Unit 5: Democracy & Citizenship Types of Government
Anarchy A state of society without government or law Political and social disorder due to the absence of government
Theocracy Form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil rule The God or deity’s laws are interpreted by religious authorities
Aristocracy Government led by the elite, or privileged upper class
Oligarchy Form of government in which all power is vested in few persons or in a dominant class or clique
Monarchy Absolute King or queen has complete control of country/empire England before the Magna Carta Limited (Constitutional) King or queen do not have complete control Great Britain has this today
Dictatorship Government is led by an absolute ruler called a dictator One person has the power
Totalitarianism Government led by a group/party that has complete power Today: Cuba and North Korea
Democracy Form of government in which the supreme power is with the people Most easily define as the “rule of many” Two forms…
Direct Democracy All citizens participate first hand in governing Not present today-established in ancient Athens
Representative Democracy Citizens elect leaders to represent them in government Sometimes called a “republic” U.S. today