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Appendices

Field Listing :: 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.

Country	Government type


Afghanistan	Islamic republic


Albania	parliamentary democracy


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 (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 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; 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	nominal civilian parliamentary government took power in March 2011


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 disputed as of 31 January 2011, with both candidates in the runoff claiming victory


Croatia	presidential/parliamentary democracy


Cuba	Communist state


Curacao	parliamentary

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, following a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt that 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	operates under a transitional government


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


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


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


Sint Maarten	parliamentary


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


South Sudan	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; elections took place in April 2010 and the NCP was elected as the majority party; due to the CPA stipulations, there is also an autonomous government in Southern Sudan where SPLM holds the majority of positions.


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 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 presidential administration


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, 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

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