List of countries by system of government
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This is a list of countries 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 pink 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.
List of countries
UN member states and observers
Name | Constitutional form | Head of state | Basis of executive legitimacy |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Albania | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Algeria | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Andorra | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Angola | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Antigua and Barbuda | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Argentina | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Armenia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Australia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Austria | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Azerbaijan | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Bahamas, The | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Bahrain | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Bangladesh | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Barbados | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Belarus | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Belgium | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Belize | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Benin | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Bhutan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Bolivia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Botswana | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Brazil | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Brunei | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Bulgaria | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Burkina Faso | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Burundi | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Cambodia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Cameroon | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Canada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Cape Verde | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Central African Republic | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Chad | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Chile | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
China, People's Republic of | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party [1] |
Colombia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Comoros | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Congo, Republic of the | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Costa Rica | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Côte d'Ivoire | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Croatia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Cuba | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Cyprus | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Czech Republic | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Denmark | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Djibouti | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Dominica | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Dominican Republic | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
East Timor | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Ecuador | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Egypt | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
El Salvador | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Equatorial Guinea | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Eritrea | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Estonia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Ethiopia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Federated States of Micronesia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Fiji | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Finland | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
France | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Gabon | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Gambia, The | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Georgia | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Germany | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Ghana | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Greece | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Grenada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Guatemala | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Guinea | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Guinea-Bissau | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Guyana | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Haiti | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Honduras | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Hungary | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Iceland | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
India | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Indonesia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Iran | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Iraq | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Ireland | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Israel | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Italy | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Jamaica | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Japan | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Jordan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Kazakhstan | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Kenya | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Kiribati | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Korea, North | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Korea, South | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Kuwait | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Kyrgyzstan | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Laos | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Latvia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Lebanon | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Lesotho | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Liberia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Libya | Provisional | N/A | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
Liechtenstein | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Lithuania | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Luxembourg | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Macedonia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Madagascar | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Malawi | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Malaysia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Maldives | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Mali | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Malta | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Marshall Islands | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Mauritania | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Mauritius | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Mexico | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Moldova | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Monaco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Mongolia | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Montenegro | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Morocco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Mozambique | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Myanmar | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Namibia | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Nauru | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Nepal | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Netherlands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
New Zealand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Nicaragua | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Niger | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Nigeria | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Norway | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Oman | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Pakistan | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Palau | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Palestine | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Panama | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Papua New Guinea | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Paraguay | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Peru | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Philippines | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Poland | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Portugal | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Qatar | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Romania | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Russia | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Rwanda | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Saint Lucia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Samoa | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
San Marino | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
São Tomé and Príncipe | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Saudi Arabia | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Senegal | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Serbia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Seychelles | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Sierra Leone | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Singapore | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Slovakia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Slovenia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Solomon Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Somalia | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
South Africa | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
South Sudan | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Spain | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Sri Lanka | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Sudan | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Suriname | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Swaziland | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Sweden | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Switzerland | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Syria | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Tajikistan | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Tanzania | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Thailand | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Togo | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Tonga | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Trinidad and Tobago | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Tunisia | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Turkey | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Turkmenistan | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Tuvalu | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Uganda | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Ukraine | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
United Arab Emirates | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
United Kingdom | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
United States | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Uruguay | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Uzbekistan | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Vanuatu | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Vatican City | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Venezuela | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Vietnam | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Yemen | Provisional | N/A | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
Zambia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Zimbabwe | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Note that Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Mauritania are Islamic Republics.
Partially recognized states
The following states control their territory and are recognized by at least one UN member state.
Name | Constitutional form | Head of state | Basis of executive legitimacy |
---|---|---|---|
Abkhazia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
China, Republic of | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Cook Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Kosovo | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Niue | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Northern Cyprus | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
South Ossetia | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Unrecognized states
The following states/governments control their territory, but are not recognised by any UN member state.
Name | Constitutional form | Head of state | Basis of executive legitimacy |
---|---|---|---|
Artsakh | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Somaliland | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Transnistria | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Map
Legend
- Parliamentary republics with an executive presidency dependent on the legislature
- Semi-presidential republics with both an executive presidency and a separate head of government that leads the legislature, who is appointed by the president
- Parliamentary republics with a ceremonial/non-executive president, where a separate head of government leads the executive
- Constitutional monarchies with a ceremonial/non-executive monarch, where a separate head of government leads the executive
- Constitutional monarchies with a ceremonial monarch, but where royalty still hold significant executive and/or legislative power
- Absolute monarchy where the monarch leads the executive
- One-party states where the dominant role of a political party is codified in the constitution
- Countries in which constitutional provisions for government have been suspended (e.g. military dictatorship)
- Countries which do not fit any of the above systems (e.g. transitional government or unclear political situations)
- No government
Note: this chart represent de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy. Several states constitutionally republics, broadly appear as authoritarian states.
Systems of governance
Italics indicate states with limited recognition.
Presidential systems
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, he or she serves purely at the discretion of the president (with the exceptions being Belarus and Kazakhstan, where the prime minister is effectively the head of government).[2][3]
The following list includes democratic and non-democratic states:
Presidential systems without a prime minister
The President have full of executive powers.
- Abkhazia
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Argentina
- Artsakh
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Burundi
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Cyprus
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Gambia, The
- Ghana
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somaliland
- South Sudan
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Presidential systems with a prime minister
Note: Iran may be considered to be a theocracy as the government is intertwined with the religious hierarchy[4]
Semi-presidential systems
In semi-presidential systems, there is always both a president and a prime minister. In such systems, the president has genuine executive authority, unlike in a parliamentary republic, but the role of a head of government may be exercised by the prime minister.
Premier-presidential systems
The president chooses the prime minister and cabinet, but 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.
President-parliamentary systems
The president chooses the prime minister without the confidence vote from the parliament, and the cabinet but must have the support of the parliament majority for his choice. In order to remove a prime minister or the whole cabinet from power, the president can dismiss them or the assembly can remove them by a vote of no confidence.
Parliamentary systems
A parliamentary republic is a system in which a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. The president's degree of executive power may range from being significant (e.g. South Africa), to little (e.g. India), to only having certain limited reserve powers (e.g. Ireland) or none at all (e.g. Germany). Where the president holds little executive power, his or her function is primarily that of a symbolic figurehead.
Full parliamentary republican systems
- Albania
- Armenia
- Austria
- Bangladesh[5]
- Bosnia and Herzegovina[6]
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Dominica
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland[7]
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Samoa
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somalia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vanuatu
Mixed parliamentary republican systems
A combined head of state and government is elected by the legislature in the form of an executive president, however they are not subject to parliamentary confidence during their term (although their cabinet may be); the exceptions are South Africa, where the president may be forced to resign by the Parliament's will,[8] and Kiribati, where the president is popularly elected and a successful parliamentary motion of no confidence automatically triggers a new presidential election.
Directorial republican systems
In the directorial system a council jointly exercises both state functions and governmental powers (the council is the collective head of state and government). The council is elected by the parliament, but it is not subject to political confidence during its term which has a fixed duration.
Constitutional monarchies
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 or held back by constitutional law.
Constitutional monarchies with ceremonial monarchs
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, 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.[13][14][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 or their representatives.
- Andorra[15]
- Antigua and Barbuda[16]
- Australia[16]
- Bahamas[16]
- Barbados[16]
- Belgium
- Belize[16]
- Cambodia
- Canada[16]
- Cook Islands[16][17]
- Denmark
- Grenada[16]
- Jamaica[16]
- Japan
- Lesotho
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Netherlands
- New Zealand[16]
- Niue[16][17]
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea[16]
- Saint Kitts and Nevis[16]
- Saint Lucia[16]
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[16]
- Solomon Islands[16]
- Spain
- Sweden
- Tuvalu[16]
- United Kingdom[16]
Constitutional monarchies with active monarchs
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.
Note: Andorra may be considered a theocracy as the monarch is a joint head of state alongside a religious figure[18]
Absolute monarchies
Specifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive constitutional law.
Note: Vatican City may be considered a theocracy as the monarch is elected by a religious body[20]
One-party states
States in which political power is by law concentrated within one political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy (as opposed to states where the law establishes a multi-party system but this fusion is not achieved anyway through electoral fraud or simple inertia). However, some do have elected governments.
- China, People's Republic of (Communist Party leads the United Front) (list)
- Cuba (Communist Party) (list)
- Eritrea (People's Front for Democracy and Justice) (list)
- Korea, North (Workers' Party leads the Democratic Front) (list)
- Laos (People's Revolutionary Party leads the Front for National Construction) (list)
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Polisario Front) (Politics of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)
- Vietnam (Communist Party leads the Fatherland Front) (list)
Military dictatorships
The nation's military control the organs of government and all high-ranking political executives are also members of the military hierarchy.
Transitional governments
States which have a system of government which is in transition or turmoil and are classified with the current direction of change.
Systems of internal structure
Unitary states
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.
Centralised unitary states:
The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. Of the 193 UN member states, 165 are governed as unitary states.
Regionalised unitary states:
States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional authorities.
- Bolivia (9 regions, of which 9 are autonomous)
- China, People's Republic of (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 province-level municipalities, 2 special administrative regions, and 1 claimed province)
- China, Republic of (2 provinces, 6 special municipalities, 33 claimed provinces, 3 claimed special administrative regions, 2 regions, 12 claimed special municipalities, 14 leagues, and 4 special banners)
- France (18 regions, of which 6 are autonomous)
- Indonesia (34 provinces, of which 5 provinces have special status)
- Italy (20 regions, of which 5 are autonomous)
- Kingdom of the Netherlands (4 constituent countries)
- Philippines (one autonomous region subdivided into 5 provinces and 113 other provinces and independent cities grouped into 17 other non-autonomous regions)
- Portugal (2 autonomous regions)
- Spain (17 autonomous communities, 15 communities of common-regime, 1 community of chartered regime, 3 chartered provinces, 2 autonomous cities)
- Tanzania (21 mainland regions and Zanzibar)
- Ukraine (24 oblasts, 2 cities with special status, and Crimea)
- United Kingdom (4 constituent countries, 3 devolved administrations)
Federation
States in which the federal government shares power with semi-independent regional governments. The central government may or may not be (in theory) a creation of the regional governments.
- Argentina (23 provinces and one autonomous city: Buenos Aires)
- Australia (six states and three territories)
- Austria (nine states)
- Belgium (three regions and three linguistic communities)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (two entities and one district)
- Brazil (26 states and the Federal District)
- Canada (ten provinces and three territories)
- Comoros (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli)
- Ethiopia (nine regions and two chartered cities)
- Germany (16 states)
- India (29 states and seven union territories)
- Iraq (18 governorates and one region: Kurdistan)
- Malaysia (13 states and three federal territories)
- Mexico (31 states and one federal district: Mexico City)
- Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap)
- Nepal (seven provinces)
- Nigeria (36 states and one federal territory: Federal Capital Territory)
- Pakistan (4 provinces, 2 autonomous areas and 2 territories)
- Russia (46 oblasts, 22 republics, nine krais, four autonomous okrugs, three federal cities, one autonomous oblast)
- Saint Kitts and Nevis (Saint Kitts, Nevis)
- South Sudan (ten states)
- Sudan (17 states)
- Switzerland (26 cantons)
- United Arab Emirates (seven emirates)
- United States (50 states, one incorporated territory, and one federal district: District of Columbia)
- Venezuela (23 states, one capital district and one federal dependency)
Confederation
A union of sovereign states, united for purposes of common action often in relation to other states. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issues, such as defense, foreign relations, internal trade or currency, with the general government being required to provide support for all its members.
European Union
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.[21] But it is not easily placed in any of the above categories.[citation needed]
See also
- List of countries
- List of countries by date of transition to republican system of government
- List of current heads of state and government
- Government
Notes
- ^ The President of China is legally a ceremonial office, but the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (de facto leader) has always held this office since 1993 except for the months of transition.
- ^ Constitution of Belarus from 1994 (rev. 2004)
- ^ a b "Nazarbaev Signs Kazakh Constitutional Amendments Into Law". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017. For more information: please see Abdurasulov, Abdujalil (6 March 2017). "Kazakhstan constitution: Will changes bring democracy?". BBC News. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ Iran combines the forms of a presidential republic, with a president elected by universal suffrage; and a theocracy, with a Supreme Leader who is ultimately responsible for state policy, chosen by the elected Assembly of Experts. Candidates for both the Assembly of Experts and the presidency are vetted by the appointed Guardian Council.
- ^ In Bangladesh, a caretaker government during parliamentary elections. The Caretaker government is headed by a Chief Adviser and a group of neutral, non-partisan advisers chosen from the civil society. During this time, the president has jurisdiction over the defence and foreign affairs ministries.
- ^ Collective presidency consisting of three members; one for each major ethnic group.
- ^ Formerly a semi-presidential republic, it is now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter, First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University, who in his "Scandinavian Politics Today" (Manchester University Press, revised 2008 ISBN 9780719078538), he quotes Nousiainen, Jaakko (June 2001). "From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government: political and constitutional developments in Finland". Scandinavian Political Studies. 24 (2). Wiley: 95–109. doi:10.1111/1467-9477.00048.
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(help) as follows: "There are hardly any grounds for the epithet 'semi-presidential'." Arter's own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced: "The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi-presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament (Elgie 2004: 317)". According to the Finnish Constitution, the President has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval, and substantially has not the power to disband the parliament under its own desire. Finland is actually represented by its Prime Minister, and not by its President, in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union. The 2012 constitutional amendments reduced the powers of the President even further. - ^ "Constitution of South Africa". Constitute. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ a b c Combines aspects of a presidential system with those of a parliamentary system. The president is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat, much like a prime minister, but is immune from a vote of no confidence (but not their cabinet), unlike a prime minister.
- ^ a b c d e Combines aspects of a presidential system with those of a parliamentary system. The president is elected by parliament but does not hold a parliamentary seat, and is immune from a vote of no confidence (as well is their cabinet), unlike a prime minister.
- ^ "Scheda paese Repubblica di San Marino" (pdf) (in Italian). Segreteria di Stato Affari esteri. July 2012. p. 5.
- ^ a b The President of Switzerland serves in a primus inter pares capacity amongst the Swiss Federal Council, the seven-member executive council which constitutes both the presidency and the government.
- ^ Norwegian Parliament web page
- ^ CIA factbook on Norway
- ^ Bishop of Urgell and President of France serve as ex officio co-princes who are have their interests known through a representative.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r One of sixteen constitutional monarchies which recognize Elizabeth II as head of state, who presides over an independent government. She is titled separately in each country (e.g. Queen of Australia), and notionally appoints a Governor-General to each country other than the United Kingdom to act as her representative. The prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. These countries may be known as "Commonwealth realms".
- ^ a b The Cook Islands and Niue are under the sovereignty of the Monarch of New Zealand as self-governing states in free association with New Zealand. New Zealand and its associated states, along with Tokelau and the Ross Dependency, comprise the Realm of New Zealand.
- ^ The Bishop of Urgell and the President of France serve as ex officio co-princes who are have their interests known through a representative.
- ^ The UAE's constitution establishes the state as a federation of emirates, with the federal president drawn from hereditary emirs, but each emirate in turn functions as an absolute monarchy
- ^ a b The Vatican is an elective absolute monarchy and a Roman Catholic theocracy; its monarch, the Pope, is the head of the global Roman Catholic Church. His power within the Vatican City State is unlimited by any constitution, but all persons resident within the Vatican have consented to obey the Pope, either by virtue of being ordained Catholic clergy or members of the Swiss Guard.
- ^ For more detailed discussion, see John McCormick, European Union Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Chapters 1 and 2.
External links
- Global Scan- Election Tracker
- Countries categorized by system of government in 20th century at Historical Atlas of 20th Century
- A Chronology of political history based on Government form
- Political Chronology Chronological development of political history
- Bertelsmann Transformation Index 2012