List of countries by system of government

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of countries categorized by system of government.

A color-coded legend of forms of government. Click on map for descriptions below.

Contents

[edit] Alphabetical list of countries

Name Constitutional form Head of state Basis of executive legitimacy
Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Albania Albania Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Algeria Algeria Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Andorra Andorra Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Angola Angola Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Argentina Argentina Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Armenia Armenia Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Australia Australia Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Austria Austria Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of the Bahamas Bahamas Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Bahrain Bahrain Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Barbados Barbados Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Belarus Belarus Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Belgium Belgium Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Belize Belize Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Benin Benin Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Bhutan Bhutan Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Bolivia Bolivia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Botswana Botswana Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Brazil Brazil Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Brunei Brunei Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Burundi Burundi Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Cambodia Cambodia Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Canada Canada Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Cape Verde Cape Verde Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Central African Republic Central African Republic Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Chad Chad Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Chile Chile Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of the People's Republic of China China, People's Republic of Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of the Republic of China China, Republic of Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Colombia Colombia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of the Comoros Comoros Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Republic of the Congo Congo, Republic of the Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Costa Rica Costa Rica Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Croatia Croatia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Cuba Cuba Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Cyprus Cyprus Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Denmark Denmark Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Djibouti Djibouti Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Dominica Dominica Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of East Timor East Timor Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Egypt Egypt Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of El Salvador El Salvador Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Eritrea Eritrea Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Estonia Estonia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Fiji Fiji n/a n/a n/a    No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime
Flag of Finland Finland Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of France France Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Gabon Gabon Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of The Gambia Gambia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Georgia (country) Georgia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Germany Germany Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Ghana Ghana Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Greece Greece Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Grenada Grenada Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Guatemala Guatemala Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Guinea Guinea Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Guyana Guyana Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Haiti Haiti Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Honduras Honduras Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Hungary Hungary Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Iceland Iceland Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of India India Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Indonesia Indonesia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Iran Iran Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Iraq Iraq Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Ireland Ireland Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Israel Israel Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Italy Italy Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Jamaica Jamaica Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Japan Japan Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Jordan Jordan Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Kenya Kenya Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Kiribati Kiribati Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of North Korea Korea, North Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of South Korea Korea, South Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Kosovo Kosovo Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Kuwait Kuwait Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Laos Laos Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Latvia Latvia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Lebanon Lebanon Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Lesotho Lesotho Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Liberia Liberia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Libya Libya Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Madagascar Madagascar Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Malawi Malawi Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Malaysia Malaysia Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Maldives Maldives Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Mali Mali Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Malta Malta Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Mauritania Mauritania Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Mauritius Mauritius Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Mexico Mexico Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia Micronesia Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Moldova Moldova Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Monaco Monaco Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Montenegro Montenegro Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Morocco Morocco Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Mozambique Mozambique Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Burma Myanmar n/a n/a n/a    No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime
Flag of Namibia Namibia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Nauru Nauru Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Nepal Nepal Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Nicaragua Nicaragua Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Niger Niger Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Nigeria Nigeria Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Norway Norway Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Oman Oman Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Palau Palau Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Panama Panama Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Paraguay Paraguay Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Peru Peru Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of the Philippines Philippines Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Poland Poland Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Portugal Portugal Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Qatar Qatar Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
Flag of Romania Romania Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Russia Russia Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Rwanda Rwanda Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Samoa Samoa Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of San Marino San Marino Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
Flag of Senegal Senegal Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Serbia Serbia Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Seychelles Seychelles Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Singapore Singapore Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Somalia Somalia Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of South Africa South Africa Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Spain Spain Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Sudan Sudan Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Suriname Suriname Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Swaziland Swaziland Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
Flag of Sweden Sweden Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Syria Syria Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Tajikistan Tajikistan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Tanzania Tanzania Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Thailand Thailand Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Togo Togo Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Tonga Tonga Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Tunisia Tunisia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Turkey Turkey Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Tuvalu Tuvalu Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of Uganda Uganda Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the United States United States Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Uruguay Uruguay Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Vanuatu Vanuatu Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Flag of the Vatican City Vatican City Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
Flag of Venezuela Venezuela Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Flag of Yemen Yemen Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Zambia Zambia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Notes on color-code

Note that several states constitutionally deemed to be multiparty republics are broadly described by outsiders as authoritarian states. This chart aims to represent de jure form of government, not de facto degree of democracy. Those more interested in a version reflecting such judgements may be interested in seeing the map below from Freedom House.

Forms of government of states considered to be electoral democracies by Freedom House. States not considered to be electoral democracies are in gray.
Forms of government of states considered to be electoral democracies by Freedom House. States not considered to be electoral democracies are in gray.

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[edit] Systems of Governance

[edit] 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:

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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, who is also leader of the legislature.

[edit] 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 (eg. Poland) to little or none at all (eg. Ireland). Where the president holds little executive power, their function is primarily that of a symbolic figurehead.

[edit] Mixed republican systems

Prime minister is also head of state and given title of president

[edit] 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 constrained by constitutional law.

[edit] Constitutional monarchies with ceremonial monarchs

Systems in which a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. The head of state is a constitutional monarch who only exercises his or her powers with the consent of the government, the people or their representatives.

[edit] Constitutional monarchies with active monarchs

The prime minister (or equivalent) is the nation's active executive, but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at his/her own independent discretion.

[edit] Absolute monarchies

Monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any constitutional law.

[edit] Theocracies

States based on a state religion where the head of state is selected by some form of religious hierarchy.

[edit] One-party states

States in which political power is concentrated within a single political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy. However, some do have elected governments.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Transitional

States which have a system of government which is in transition or turmoil and cannot be accurately classified. (with current direction of change)

  • Eritrea (presidential republic)
  • Somalia (semi-presidential republic)

[edit] Systems of Internal Governance

[edit] Federal

States in which the federal government shares power with semi-independent regional governments. In many cases, the central government is (in theory) a creation of the regional governments; a prime example is the United States.

[edit] Devolved

States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to self-governing subsidiary governments, creating a quasi-federation.

[edit] Regionalized unitary

States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional governments.

[edit] Federacy

A federacy is a country in which some substates function like states in a federation and others like states in a unitary state.

[edit] Unitary

see Unitary state

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
  3. ^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
  4. ^ Collective (3 member) presidency.
  5. ^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
  6. ^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
  7. ^ The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a government in exile, located in Tindouf, Algeria. Most of the territory of Western Sahara is under military occupation by Morocco; the rest is administered by the SADR.
  8. ^ In Bangladesh, a caretaker government takes over for three months during parliamentary elections. The Caretaker government is headed by a Chief Advisor (the last Chief Justice to retire), and a group of neutral, non-partisan advisors chosen from the civil society. During this time, the president has jurisdiction over the Ministry of defense and the Ministry of foreign affairs.
  9. ^ Combines aspects of an executive presidency with a parliamentary system. President is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat, much like a prime minister. The President is both head of state and government.
  10. ^ Combines aspects of an executive presidency with a parliamentary system. President is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat, much like a prime minister. The President is both head of state and government.
  11. ^ There is neither a prime minister nor a president of Switzerland. The President of the Swiss Confederation is merely primus inter pares in the Swiss Federal Council, the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government as well as the head of state of Switzerland.
  12. ^ Collective presidency (two captains-regents). Captains-regents are both Head of State and Government simultaneously.
  13. ^ Bishop of Urgell and President of France serve as ex-officio co-princes
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p One of 16 Commonwealth realms, constitutional monarchies in which Queen Elizabeth II serves as head of state over an independent government. In each Realm, she acts as the monarch of that state, and is usually titled accordingly - for example, Queen of Australia. The Queen 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.
  15. ^ 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
  16. ^ The President of Fiji is the actual leader who on 4 December 2006 dissolved the parliament without the prime minister's consent, thereby setting the stage for a coup by the military commander.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links