In one country, a single ruler inherits power from a parent, holds it for life, and passes it on to a family member. What is this form of government called?

A small group of about a dozen wealthy landowning families holds all lawmaking power, and no one outside those families may take part. What is this form of government called?

In one city-state, adult citizens gather in an assembly and vote in person on each proposed law. What is this arrangement called?

A government minister orders the country's newspapers to stop printing, and a court cancels that decree because it breaks the rights promised in the country's bill of rights. What term describes this government?

In one historical empire the ruler's word was itself the law, and no code, court, or council could overturn a royal order. What term describes that kind of government?

Citizens elect representatives to make the laws, and those representatives must govern within the rules of a written constitution. What is this form of government called?

One government controls the schools, the newspapers, the workplaces, and private life, and allows no rival political party to exist. What term describes this system?

A king remains head of state, but a constitution and an elected lawmaking body actually decide the laws and the king must follow them. What is this arrangement called?

Governments are often sorted by how many people hold power. Into which of the three categories does an oligarchy fall?

A queen inherits her position and issues her orders alone, and no council or assembly reviews them. Sorting governments as rule by one, rule by few, or rule by many, where does this government belong?

In one country, every adult citizen may vote in the elections that choose the lawmakers. Sorting governments as rule by one, rule by few, or rule by many, where does this government belong?

A totalitarian system is an example of unlimited government.

How does a government of rule by few differ from a government of rule by many in who may hold office?

A monarchy may be either limited or unlimited, depending on whether a constitution restricts what the monarch may do.

A ruler inherited the throne, issues laws alone, and no court or assembly may overturn a single order. Which pair of terms describes this government?

A council of thirty army commanders takes over a country, cancels elections, and keeps all lawmaking power inside the council. What form of government have they created?

In a constitutional system, what does the constitution mainly do to the people who govern?

When a government is sorted as limited rather than unlimited, what is being judged?

In a democracy, where does the government get its right to rule?

An absolute monarchy and an oligarchy can both be unlimited governments. On which dimension do these two forms differ from each other?