • Consensus government
    • Polyarchy
    • Presidential system
    • Semi-presidential system
  • Republicanism
    • Parliamentary republic
    • Constitutional republic
  • Totalitarian democracy

[edit] By approach to regional autonomy

This list focuses on differing approaches that political systems take to the distribution of sovereignty, and the autonomy of regions within the state.

• Sovereignty located exclusively at the centre
  • Empire
  • Unitary state
• Sovereignty located at the centre and in peripheral areas
  • Federation and Federal republic
  • Confederation
• Diverging degrees of sovereignty
  • Asymmetrical federalism
  • Federacy
  • Associated state
  • Devolved state - sovereignty can be abolished without changing the constitution

[edit] By political franchise

This list shows a division based on differences in political franchise (suffrage).

• Monarchy - rule by one
• Oligarchy - rule by minority
• Republic - rule by law
• Democracy - rule by majority
• Anarchism - rule by no one

[edit] See also

• Form of government

• Golden Liberty
• List of countries by system of government
• Netocracy
• Separation of powers

[edit] External links

• Future of Democracy : types of government
• CBBC Newsround : types of government