Absolute Monarchy

Authoritarian Regime
Totalitarian Dictatorship
Oligarchy
Aristocracy
Plutocracy
Constitutional Monarchy
Theocracy
Republic
Democracy
Anarchy
Political or Government System
Definition: a systematized distribution of power
Heavy Governmental/State Authority
Absolute Monarchy ruled by king/queen with centralized power
who seeks to control all aspects of society
(Divine Right royal blood)



Early-modern governments had to rely mainly on
persuasion rather than coercion. In the face of
widespread opposition to government policy,
regimes could do little.

Execution by burning, by decapitation, or by
hanging, drawing and quartering were used to
provide a public spectacle of the consequences of
disobedience.

The main way of instilling obedience, however, was
propaganda. Through teaching, preaching and
writing, the message was sent that sedition was
morally wrong, un-Christian, and would result in
divine retribution. Even those who escaped
punishment in this life would burn in hell fire.
Absolute Monarchs
Not technically an absolute monarch
Authoritarian Regime
Authoritarian Regime a government that expects the obedience of
its citizens
Heavy Governmental Control (cont.)
Totalitarian Dictatorship Modern government (20
th
C on) that
strives to control every aspect of public and private life
Requires the active participation of citizens
Often aligned with ideology
Totalitarian Dictatorships

Other Types of Government Systems:
Theocracy
Theocracy Government tied to religion or religious law
Theocracies
Other Types of Government Systems
Constitutional Monarchy the power of the monarch is limited by a
constitution which also may grant certain rights to the people.

Oligarchy government where power is in the hands of a few individuals
(party, select families, etc.)

Aristocracy government where power is in the hands of hereditary,
land-owning ruling class or nobles
Other Government Systems
Plutocracy rule by the rich
(Ex: Those who exercise the authority of
public office are wealthy; their wealth explains why
they hold that office; they exercise that authority
in the interests of the rich; the rich have the
primary influence over who holds those offices and
the actions they take.)
Greater Individual Political Voice:
Republic power in the hands of representatives elected by the
people
The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct
permanent share in the government... Can a democratic assembly who annually revolve in the mass of the people be
supposed steadily to pursue the public good?
**************
The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and
believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right.
- Alexander Hamilton

Greater Individual Political Voice:
Democracy government directly controlled by its citizens

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe
depositories.
- Thomas Jefferson

Republic/Democracy
Absolute Individualism
(No Governmental Control)
Anarchy absence of government
(an historical late 19
th
C./early 20
th
C. populist movement)