This document compares different forms of government by looking at who the ruler is, how they are chosen, and the rights afforded to citizens. It examines dictatorships, constitutional and absolute monarchies, parliamentary and presidential democracies, theocracies, and oligarchies. Examples are provided for each type of government.

1. Who is the
Type of ruler? How is Many rights for
Examples
Government the ruler citizens?
chosen?
Dictatorship
Constitutional
Monarchy
Absolute
Monarchy
Parliamentary
Democracy
Presidential
Democracy
Theocracy
Oligarchy

2. Dictatorship
Who is the ruler? How is the ruler chosen?
Single Person
Takes power by force.

3. Dictatorship
Many rights for citizens?
NO

4. Dictatorship
Examples
Adolf Hitler Joseph Stalin Benito Mussolini
Mao Zedong Fidel Castro
Slobodan Milosevic Ho Chi Minh
Saddam Hussein Muammar Qaddafi
Juan Peron Fransisco Franco

5. Constitutional Monarchy
Who is the ruler? How is the ruler chosen?
King and/or Queen
Inherits the position by reason of birth.

6. Constitutional Monarchy
Many rights for citizens?

7. Constitutional Monarchy
Examples
Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom.
Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, The Netherlands,
Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.

8. Absolute Monarchy
Who is the ruler? How is the ruler chosen?
King and/or Queen.
Inherits the position by reason of birth.
Divine right ruler, their power was
unlimited.

9. Absolute Monarchy
Many rights for citizens?
NO

10. Absolute Monarchy
Examples
King Louis XIV of France.
Japanese Monarch.

11. Parliamentary Democracy
Who is the ruler? How is the ruler chosen?
Executive and legislative authority rests
with the elected representatives.
Elected by members of parliament from
among its members.

12. Parliamentary Democracy
Many rights for citizens?
YES

13. Parliamentary Democracy
Examples
United Kingdom

14. Presidential Democracy
Who is the ruler? How is the ruler chosen?
President and legislature divide power
Elected

15. Presidential Democracy
Many rights for citizens?
YES

16. Presidential Democracy
Examples
The United States.

17. Theocracy
Who is the ruler? How is the ruler chosen?
Religious leader.
Varies; may be elected monarch or
dictator.

18. Theocracy
Many rights for citizens?
Typically rights are limited.

19. Theocracy
Examples
Aztec Civilizations
Egyptian Pharaohs
Roman Emperors

20. Oligarchy
Who is the ruler? How is the ruler chosen?
The ruler and a privileged class of
supporters exercise the power of
government.

21. Oligarchy
Many rights for citizens?
Depends, this government can lead to
instability in society.

22. Oligarchy
Examples
The Greek City States (1000 BC to 500
BC).
Military dictatorships throughout
Africa, Latin America, and Asia