List of countries by system of government

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

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 judgments 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.

.

[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. One country have at least vice-president that have an active role in the Government USA.

[edit] Presidential systems with a prime minister

[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 (e.g. Pakistan) 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

What would normally be considered a prime minister is given title of president and serves as both the head of state and government.

[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. 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 vote of no confidence.[8][9][dubious – discuss] 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 is the nation's active executive but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at their own discretion.

[edit] Absolute monarchies

Specifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive 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 are classified with the 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] Regionalised 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] European Union

The European Union is a sui generis entity. It has elements of intergovernmentalism and a semi-presidential system, with the European Council acting as it's collective "president" and the president of the European Commission as it's "prime minister".

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c While the office of prime minister exists, the president is both the head of state and government.
  2. ^ Collective presidency consisting of three members; one for each major ethnic group.
  3. ^ The SADR is a government in exile, located in Tindouf, Algeria. Most of the territory of Western Sahara is under military occupation by Morocco; the the rest is administered by the SADR.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Combines aspects of an executive presidency with a parliamentary system. The president is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat, much like a prime minister.
  6. ^ Collective presidency consisting of two captains-regents from both major parties..
  7. ^ The President of Switzerland serves in a primus inter pares capacity amongst the Swiss Federal Council, the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government. The chancellor does not serve in the same capacity as the Austrian or German chancellors.
  8. ^ Norwegian Parliament web page [1]
  9. ^ CIA factbook on Norway [2]
  10. ^ Bishop of Urgell and President of France serve as ex-officio co-princes who are have their interests known through a representative.
  11. ^ 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"
  12. ^ 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
  13. ^ 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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