DaveC
Blue Crack Addict
I'm curious what people's beliefs are (aren't I always? 
) on forms/systems of government, and what they think works best in general.
Here's an explanation of the options.
Anarchy: This is the lack of government; there may or may not be order, but nobody is in charge, really. See Somalia, 1991- (tribal clan warfare)
Absolutist Monarchy: One person, usually known as a King or Queen, in charge of everything. The head of state is determined through hereditary means. Has total power to do whatever he/she wants to, and is completely above the law. See France, c500-1789 (King)
Ancient-Style Republic: Modeled after the Greek and Roman Republic-style governments. Usually two persons, usually known as consuls, elected by a body of free men sometimes called the Senate, to rule for a period of one or more years, but always a short, fixed term. Both consuls hold veto power over the other. Each consul commands a personal army. See Rome, 510BC-27BC (consul)
Aristocracy: Rule by the nobility of the state. Usually the nobility places someone in power and has control or considerable influence over that person's decisions and length of rule, to the point where the ruler has basically become a figurehead. See most Medieval states, c450-c1600
Commonwealth of States: This is the rule of independent, sovereign states, united in their objectives. Almost always allied in military matters. They tend to consult one another when making major decisions that could influence or affect the other nations. However, the states are allied to work for the common good of all members. See Germany, 1870-1933 (Chancellor)
Communism: One person rules with the support of the Communist Party. The government has declared its policies and beliefs to be in line with Marxism-Leninism. See Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1917-1991 (Premier)
Constitutional Monarchy: The government operates under a constitutional law system, and have a single, hereditary ruler as head of state. Usually constitutional monarchies accept a three-part government (Judicial, Legislative, Executive), and the monarch is the head of the Executive Branch. See Canada, 1867- (King/Queen)
Despotism: Government by a singular authority, either a single person or tightly knit group, which rules with absolute power. The word implies tyrannical rule; it suggests a form of government which exercises exacting and near-absolute control over all of its citizens. Usually imperial, ruled by a Kaiser, Czar, or Emperor. See Russia, c1500-1917 (Czar).
Dictatorship: Government headed by a dictator or more generally any authoritarian or totalitarian government. An unelected or unhereditary ruler in absolute charge. Similar to an absolutist monarchy, but the ruler has forced his or her way into power. See Iraq, 1963-2003 (Saddam Hussein).
Empire: Very similar to a dictatorship, despotism, or absolutist monarchy (in fact, many Empires are also dictatorships, despotisms, or absolutist monarchies), but is almost always ruled by an Emperor or other totalitarian head of state whose primary goal is to obtain territory and the resources thereof to support and enrich the central area of power (usually around the capital). See Great Britain, c1600-c1955 (King/Queen).
Fascism: Government wherein the state tries to control every aspect of life. Usually ruled by a single authority. See Italy 1929-1943 (Benito Mussolini).
Federal republic: A state wherein many semi- or pseudo-sovereign states exist but are controlled by a central authority or government. There is a clear separation of power between the states and the central government, but the central government can (usually) override the states' decisions. See United States of America, 1783- (President)
Military Junta: Government controlled by the military. Usually the central body of decision-making is a committee of military senior officers, with one ruler sitting as Chair of the committee. This committee holds absolute power. See Chile, 1973-1990 (Augusto Pinochet)
Plutocracy: Government ruled by the wealthiest members of society. Usually these go in line with aristocracies, but not always. Works in the same way as an aristocracy, but with the most wealthy in power and not necessarily the nobility. See various Medieval states, c450-c1600.
Police State: A state in which the government maintains strict control over the population, particularly through suspension of civil rights, usually by means of a force of secret police. Many times is a dictatorship, but can also be a despotism or junta. See Germany, 1933-1945. (Adolf Hitler)
Single-Party State: Government in which there is a legislative branch, however, there is no opposition to the governing party. Opposition in the legislature is usually illegal, and so the governing party holds the power to do what they want. Very similar to oligarchy, and sometimes wavering into the territory of aristocracy, plutocracy, communism, and even dictatorship, but not necessarily any of these. See Cuba, 1959- (Communist Party of Cuba)
Tyranny: Ruled by a tyrant, a usurper of rightful power, possessing absolute power. Usually puts his or her own interests or the interests of his or her friends before the well-being of the people. See Athens, c800BC-400BC (Tyrants)
) on forms/systems of government, and what they think works best in general.Here's an explanation of the options.
Anarchy: This is the lack of government; there may or may not be order, but nobody is in charge, really. See Somalia, 1991- (tribal clan warfare)
Absolutist Monarchy: One person, usually known as a King or Queen, in charge of everything. The head of state is determined through hereditary means. Has total power to do whatever he/she wants to, and is completely above the law. See France, c500-1789 (King)
Ancient-Style Republic: Modeled after the Greek and Roman Republic-style governments. Usually two persons, usually known as consuls, elected by a body of free men sometimes called the Senate, to rule for a period of one or more years, but always a short, fixed term. Both consuls hold veto power over the other. Each consul commands a personal army. See Rome, 510BC-27BC (consul)
Aristocracy: Rule by the nobility of the state. Usually the nobility places someone in power and has control or considerable influence over that person's decisions and length of rule, to the point where the ruler has basically become a figurehead. See most Medieval states, c450-c1600
Commonwealth of States: This is the rule of independent, sovereign states, united in their objectives. Almost always allied in military matters. They tend to consult one another when making major decisions that could influence or affect the other nations. However, the states are allied to work for the common good of all members. See Germany, 1870-1933 (Chancellor)
Communism: One person rules with the support of the Communist Party. The government has declared its policies and beliefs to be in line with Marxism-Leninism. See Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1917-1991 (Premier)
Constitutional Monarchy: The government operates under a constitutional law system, and have a single, hereditary ruler as head of state. Usually constitutional monarchies accept a three-part government (Judicial, Legislative, Executive), and the monarch is the head of the Executive Branch. See Canada, 1867- (King/Queen)
Despotism: Government by a singular authority, either a single person or tightly knit group, which rules with absolute power. The word implies tyrannical rule; it suggests a form of government which exercises exacting and near-absolute control over all of its citizens. Usually imperial, ruled by a Kaiser, Czar, or Emperor. See Russia, c1500-1917 (Czar).
Dictatorship: Government headed by a dictator or more generally any authoritarian or totalitarian government. An unelected or unhereditary ruler in absolute charge. Similar to an absolutist monarchy, but the ruler has forced his or her way into power. See Iraq, 1963-2003 (Saddam Hussein).
Empire: Very similar to a dictatorship, despotism, or absolutist monarchy (in fact, many Empires are also dictatorships, despotisms, or absolutist monarchies), but is almost always ruled by an Emperor or other totalitarian head of state whose primary goal is to obtain territory and the resources thereof to support and enrich the central area of power (usually around the capital). See Great Britain, c1600-c1955 (King/Queen).
Fascism: Government wherein the state tries to control every aspect of life. Usually ruled by a single authority. See Italy 1929-1943 (Benito Mussolini).
Federal republic: A state wherein many semi- or pseudo-sovereign states exist but are controlled by a central authority or government. There is a clear separation of power between the states and the central government, but the central government can (usually) override the states' decisions. See United States of America, 1783- (President)
Military Junta: Government controlled by the military. Usually the central body of decision-making is a committee of military senior officers, with one ruler sitting as Chair of the committee. This committee holds absolute power. See Chile, 1973-1990 (Augusto Pinochet)
Plutocracy: Government ruled by the wealthiest members of society. Usually these go in line with aristocracies, but not always. Works in the same way as an aristocracy, but with the most wealthy in power and not necessarily the nobility. See various Medieval states, c450-c1600.
Police State: A state in which the government maintains strict control over the population, particularly through suspension of civil rights, usually by means of a force of secret police. Many times is a dictatorship, but can also be a despotism or junta. See Germany, 1933-1945. (Adolf Hitler)
Single-Party State: Government in which there is a legislative branch, however, there is no opposition to the governing party. Opposition in the legislature is usually illegal, and so the governing party holds the power to do what they want. Very similar to oligarchy, and sometimes wavering into the territory of aristocracy, plutocracy, communism, and even dictatorship, but not necessarily any of these. See Cuba, 1959- (Communist Party of Cuba)
Tyranny: Ruled by a tyrant, a usurper of rightful power, possessing absolute power. Usually puts his or her own interests or the interests of his or her friends before the well-being of the people. See Athens, c800BC-400BC (Tyrants)
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