types of gov

Question 1

what is an absolute monarchy

Answer 1

eg Saudi Arabia or Qatar

• traditional form of gov
• power held by one family
• most monarchies are now constitutional (UK)
• monarchies are symbols of national unity

Question 2

what is authoritarian rule

Answer 2

eg Egypt at one point

• power is in the hands of a leader or small group which is not constitutionally accountable to the people
• rule outside of existing laws and legal framework
• citizens usually can’t free themselves by electoral processes
• often when military takes over state

Question 3

what is a dictatorship

Answer 3

• gov ruled by one person or group
• 50 in the world
• eg Cuba
• many dictators are also absolute monarchs or heads of one party states

Question 4

what is an oligarchy

Answer 4

• state and economy controlled by a small group of well placed extremely wealthy insiders
• formed from royalty of the wealthy, family ties, education, corporate power, militay
• can sit alongside forms of democracy
• eg Russiaw

Question 5

what is a technocracy

Answer 5

• not elected, ran by lots of technical field experts
• eg Ukraine

Question 6

what is a military dictatorship

Answer 6

• gov ran by military
• military junta -military officers
• eg Sudan or Myanmar

Question 7

what is an aristocracy

Answer 7

• gov based upon inherited wealth or societal status
• eg UK, power of nobility alongside monarch

Question 8

what is a theocracy

Answer 8

• run by religious figures where beliefs dominate gov system
• eg Iran, The Vatican

Question 9

what is a one party state

Answer 9

• only one political party holds power
• may be elections, but candidates are from the same party, or there is no choice of candidate on the ballot paper
• eg China, Cuba, Vietnam