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{{Form of government row|Swaziland|purple}} |
{{Form of government row|Swaziland|purple}} |
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{{Form of government row|Sweden|red}} |
{{Form of government row|Sweden|red}} |
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{{Form of government row|Switzerland| |
{{Form of government row|Switzerland|teal}} |
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{{Form of government row|Syria|gold}} |
{{Form of government row|Syria|gold}} |
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{{Form of government row|Taiwan|gold}} |
{{Form of government row|Taiwan|gold}} |
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{{Form of government row|Zimbabwe|blue}} |
{{Form of government row|Zimbabwe|blue}} |
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Note that [[Pakistan]], [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Mauritania]] are Islamic Republics. |
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Note that [[Switzerland]] is coloured in blue, despite resembling a [[presidential republic]] [[Parliamentary system|system]], in the way the [[President of Switzerland|president]] is not independent from legislature, and as he or she and [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|ministry]] are being appointed by [[parliament]], neither the [[President of Switzerland|President]] and [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|ministry]] are subject to parliamentary confidence, constituting a [[directorial system]]. [[Pakistan]], [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Mauritania]] are Islamic Republics. |
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==Map== |
==Map== |
Revision as of 14:31, 28 January 2015
Part of the Politics series |
Basic forms of government |
---|
List of countries by system of government |
Politics portal |
This is a list of the states categorized by system of government.
List of countries
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 | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president 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 | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
The Bahamas | 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 | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
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 |
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 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president 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 | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the 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 |
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 |
The Gambia | 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 | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the 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 |
Kosovo | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the 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 | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Liechtenstein | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
Lithuania | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by 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 |
Federated States of Micronesia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is elected by and is accountable to the 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 | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by 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 | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Myanmar | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Namibia | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of 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 | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of 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 | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Portugal | Republic | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the legislature |
Qatar | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Republic of the Congo | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
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 | 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 |
Syria | Republic | Executive | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Taiwan | 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 | President is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature |
Tanzania | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
Thailand | Provisional | N/A | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
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 | Ceremonial | Head of government is elected by and is accountable to the 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 | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power |
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 |
Western Sahara | Republic | Executive | Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party |
Yemen | Republic | Executive | Head of state is the head of government and is independent of legislature |
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 Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Mauritania are Islamic Republics.
Map
Legend
- Blue – Full presidential republics
- Yellow – Semi-presidential republics
- Green – Presidential republics, executive presidency linked to a parliament
- Orange – Parliamentary republics
- Red – Parliamentary constitutional monarchies in which the monarch does not personally exercise power
- Magenta – Constitutional monarchies in which the monarch personally exercises power, often (but not always) alongside a weak parliament
- Purple – Absolute monarchies
- Brown – Countries where the dominant role of a single political party or coalition is codified in the constitution
- Dark green – Countries where constitutional provisions for government have been suspended
- Gray – Countries that do not fit in any of the above listed systems
Note that this chart aims to represent de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy. Several states constitutionally deemed to be multiparty republics may also be broadly described as authoritarian states.
Systems of Governance
Presidential/Separated republics
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. The following list includes democratic and non-democratic states:
Full presidential systems
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 he or she serves purely at the pleasure of the president.
Presidential systems
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Argentina
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Burundi
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Republic of the Congo
- Costa Rica
- Cyprus
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Myanmar
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Turkmenistan
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Presidential systems with a prime minister
Semi-presidential systems
In semi-presidential systems, there is usually both a president and a prime minister. In such systems, the president has genuine executive authority, unlike in a parliamentary republic, but some of the role of a head of government is exercised by the prime minister.
Parliamentary republics
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 reasonably significant (e.g. Pakistan) to little (e.g. India) or none at all (e.g. Ireland). Where the president holds little executive power, his or her function is primarily that of a symbolic figurehead.
- Albania
- Austria
- Bangladesh[3]
- Bosnia and Herzegovina[4]
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Dominica
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland[5]
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Portugal
- Samoa
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somalia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Vanuatu
Mixed republican systems
A combined head of state and government is elected by the legislature, however they are not subject to parliamentary confidence during their term (although their cabinet is).
Directorial systems
The directorial system contains elements of the presidential and the parliamental system. In a directorial republic a council jointly exercises both presidential and governmental powers (the council is the collective head of state). 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.[8][9][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[10]
- Antigua and Barbuda[11]
- Australia[11]
- Bahamas[11]
- Barbados[11]
- Belgium
- Belize[11]
- Cambodia
- Canada[11]
- Denmark
- Grenada[11]
- Jamaica[11]
- Japan
- Lesotho
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Netherlands
- New Zealand[11]
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea[11]
- Saint Kitts and Nevis[11]
- Saint Lucia[11]
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[11]
- Solomon Islands[11]
- Spain
- Sweden
- Thailand (military junta)
- Tuvalu[11]
- United Kingdom[11]
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.
Absolute monarchies
Specifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive constitutional law.
Theocracies
States based on a state religion where the head of state is selected by some form of religious hierarchy.
Single political movement states
States in which political power is by law concentrated within a single 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 (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)
- Vietnam (Communist Party leads the Fatherland Front) (list)
- Western Sahara (Polisario Front) (Politics of the Sahrawi Republic)
Military junta states
The nation's military control the organs of government and all high-ranking political executives are also members of the military hierarchy.
Transitional
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 Governance
Federal
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; prime examples are Switzerland and the United States.
- 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 (Iraqi 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 (14 zones)
- Nigeria (36 states and one federal territory (the Federal Capital Territory)
- Pakistan (4 provinces, 2 autonomous areas and 2 territories)
- Russia (46 oblasts, 21 republics, nine krais, four autonomous okrugs, two federal cities, one autonomous oblast)
- Saint Kitts and Nevis (two states)
- South Sudan (10 states)
- Sudan (17 states)
- Switzerland (26 cantons)
- United Arab Emirates (seven emirates)
- United States (50 states, one incorporated territory, and one federal district (Washington, D.C.)
- Venezuela (23 states, one capital district and one federal dependency)
Unitary states
Regionalised unitary
States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional authorities.
- China (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 province-level municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions)
- Indonesia (34 provinces, of which 5 provinces have special status)
- Italy (20 regions, of which 5 are autonomous)
- France (27 regions, of which 6 are autonomous)
- Kingdom of the Netherlands (4 constituent countries)
- Philippines (1 autonomous region subdivided into 5 provinces and 113 other provinces and independent cities grouped into 16 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 special-status cities, and Crimea)
- United Kingdom (4 constituent countries, 3 devolved administrations)
Confederation
European Union
The exact political character of the European Union is widely 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.[15] But it is not easily placed in any of the above categories.
See also
- List of countries
- List of countries by date of transition to republican system of government
- Government
Notes
- ^ While the office of prime minister exists, the president is both the head of state and government.
- ^ a b c Octávio Amorim Neto; Marina Costa Lobo (2010). "Between Constitutional Diffusion and Local Politics: Semi-Presidentialism in Portuguese-Speaking Countries". Social Science Research Network. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ 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's 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), quotes Jaakko Nousiainen in "From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government" in Scandinavian Political Studies 24 (2) p95-109 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.
- ^ a b c Combines aspects of a presidential system with aspects 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, unlike a prime minister.
- ^ 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 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"
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ For more detailed discussion, see John McCormick, European Union Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Chapters 1 and 2.