An autocracy is a form of government where one person has all power. There are two main types of autocracy: a monarchy where power is hereditary and passed down through a royal family, and a dictatorship where one leader has absolute control over citizens. A representative democracy gives citizens the power to elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf, while allowing citizens to vote them out if unhappy. An anarchy has no one in control or everyone depending on perspective, with no nation or government to answer to.

1. An autocracyis a governmentinwhichone personhasall the power.There are twomaintypesof
autocracy: a monarchyand a dictatorship.
In a monarchy,a kingor queenrulesthe country.The kingor queenisknownasa monarch. Monarchs
usuallycome to powerthroughtheirfamilyline:The currentkingor queen’soldestchildbecomesthe
nextkingor queen.Insome monarchies,especiallythose inhistorical times,the monarchheldall the
powerandhad the final sayover the government.Inmoderntimes,monarchsusuallyshare powerwith
otherparts of government.Oftentheyare alsosubjecttothe country’sconstitution.
A dictatorshipisaform of governmentwhere one leaderhasabsolute control overcitizens’lives.If
there isa constitution,the dictatorhascontrol overthat, too—soitdoesn’tmeanmuch.Althoughother
parts of the governmentmayexist,suchascourts or a lawmakingbody,these branchesalwaysdowhat
the dictator wantsthemto do.Theydo not representcitizens.
In a representative democracy,citizenselectleaderstorepresenttheirrightsandinterestsin
government.The electedleaders,orrepresentatives,dothe day-to-dayworkof governingthe country:
Theyconsiderthe issues,worktofindsolutions,passlaws,anddoall of the otherthingsnecessaryto
keepa countrygoing.Citizensholdthe ultimate power,though,because if theydon’tlikewhattheir
representativesare doing,theycanvote innew ones!
In a directdemocracy,there are no representatives.Citizensare directly involvedinthe day-to-daywork
of governingthe country.Citizensmightbe requiredtoparticipate inlawmakingoractas judges,for
example.The bestexampleof thiswasinthe ancientGreekcity-state calledAthens.Mostmodern
countriesare too large fora directdemocracyto work.
In an oligarchy(OH-lih-gar-kee),asmall groupof people hasall the power.OligarchyisaGreekword
that means“rule bya few.”Sometimesthismeansthatonlyacertaingrouphas political rights,suchas
membersof one political party,one social class,orone race.For example,insome societies,onlynoble
familieswhoownedlandcouldparticipateinpolitics.Anoligarchycanalsomeanthat a few people
control the country.For example,ajuntaisa small groupof people—usuallymilitaryofficers—whorule
a country aftertakingitoverby force.A juntaoftenoperatesmuchlike adictatorship,exceptthat
several peopleshare power.
A theocracyisa governmentthatrecognizesGodor a divine beingasthe ultimate authority.(“Theo”isa
Greekwordthat meansgod.) In a theocracy,religiouslaw isusedtosettle disputesandrule the people.
A theocracycan alsobe a democracy,dictatorship,monarchy,orjustaboutany otherkindof
government.Forexample,the Republic of IranrecognizesIslamiclaw,butIran’scitizensvote toelect
theirleaders.Moderntheocraciesare usuallyfoundincountrieswhere the populationisstrongly
religious.
In an anarchy,nobodyisin control—oreveryone is,dependingonhow youlookat it. Sometimesthe
wordanarchy is usedtoreferto an out-of-control mob.Whenitcomestogovernment,anarchywould
be one way to describe the humanstate of existence beforeanygovernmentsdeveloped.Itwouldbe
similartothe way animalslive inthe wild,witheveryonelookingoutforthemselves.Today,people who
call themselvesanarchistsusuallybelievethatpeople shouldbe allowedtofreelyassociate together
withoutbeingsubjecttoany nationor government.Thereare nocountriesthathave anarchy as their
formof government.

2. Readeach statementbelow andwrite downwhichtype of governmentbestanswersthe description.
1. One personisincharge.
Autocracy
Democracy
2. Citizensoftenhave norights.
Democracy
Dictatorship
3. Can existwithotherformsof government
Dictatorship
Theocracy
4. Led by a kingor queen
Monarchy
Oligarchy
5. Nobodyisin charge
Monarchy
Anarchy
6. Those in charge are militarymemberswhotookoverbyforce
Junta
Democracy
7. Leaderoftensharespowerwithotherpartsof government
Monarchy
Dictatorship
8. Democracy where citizenselectotherstoserve ingovernment
Direct
Representative
9. Citizensvote toelecttheirleaders.
Democracy
Autocracy

3. 10. A small grouprulesthe country
Oligarchy
Democracy
11. People donot answertoany leaderorgovernment
Oligarchy
Anarchy
12. God and religiouslaw are the government’sauthority
Theocracy
Anarchy
13. The group withpowercan be basedon race or social class
Monarchy
Oligarchy
14. Democracywhere citizensparticipateinlawmakingthemselves
Direct
Representative