Government type

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.

• Afghanistan

  the United States does not recognize the Taliban government

• Albania

  parliamentary republic

• Algeria

  presidential republic

• American Samoa

  unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

• Andorra

  parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain

• Angola

  presidential republic

• Anguilla

  parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

• 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. Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions adopted at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, 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 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings operate by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative parties at annual Treaty meetings; by January 2022, there were 54 treaty member nations: 29 consultative and 25 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 22 non-claimant 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; measures adopted at 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), Czechia (1962/2014), 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), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), Iceland (2015), Kazakhstan (2015), North Korea (1987), Malaysia (2011), Monaco (2008), Mongolia (2015), Pakistan (2012), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Slovenia (2019), 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 International Court of Justice; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 measures adopted at treaty consultative meetings and approved by governments; 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 and includes five annexes that have entered into force: 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; a sixth annex addressing liability arising from environmental emergencies has yet to enter into force; the Protocol 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

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Argentina

  presidential republic

• Armenia

  parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system

• Aruba

  parliamentary democracy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

• Australia

  federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Austria

  federal parliamentary republic

• Azerbaijan

  presidential republic

• Bahamas, The

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Bahrain

  constitutional monarchy

• Bangladesh

  parliamentary republic

• Barbados

  parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm

• Belarus

  presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

• Belgium

  federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

• Belize

  parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Benin

  presidential republic

• Bermuda

  Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

• Bhutan

  constitutional monarchy

• Bolivia

  presidential republic

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

  parliamentary republic

• Botswana

  parliamentary republic

• Brazil

  federal presidential republic

• British Virgin Islands

  Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

• Brunei

  absolute monarchy or sultanate

• Bulgaria

  parliamentary republic

• Burkina Faso

  presidential republic

• Burma

  parliamentary republic

• Burundi

  presidential republic

• Cabo Verde

  parliamentary republic

• Cambodia

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Cameroon

  presidential republic

• Canada

  federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm; federal and state authorities and responsibilities regulated in constitution

• Cayman Islands

  parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

• Central African Republic

  presidential republic

• Chad

  presidential republic

• Chile

  presidential republic

• China

  communist party-led state

• Christmas Island

  non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

• Cocos (Keeling) Islands

  non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

• Colombia

  presidential republic

• Comoros

  federal presidential republic

• Congo, Democratic Republic of the

  semi-presidential republic

• Congo, Republic of the

  presidential republic

• Cook Islands

  parliamentary democracy

• Costa Rica

  presidential republic

• Cote d'Ivoire

  presidential republic

• Croatia

  parliamentary republic

• Cuba

  communist state

• Curacao

  parliamentary democracy

• Cyprus

  Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency
  
  note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "TRNC,” which is recognized only by Turkey

• Czechia

  parliamentary republic

• Denmark

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Djibouti

  presidential republic

• Dominica

  parliamentary republic

• Dominican Republic

  presidential republic

• Ecuador

  presidential republic

• Egypt

  presidential republic

• El Salvador

  presidential republic

• Equatorial Guinea

  presidential republic

• Eritrea

  presidential republic

• Estonia

  parliamentary republic

• Eswatini

  absolute monarchy

• Ethiopia

  federal parliamentary republic

• Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

  parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

• Faroe Islands

  parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark

• Fiji

  parliamentary republic

• Finland

  parliamentary republic

• France

  semi-presidential republic

• French Polynesia

  parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France

• Gabon

  presidential republic

• Gambia, The

  presidential republic

• Georgia

  semi-presidential republic

• Germany

  federal parliamentary republic

• Ghana

  presidential republic

• Gibraltar

  parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

• Greece

  parliamentary republic

• Greenland

  parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

• Grenada

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Guam

  unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

• Guatemala

  presidential republic

• Guernsey

  parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)

• Guinea

  presidential republic

• Guinea-Bissau

  semi-presidential republic

• Guyana

  parliamentary republic

• Haiti

  semi-presidential republic

• Holy See (Vatican City)

  ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy"

• Honduras

  presidential republic

• Hong Kong

  presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

• Hungary

  parliamentary republic

• Iceland

  unitary parliamentary republic

• India

  federal parliamentary republic

• Indonesia

  presidential republic

• Iran

  theocratic republic

• Iraq

  federal parliamentary republic

• Ireland

  parliamentary republic

• Isle of Man

  parliamentary democracy (Tynwald)

• Israel

  parliamentary democracy

• Italy

  parliamentary republic

• Jamaica

  parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Japan

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Jersey

  parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)

• Jordan

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Kazakhstan

  presidential republic

• Kenya

  presidential republic

• Kiribati

  presidential republic

• Korea, North

  dictatorship, single-party state; official state ideology of "Juche" or "national self-reliance"

• Korea, South

  presidential republic

• Kosovo

  parliamentary republic

• Kuwait

  constitutional monarchy (emirate)

• Kyrgyzstan

  parliamentary republic

• Laos

  communist state

• Latvia

  parliamentary republic

• Lebanon

  parliamentary republic

• Lesotho

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Liberia

  presidential republic

• Libya

  in transition

• Liechtenstein

  constitutional monarchy

• Lithuania

  semi-presidential republic

• Luxembourg

  constitutional monarchy

• Macau

  executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

• Madagascar

  semi-presidential republic

• Malawi

  presidential republic

• Malaysia

  federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
  
  note: all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka (Malacca) 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 the federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)

• Maldives

  presidential republic

• Mali

  semi-presidential republic

• Malta

  parliamentary republic

• Marshall Islands

  mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US

• Mauritania

  presidential republic

• Mauritius

  parliamentary republic

• Mexico

  federal presidential republic

• Micronesia, Federated States of

  federal republic in free association with the US

• Moldova

  parliamentary republic

• Monaco

  constitutional monarchy

• Mongolia

  semi-presidential republic

• Montenegro

  parliamentary republic

• Montserrat

  parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

• Morocco

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Mozambique

  presidential republic

• Namibia

  presidential republic

• Nauru

  parliamentary republic

• Nepal

  federal parliamentary republic

• Netherlands

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

• New Caledonia

  parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France

• New Zealand

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Nicaragua

  presidential republic

• Niger

  semi-presidential republic

• Nigeria

  federal presidential republic

• Niue

  parliamentary democracy

• Norfolk Island

  non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; note - the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government of Australia

• North Macedonia

  parliamentary republic

• Northern Mariana Islands

  a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

• Norway

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Oman

  absolute monarchy

• Pakistan

  federal parliamentary republic

• Palau

  presidential republic in free association with the US

• Panama

  presidential republic

• Papua New Guinea

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Paraguay

  presidential republic

• Peru

  presidential republic

• Philippines

  presidential republic

• Pitcairn Islands

  parliamentary democracy

• Poland

  parliamentary republic

• Portugal

  semi-presidential republic

• Puerto Rico

  unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950

• Qatar

  absolute monarchy

• Romania

  semi-presidential republic

• Russia

  semi-presidential federation

• Rwanda

  presidential republic

• Saint Barthelemy

  parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

• Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

  parliamentary democracy

• Saint Kitts and Nevis

  federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Saint Lucia

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Saint Martin

  parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

• Saint Pierre and Miquelon

  parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Samoa

  parliamentary republic

• San Marino

  parliamentary republic

• Sao Tome and Principe

  semi-presidential republic

• Saudi Arabia

  absolute monarchy

• Senegal

  presidential republic

• Serbia

  parliamentary republic

• Seychelles

  presidential republic

• Sierra Leone

  presidential republic

• Singapore

  parliamentary republic

• Sint Maarten

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

• Slovakia

  parliamentary republic

• Slovenia

  parliamentary republic

• Solomon Islands

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Somalia

  federal parliamentary republic

• South Africa

  parliamentary republic

• South Sudan

  presidential republic

• Spain

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Sri Lanka

  presidential republic

• Sudan

  presidential republic

• Suriname

  presidential republic

• Svalbard

  non-self-governing territory of Norway

• Sweden

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Switzerland

  federal republic (formally a confederation)

• Syria

  presidential republic; highly authoritarian regime

• Taiwan

  semi-presidential republic

• Tajikistan

  presidential republic

• Tanzania

  presidential republic

• Thailand

  constitutional monarchy

• Timor-Leste

  semi-presidential republic

• Togo

  presidential republic

• Tokelau

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

• Tonga

  constitutional monarchy

• Trinidad and Tobago

  parliamentary republic

• Tunisia

  parliamentary republic

• Turkey (Turkiye)

  presidential republic

• Turkmenistan

  presidential republic; authoritarian

• Turks and Caicos Islands

  parliamentary democracy

• Tuvalu

  parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Uganda

  presidential republic

• Ukraine

  semi-presidential republic

• United Arab Emirates

  federation of monarchies

• United Kingdom

  parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• United States

  constitutional federal republic

• Uruguay

  presidential republic

• Uzbekistan

  presidential republic; highly authoritarian

• Vanuatu

  parliamentary republic

• Venezuela

  federal presidential republic

• Vietnam

  communist state

• Virgin Islands

  unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

• Wallis and Futuna

  parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France

• Yemen

  in transition

• Zambia

  presidential republic

• Zimbabwe

  presidential republic