This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows.
(Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.):
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, but 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 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, but 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, but 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.
Country
Government type
Afghanistan
Islamic republic
Albania
republic
Algeria
republic
American Samoa
NA
Andorra
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs
of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France
and bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain, who are represented in Andorra by
the coprinces' representatives
Angola
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Anguilla
NA
Antarctica
Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic region is governed by a
system known as the Antarctic Treaty System; the system includes: 1.
the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into
force on 23 June 1961, which establishes the legal framework for the
management of Antarctica, 2. Recommendations and Measures
adopted at meetings of Antarctic Treaty countries, 3. The Convention
for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972), 4. The Convention for
the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), and 5.
The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
(1991); the 33rd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in
Punta del Este, Uruguay in May 2010; at these periodic meetings,
decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative
member nations; by April 2010, there were 48 treaty member nations:
28 consultative and 20 non-consultative; consultative (decisionmaking) members include the seven nations that claim portions of
Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 nonclaimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make
claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is
administered through meetings of the consultative member nations;
decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member
nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in
accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses
indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty
and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date
indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant
nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the
UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil
(1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador
(1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India
(1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989),
Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977),
Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine
(1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative
members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987),
Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech
Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987),
Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Monaco
(2008), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), Romania (1971),
Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and
Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962
and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as
weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment
may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose;
Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall
continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel,
cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new
claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits
nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees
00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state
observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area
and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance
notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel
must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and
scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative
meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states
will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary
to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the
parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal
with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved
nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at
treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments; a mineral
resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was
signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this
agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment
through six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2)
conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste
management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection
and management and 6) liability arising from environmental
emergencies; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources
except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat
was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Antigua and Barbuda
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
and a Commonwealth realm
Argentina
republic
Armenia
republic
Aruba
parliamentary democracy
Australia
federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Austria
federal republic
Azerbaijan
republic
Bahamas, The
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Bahrain
constitutional monarchy
Bangladesh
parliamentary democracy
Barbados
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Belarus
republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Belgium
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Belize
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Benin
republic
Bermuda
parliamentary; self-governing territory
Bhutan
constitutional monarchy
Bolivia
republic; note - the new constitution defines Bolivia as a "Social
Unitarian State"
Bosnia and Herzegovina
emerging federal democratic republic
Botswana
parliamentary republic
Brazil
federal republic
British Virgin Islands
NA
Brunei
constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
Bulgaria
parliamentary democracy
Burkina Faso
parliamentary republic
Burma
military regime
Burundi
republic
Cambodia
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Cameroon
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Canada
a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a constitutional
monarchy
Cape Verde
republic
Cayman Islands
parliamentary democracy
Central African Republic
republic
Chad
republic
Chile
republic
China
Communist state
Christmas Island
NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA
Colombia
republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Comoros
republic
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
republic
Congo, Republic of the
republic
Cook Islands
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Costa Rica
democratic republic
Cote d'Ivoire
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing
agreement mandated by international mediators
Croatia
presidential/parliamentary democracy
Cuba
Communist state
Cyprus
republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island
began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July
1974 that followed a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt
gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots
control the only internationally recognized government; on 15
November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared
independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" ("TRNC"), which is recognized only by Turkey
Czech Republic
parliamentary democracy
Denmark
constitutional monarchy
Djibouti
republic
Dominica
parliamentary democracy
Dominican Republic
democratic republic
Ecuador
republic
Egypt
republic
El Salvador
republic
Equatorial Guinea
republic
Eritrea
transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the
Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National
Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a
Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a
constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional
legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into
effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections;
parliamentary elections were scheduled in December 2001 but were
postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is the People's
Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)
Estonia
parliamentary republic
Ethiopia
federal republic
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA
Faroe Islands
NA
Fiji
republic
Finland
republic
France
republic
French Polynesia
NA
Gabon
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Gambia, The
republic
Georgia
republic
Germany
federal republic
Ghana
constitutional democracy
Gibraltar
NA
Greece
parliamentary republic
Greenland
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Grenada
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Guam
NA
Guatemala
constitutional democratic republic
Guernsey
parliamentary democracy
Guinea
republic
Guinea-Bissau
republic
Guyana
republic
Haiti
republic
Holy See (Vatican City)
ecclesiastical
Honduras
democratic constitutional republic
Hong Kong
limited democracy
Hungary
parliamentary democracy
Iceland
constitutional republic
India
federal republic
Indonesia
republic
Iran
theocratic republic
Iraq
parliamentary democracy
Ireland
republic, parliamentary democracy
Isle of Man
parliamentary democracy
Israel
parliamentary democracy
Italy
republic
Jamaica
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Japan
a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy
Jersey
parliamentary democracy
Jordan
constitutional monarchy
Kazakhstan
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the
executive branch
Kenya
republic
Kiribati
republic
Korea, North
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Korea, South
republic
Kosovo
republic
Kuwait
constitutional emirate
Kyrgyzstan
republic
Laos
Communist state
Latvia
parliamentary democracy
Lebanon
republic
Lesotho
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Liberia
republic
Libya
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace
through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state
Liechtenstein
constitutional monarchy
Lithuania
parliamentary democracy
Luxembourg
constitutional monarchy
Macau
limited democracy
Macedonia
parliamentary democracy
Madagascar
republic
Malawi
multiparty democracy
Malaysia
constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as
the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper
house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states
have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except
Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah
and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by
government; powers of state governments are limited by federal
constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain
certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own
immigration controls)
Maldives
republic
Mali
republic
Malta
republic
Marshall Islands
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force on 21 October 1986
and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Mauritania
military junta
Mauritius
parliamentary democracy
Mayotte
NA
Mexico
federal republic
Micronesia, Federated States of
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986
and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Moldova
republic
Monaco
constitutional monarchy
Mongolia
parliamentary
Montenegro
republic
Montserrat
NA
Morocco
constitutional monarchy
Mozambique
republic
Namibia
republic
Nauru
republic
Nepal
federal democratic republic
Netherlands
constitutional monarchy
Netherlands Antilles
parliamentary
New Caledonia
NA
New Zealand
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Nicaragua
republic
Niger
republic
Nigeria
federal republic
Niue
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Norfolk Island
NA
Northern Mariana Islands
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor,
lieutenant governor, and legislature
Norway
constitutional monarchy
Oman
monarchy
Pakistan
federal republic
Palau
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force on 1 October 1994
Panama
constitutional democracy
Papua New Guinea
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Paraguay
constitutional republic
Peru
constitutional republic
Philippines
republic
Pitcairn Islands
NA
Poland
republic
Portugal
republic; parliamentary democracy
Puerto Rico
commonwealth
Qatar
emirate
Romania
republic
Russia
federation
Rwanda
republic; presidential, multiparty system
Saint Helena, Ascension, and
Tristan da Cunha
NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Saint Lucia
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Samoa
parliamentary democracy
San Marino
republic
Sao Tome and Principe
republic
Saudi Arabia
monarchy
Senegal
republic
Serbia
republic
Seychelles
republic
Sierra Leone
constitutional democracy
Singapore
parliamentary republic
Slovakia
parliamentary democracy
Slovenia
parliamentary republic
Solomon Islands
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Somalia
no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary
federal government
South Africa
republic
Spain
parliamentary monarchy
Sri Lanka
republic
Sudan
Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party
(NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a
power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in
1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulated national
elections in 2009, but these were subsequently rescheduled for April
2010
Suriname
constitutional democracy
Svalbard
NA
Swaziland
monarchy
Sweden
constitutional monarchy
Switzerland
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic
Syria
republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
Taiwan
multiparty democracy
Tajikistan
republic
Tanzania
republic
Thailand
constitutional monarchy
Timor-Leste
republic
Togo
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Tokelau
NA
Tonga
constitutional monarchy
Trinidad and Tobago
parliamentary democracy
Tunisia
republic
Turkey
republican parliamentary democracy
Turkmenistan
defines itself as a secular democracy and a presidential republic; in
actuality displays authoritarian presidential rule, with power
concentrated within the executive branch
Turks and Caicos Islands
NA
Tuvalu
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Uganda
republic
Ukraine
republic
United Arab Emirates
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal
government and other powers reserved to member emirates
United Kingdom
constitutional monarchy and Commonwealth realm
United States
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Uruguay
constitutional republic
Uzbekistan
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the
executive branch
Vanuatu
parliamentary republic
Venezuela
federal republic
Vietnam
Communist state
Virgin Islands
NA
Wallis and Futuna
NA
Western Sahara
legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory
contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the
Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February
1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab
Democratic Republic (SADR), near Tindouf, Algeria, led by President
Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between Morocco and
Mauritania in April 1976 when Spain withdrew, with Morocco
acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from
Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979;
Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since
asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile
was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984;
Morocco between 1980 and 1987 built a fortified sand berm
delineating the roughly 80 percent of Western Sahara west of the
barrier that currently is controlled by Morocco; guerrilla activities
continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was
implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690)
by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO)
Yemen
republic
Zambia
republic
Zimbabwe
parliamentary democracy