SS.7.C.3.1

absolute monarchy: form of autocracy where a person becomes the sole leader of a country by being born into a family of rulers; there are no limits on the monarch’s power

anarchy: the absence of any form of government

autocracy: a form of government where one person has unlimited power

communism: a form of government in which a single ruling party owns and controls the entire economy, and in which no private ownership is allowed

democracy: a system of government in which political power is held by the people

dictatorship: a form of autocracy where a military leader becomes the leader of a country often through violent means

direct democracy: a form of government in which the power to govern is directly in the hands of the people rather than elected representatives

form of government: the way a government is structured

monarchy: a form of government headed by a king or queen who inherits the position, rules for life, and holds power that can range anywhere between limited to absolute

oligarchy: a form of government in which a small group (often of wealthy people) has total control and power

representative democracy or republic: a system of government in which the people elect representatives to make policies and laws for them, also known as a republic

socialism: a form of government in which the government plays a major role in running the economy, but private ownership is also allowed and leaders may be elected by the people

SS.7.C.3.2

confederal: a system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government

federal: a system of government where power is shared between a central government and states government noun a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people governor noun the head of a state government

parliamentary: a system of government where power lies with the legislative body and the leader of the country is part of the legislature

president: the head of the executive branch in a federal system

prime minister: the head of state in a parliamentary system

unitary: a system of government where almost all power is located with the central government