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7 Examples of a Political System

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A political system is a system for distributing authority over a society. This is one of the many systems of a society alongside bureaucratic, economic and social systems. Political systems are implemented with constitutions, laws, norms, traditions, institutions, processes, procedures, technologies and infrastructure that allow authority to exercise control over the resources of a society. The following are common examples of a political system.

Democracy

A democracy vests authority in the people of a nation who vote for elected representatives. The people may also vote on major decisions with a referendum. Democracies are more than systems of voting but are participatory systems where anyone can voice their ideas, assemble and form political parties. All adults have an equal vote under a democracy with protections in place to prevent undue influence by special interests. The following are some basic characteristics of a democracy.
Constitution
Elected Representatives with Limited Terms
Free Press
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom of Speech
Government Accountability
Government Transparency
Political Equality
Political Participation
Rights & Freedoms
Rule of Law
Separation of Church and State
Separation of Powers
Universal Suffrage

Partial Democracy

In many cases, a society votes for officials but isn't a democracy in the sense that the people have any real power over the government. For example, a lack of political freedoms, government transparency and a free press may allow an elite to control a society indefinitely despite voting.
Corruption
Entrenched Elite With Influence Over Government
Lack of Political Freedom
Propaganda
Secrecy
Voting

One-Party State

A state where only one party is allowed to form a government or where this is the defacto result of every election. In a one-party state, authority is granted to those who can rise within the party itself. Power may be based on family ties, corporate power structures and other relationships.

Oligarchy

Oligarchy is a broad term for rule by the few. This has many variations based on the motives and claim to authority of the ruling elite. For example:
Aristocracy (rule by upper class families)
Kleptocracy (rule for profit)
Meritocracy (rule by "talented experts")
Technocracy (rule by "experts")

Autocracy

Rule by one, usually known as a dictatorship. A dictator has absolute and unchecked power over a society and may be intolerant of any sign of opposition such that they are likely to remove freedoms. This remarkable state of things where a single individual dominates a society with complete authority occurs for various reasons:
Coercive Force
Cult of Personality
Rise to Dominance in a One-Party State
Rise to Dominance in a Partial Democracy

Supranational Union

International organizations that have power delegated to them by member states. Citizens of member states and their elected representatives may have little influence over these organizations such that this may give up elements of sovereignty.

Anarchy

Rule by none. This is difficult to implement as people naturally compete and power structures emerge in any group. To prevent this from happening would also require a power structure. This is a bit paradoxical such that it hasn't occurred for any length of time in any large community, let alone a complex society. It is interesting as a theory.
Overview: Political System
Type
Definition
A system for distributing authority over a society.
Commonly Confused With
Ideology
Economic System
Also Known As
Form of Government
Related Concepts

Political System

This is the complete list of articles we have written about political system.
Authority
Democracy
Ideology
Majority
Political Influence
Political System
Political Voice
Politics
Propaganda
Revolution
Society
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