Absolute monarchy: kingdom in which monarch has complete power.
Absolutism: theory and practice of government by a single absolute ruler.
Anarchy: absence of government; advocacy of this state.
Aristocracy: government by wealthy, privileged minority or hereditary ruling class.
Autarchy: Autocracy. Absolute sovereignty.
Autarky: economic self sufficiency of a state.
Authoritarianism: principle of submission to authority; concentration of power in the hands of autocratic leader not constitutionally bound to the people.
Autonomy: self government.
Benevolent dictatorship: non-repressive absolute rule that works for the good of citizens.
Bicameral: having two legislative houses in government.
Caliphate: government ruled by Islamic civil and religious leader.
Centralism: assignment of power to central leadership.
Checks and balances: principle of interdependency of government branches.
Civil government: government established by laws made by citizens or their representatives; non-military, nonreligious authority.
Democracy: government by the people, with the majority rule exercised in periodic free election of representatives.
Divine right of kings: authority or sovereignty considered to be granted by God, not people.
Duarchy: government by two equally powerful rulters; duumvirate.
Fascism: government based on establishing oppressive, one-party, centralized national regime.
Feudalism: political system in Europe in which lord owned all property worked by vassals.
Matriarchy- government in which power rests with females or descends through female line.
Mobocracy: ruled by mobs.
Oligarchy: government ruled by small group of privileged individuals.
Parliamentary government: system in which executive (prime minister) is chosen by elected legislature (parliament) from among its members.
Plutocracy: government by the wealthy.
Pluralism: government system that embraces cultural diversity and advocates general participation and decision making.
Presidential government: system based on separation of powers between elected executive and legislative departments.
Republic: government in which power is vested in elected representatives of citizenry.
Separation of powers: doctrine that division of responsibility among legislative, executive, and judicial branches is conducive to equitable government.
Theocracy: government by church officials; who believe they have divine authority.
Totalitarianism: authoritarian political system in which citizen is totally subject to the will of the state.