18 what is the difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy

These forms of government are usually distinguished based on who controls the state, how that authority is justified, and in what ways leaders and governments are structurally organized based on these justifications.

A monarchy is a form of government in which sovereignty is actually or nominally embodied in a single individual, the monarch. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and rules for life or until abdication.

Monarchs may be autocrats absolute monarchy or ceremonial heads of state who exercise little or no power or only reserve power, with actual authority vested in a parliament or other body such as a constitutional assembly.

Monarchs have various titles — king or queen, prince or princess, Malik or Malikah, emperor or empress, duke or grand duke, and Shah. Monarchy is associated with political or sociocultural hereditary rule; most monarchs, both historically and in the modern day, have been born and brought up within a royal family and trained for future duties. However, some monarchies are non-hereditary. In an elective monarchy, the monarch is elected but otherwise serves as any other monarch. Historical examples of elective monarchy include the Holy Roman Emperors and the free election of kings of the Polish—Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In a monarchy, the state is controlled by an individual who usually inherits the throne by birth. Monarchies have existed throughout the world, although in recent centuries many states have abolished the monarchy and become republics. Advocacy of republics is called republicanism, while advocacy of monarchies is called monarchism. As of in Europe, there are twelve monarchies: seven kingdoms, one grand duchy, one papacy, and two principalities, as well as the diarchy of Andorra.

Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, corporate, or military control. Such states are often controlled by a few prominent families who pass their influence from one generation to the next. Forms of government and other political structures associated with oligarchy usually include aristocracy, meritocracy, plutocracy, military junta, technocracy, and theocracy.

Aristocracy is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. In the origins in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy. In later times, aristocracy was usually seen as rule by a privileged group, the aristocratic class, and contrasted with democracy.

Similarly, plutocracy is rule by the wealthy. Unlike systems such as democracy, plutocracy is not rooted in a political philosophy and has no advocates; the term is only used in a pejorative sense. Ali Khamenei, depicted here, current holds the position of Supreme Leader in Iran. The Supreme Leader is a religious figure who has arguably the most political power in Iran. Technocracy is a form of government in which experts in technology would be in control of all decision making.

Scientists, engineers, and technologists who have knowledge, expertise, or skills, would compose the governing body instead of politicians, businessmen, and economists.

In a technocracy, decision makers would be selected based upon how knowledgeable and skillful they are in their field. Theocracy is a form of government in which official policy is governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or is pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religion or religious group. An Islamic state is a state that has adopted Islam, specifically Sharia Islamic Law , as its foundations for political institutions, or laws, exclusively, and has implemented the Islamic ruling system and is therefore a theocracy.

Although there is much debate as to which states or groups operate strictly according to Islamic Law, Sharia is the official basis for state laws in the following countries: Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Oman and Iran. Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. American Politics. Search for:. Forms of Government. Forms of Government Forms of government are categorized by the power source and power structure of any given state. Learning Objectives Compare and contrast the various forms of government.

Key Takeaways Key Points Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy of the state. Examples include aristocracy, technocracy and meritocracy. Examples include authoritarian, totalitarian and fascist governments. Governments with monarchic attributes are ruled by a king or a queen who inherits their position from their family, which is often called the royal family.

Plutocracy defines a society or a system ruled and dominated by the small minority of the wealthiest citizens. Unlike systems such as democracy, capitalism, socialism or anarchism, plutocracy is not rooted in an established political philosophy and has no formal advocates. See also Province. Democratic Governments Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.

Learning Objectives Discuss the central elements of direct and representative democracies. Key Takeaways Key Points Democracy allows people to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws.

It encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination. A democratic government contrasts to forms of government where power is either held by one, as in a monarchy, or where power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy or aristocracy.

For example, three countries which use representative democracy are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The concept of representative democracy arose largely from ideas and institutions that developed during the European Middle Ages, the Age of Enlightenment, and the American and French Revolutions.

Encyclopedic entry. A nation is a territory where all the people are led by the same government. The right to petition the government is provided in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.

Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer.

Text Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Interactives Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Related Resources. Forms of Government.

Oligarchies are governments in which a collection of individuals rules over a nation. A specific set of qualities, such as wealth, heredity, and race, are used to give a small group of people power.

Oligarchies often have authoritative rulers and an absence of democratic practices or individual rights. The government that ruled South Africa from to was a racially constructed oligarchy.

The minority white population exercised dominance and imposed segregation over the nation's majority Black population, controlling policy, public administration, and law enforcement. Following an anti-apartheid movement, the country adopted a liberal democracy that ultimately gave all ethnic and linguistic groups in South Africa political representation. Aristocracy refers to a government form in which a small, elite ruling class — the aristocrats — have power over those in lower socioeconomic strata.

Members of the aristocracy are usually chosen based on their education, upbringing, and genetic or family history. Aristocracies often connect wealth and ethnicity with both the ability and right to rule. Aristocracy originated in ancient Greece; the term derives from the Greek word, aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best. Aristocrats led major countries, including Britain, Germany, and Russia, until World War I, when other government forms gained popularity.

Monarchy is a power system that appoints a person as head of state for life or until abdication. Authority traditionally passes down through a succession line related to one's bloodline and birth order within the ruling royal family, often limited by gender. There are two types of monarchies: constitutional and absolute. Constitutional monarchies limit the monarch's power as outlined in a constitution, while absolute monarchies give a monarch unlimited power.

Today, 45 nations have some form of monarchy, though the concept has become increasingly diluted with the evolution of democratic principles. But monarchs in other countries, including Morocco, Oman, and Saudia Arabia, still have far-reaching political authority. Theocracy refers to a form of government in which a specific religious ideology determines the leadership, laws, and customs.

In many instances, there is little to no distinction between scriptural laws and legal codes. Likewise, religious clergy will typically occupy leadership roles, sometimes including the highest office in the nation. Iran is perhaps the most important and powerful theocratic state in the world today. The ayatollahs — Shiite religious leaders — rule the country.

Among them is a "supreme leader" who serves as head of state, delegates authority to other religious leaders, and presides over the elected president. The Sharia — the Islamic faith's primary legal doctrine — dictates the country's legal, judiciary, and administrative codes.

Colonialism is a form of government in which a nation extends its sovereignty over other territories.

In other words, it involves the expansion of a nation's rule beyond its borders. Colonialism often leads to ruling over indigenous populations and exploiting resources.