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Basic forms of government |
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List of forms of government |
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This is a list of sovereign states by system of government. There is also a political mapping of the world that shows what form of government each country has, as well as a brief description of what each form of government entails. The list is colour-coded according to the type of government, for example: blue represents a republic with an executive head of state, and red is a constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial head of state. The colour-coding also appears on the following map, representing the same government categories. The legend of what the different colours represent is found just below the map.
Certain states have been defined as having more than one system of government or a hybrid system – for instance, Poland possesses a semi-presidential government where the president appoints the prime minister or can veto legislation passed by parliament, but its Constitution defines the country as a parliamentary republic and its ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Note: this chart represent de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy. Several states that are constitutional republics are in practice ruled as authoritarian states.
Name | Constitutional form | Head of state | Basis of executive legitimacy |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Provisional | n/a | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime[note 1] |
Albania | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Algeria | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Andorra | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Angola | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Antigua and Barbuda | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Argentina | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Armenia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Australia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Austria | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Azerbaijan | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Bahamas, The | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Bahrain | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Bangladesh | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Barbados | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Belarus | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Belgium | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Belize | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Benin | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Bhutan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Bolivia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Botswana | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Brazil | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Brunei | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Bulgaria | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Burkina Faso | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Burundi | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Cambodia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Cameroon | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Canada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Cape Verde | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Central African Republic | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Chad | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Chile | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
China, People's Republic of | Republic | Ceremonial | Power constitutionally linked to a single political party[note 2] |
Colombia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Comoros | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Congo, Republic of the | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Costa Rica | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Côte d'Ivoire | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Croatia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Cuba | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Cyprus | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Czech Republic | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Denmark | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Djibouti | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Dominica | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Dominican Republic | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
East Timor | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Ecuador | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Egypt | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
El Salvador | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Equatorial Guinea | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Eritrea | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Estonia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Eswatini | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Ethiopia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Fiji | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Finland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
France | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Gabon | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Gambia, The | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Georgia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Germany | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Ghana | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Greece | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Grenada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Guatemala | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Guinea | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Guinea-Bissau | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Guyana | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Haiti | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Honduras | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Hungary | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Iceland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
India | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Indonesia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Iran | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Iraq | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Ireland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Israel | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Italy | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Jamaica | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Japan | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Jordan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Kazakhstan | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Kenya | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Kiribati | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Kuwait | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Kyrgyzstan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Laos | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Latvia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Lebanon | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Lesotho | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Liberia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Libya | Provisional | n/a | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
Liechtenstein | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Lithuania | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Luxembourg | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Madagascar | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Malawi | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Malaysia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Maldives | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Mali | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Malta | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Marshall Islands | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Mauritania | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Mauritius | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Mexico | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Micronesia | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Moldova | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Monaco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Mongolia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Montenegro | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Morocco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Mozambique | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Myanmar | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Namibia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Nauru | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Nepal | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Netherlands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
New Zealand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Nicaragua | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Niger | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Nigeria | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
North Korea | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political party |
North Macedonia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Norway | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Oman | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Pakistan | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Palau | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Palestine | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Panama | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Papua New Guinea | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Paraguay | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Peru | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Philippines | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Poland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence[note 3] |
Portugal | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Qatar | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Romania | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Russia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Rwanda | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Saint Lucia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Samoa | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
San Marino | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence[note 4] |
São Tomé and Príncipe | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Saudi Arabia | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Senegal | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Serbia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Seychelles | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Sierra Leone | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Singapore | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Slovakia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Slovenia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Solomon Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Somalia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
South Africa | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
South Korea | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
South Sudan | Provisional | n/a | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
Spain | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sri Lanka | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sudan | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Suriname | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sweden | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Switzerland | Republic | Executive | Presidency or Directory is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Syria | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Tajikistan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Tanzania | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Thailand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Togo | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Tonga | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Trinidad and Tobago | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Tunisia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Turkey | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Turkmenistan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Tuvalu | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Uganda | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Ukraine | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
United Arab Emirates | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
United Kingdom | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
United States | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Uruguay | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Uzbekistan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Vanuatu | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Vatican City | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Venezuela | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Vietnam | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Yemen | Provisional | n/a | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime[note 5] |
Zambia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Zimbabwe | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Name | Constitutional form | Head of state | Basis of executive legitimacy |
---|---|---|---|
Abkhazia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Cook Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Kosovo | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Niue | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Northern Cyprus | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Somaliland | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
South Ossetia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Taiwan (Republic of China) | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Transnistria | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Italics indicate states with limited recognition.
These are systems in which a president is the active head of the executive branch of government, and is elected and remains in office independently of the legislature.
In full presidential systems, the president is both head of state and head of government. There is generally no prime minister, although if one exists, in most cases they serve purely at the discretion of the president.
The following list includes democratic and non-democratic states:
Nations with limited recognition are in italics.
The following countries have presidential systems where a post of prime minister (official title may vary) exists alongside that of the president. The president is still both the head of state and government and the prime minister's roles are mostly to assist the president.
Nations with limited recognition are in italics.
In semi-presidential systems, there is always both a president and a head of government, commonly but not exclusively styled as a prime minister. In such systems, the president has genuine executive authority, but the role of a head of government may be exercised by the prime minister.
The president chooses a prime minister and cabinet from the parliament with approval from the parliament, however only the parliament may remove them from office with a vote of no confidence. The president does not have the right to dismiss the prime minister or the cabinet.
Nations with limited recognition are in italics.
The president is head of state and the prime minister is head of government, although the prime minister generally works under the discretion of the former more so than in a premier-presidential system. The president chooses the prime minister and the cabinet without a confidence vote from the parliament, but must have the support of a parliamentary majority for their selection. In order to remove a prime minister or their cabinet from power, the president may dismiss them or the parliament can remove them by a vote of no confidence.
Nations with limited recognition are in italics.
In a parliamentary republic, the head of government is selected or nominated by the legislature and is also accountable to it. The head of state is ordinarily called a president and (in full parliamentary republics) is separate from the head of government, serving a largely apolitical, ceremonial role. In these systems, the head of government is usually called the prime minister, chancellor or premier. In mixed republican systems and directorial republican systems, the head of government also serves as head of state and is usually titled president.
In some full parliamentary systems, the head of state is directly elected by voters. Under other classification systems, however, these systems may instead be classed as semi-presidential systems as presidents are always attached to a political party and may have broad powers (despite their weak presidency).[11] Full parliamentary republican systems with presidents being purely ceremonial and neutral with no broad powers, do not have a directly elected head of state and instead usually use either an electoral college or a vote in the legislature to appoint the president.
Nations with limited recognition are in italics.
A combined head of state and head of government in the form of an executive president is either elected by the legislature or by voters after candidates are nominated for the post by the legislature (in the case of Kiribati), and they must maintain the confidence of the legislature to remain in office. In effect, "presidents" in this system function the same as prime ministers do in other parliamentary systems.
A combined head of state and head of government (usually titled president) is elected by the legislature but is not not accountable to it (as is their cabinet), thus acting more independently from the legislature.[30] They may or may not also hold a seat in the legislature.
In a directorial republic, a council jointly exercises the powers and ceremonial roles of both the head of state and head of government. The council is elected by the parliament, but is not subject to parliamentary confidence during its fixed term.
These are systems in which the head of state is a constitutional monarch; the existence of their office and their ability to exercise their authority is established and restrained by constitutional law.
Systems in which a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government. In some cases, the prime minister is also leader of the legislature, while in other cases the executive branch is clearly separated from legislature (although the entire cabinet or individual ministers must step down in the case of a vote of no confidence).[32][33][dubious ] The head of state is a constitutional monarch who normally only exercises his or her powers with the consent of the government, the people and/or their representatives (except in emergencies, e.g. a constitutional crisis or a political deadlock).[note 14]
The prime minister is the nation's active executive, but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at their own discretion.
Specifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive constitutional law. The monarch acts as both head of state and head of government.
States in which political power is by law concentrated within one political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy (in contrast to states where a multi-party system formally exists, but this fusion is achieved anyway through election fraud or underdeveloped multi-party traditions).
Nations with limited recognition are in italics.
A committee of the nation's military leaders controls the government for the duration of a state of emergency. Constitutional provisions for government are suspended in these states; constitutional forms of government are stated in parentheses.
States that have a system of government that is in transition or turmoil. These regimes lack a constitutional basis.
Main article: Unitary state |
A state governed as a single power in which the central government is ultimately supreme and any administrative divisions (sub-national units) exercise only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate. The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. Of the 193 UN member states, 126 are governed as centralized unitary states, and an additional 40 are regionalized unitary states.
States in which most power is exercised by the central government. What local authorities do exist have few powers.
Main article: Regional state |
States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional authorities, but where constitutional authority ultimately remains entirely at a national level.
Main article: Federation |
States in which the national government shares power with regional governments with which it has legal or constitutional parity. The central government may or may not be (in theory) a creation of the regional governments.
Main article: List of European Union member states by political system |
The exact political character of the European Union is debated, some arguing that it is sui generis (unique), but others arguing that it has features of a federation or a confederation. It has elements of intergovernmentalism, with the European Council acting as its collective "president", and also elements of supranationalism, with the European Commission acting as its executive and bureaucracy.[51]