A form of government is a set of principles by which relations between society and state power are formed. The main such systems are the republic and the monarchy.
Monarchy means autocracy. This term is of Greek origin. The power is partially or completely in the hands of the supreme ruler and is inherited. The monarchy is theocratic, constitutional and absolute. In the latter form, the ruler concentrates in his hands the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government.
Under a constitutional monarchy, the powers of a sovereign are limited to some representative body. The scope of this limitation is determined by the constitution. A constitutional monarchy is parliamentary and dualistic. In the first form, the monarch rarely has real powers, and his legal status is limited. The source of power in this case is the parliament. There is this form of government in Japan and the UK. Under a dualistic monarchy, a sovereign has the right to form a government. He also has the opportunity to dissolve parliament and veto it. Theocratic form of government is a system in which all power in the country belongs to the religious leader (Vatican, Tibet before the Chinese conquest).
The republic is characterized by universal suffrage. As a form of government is a system in which the whole nation is the source of power in the state. He delegates authority to elected representatives. Signs of the republic are: election and power dependence on voters. Her powers are limited to a certain period. There are three types of republic: mixed, parliamentary and presidential. Each of them has its own characteristics.
The presidential form of government is a system in which the president is elected by the whole people by voting. He is the head of state and has executive power. That is, he forms a government that reports to him. The post of prime minister is usually absent. This is the form of government of France, the USA and many other states.
In a parliamentary republic, power belongs to a special legislative body of government - parliament, which is elected by the whole people. The government is formed by the majority. The president is also elected by parliament and usually does not have real political power, performing representative functions. The government is accountable to parliament.
The head of the executive body is the prime minister, who, as a rule, becomes the leader of the parliamentary majority. This state system has countries such as the Czech Republic, India, Germany and many others.
A mixed form of government is a system that has the properties of both a parliamentary and a presidential republic. Its main feature is the duality of government responsibility, which reports to both the president and parliament.
Dictatorship is a form of social relations in which one party, social class or ruler possesses all power. Its signs are: repression against dissenters and political competitors, suppression of the rights and freedoms of citizens who are unhappy with the regime’s policies. The presumption of innocence and the rule of law are generally absent.