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Definitions of
the major governmental terms are as follows:
Anarchy - a
condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about
by the absence of governmental authority.
Commonwealth
- a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law
and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communism -
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). Also, a system in which the citizens do not possess
the right to choose their own leaders.
Ecclesiastical
- a government administrated by a church.
Federal
(Federative) - 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.
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).
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.
Source:
The CIA World Factbook
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