FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

The following are the forms of government:

1. As to the number of persons exercising sovereign powers:
Monarchy - the supreme authority is in the hands of a one person
only; how he got into power or how long his tenure would be does not
matter
Absolute monarchy - the power of the monarch is based on divine
right
Limited monarchy - the power of the monarch is based on the
constitution
Aristocracy - the ruling power is in the hands of a few privileged class
Democracy - the power is in the hands of the people
Direct or pure democracy - the power is directly exercised by the
people through assembly or mass meeting.
Indirect, representative or republican - the power is exercised by a
group of persons chosen by the people to act as their
representatives
2. As to extent of powers exercised by the central or national government:
Unitary government - the control of national and local affairs is under the
central or national government
Federal government - the powers of the government are divided between
two sets of organs, one for national and the other for local affairs, each
organ being supreme within its own sphere
3. As to relationship between the executive and the legislative branches of the
government:
Parliamentary government - the executive is dependent on the legislative
Presidential government - the executive is constitutionally vested with
powers making it independent from legislative department
4. Other forms:
Civil government - the affairs of the state are administered and directed by
the citizens or their representatives
Military government - established and administered by a belligerent in the
territory of an enemy occupied by him
Constitutional government - the powers of those who rule are defined and
limited by the constitution
Despotic government - the powers of those who rule are vague and may
seem limitless because it is not defined nor limited by the constitution
Elective government - the state confers powers upon a person or
organization chosen by qualified voters and the holding of powers is for a
limited term and under certain conditions
Hereditary government - the state confers the powers of government upon
a person or organization standing in a certain family relations to his or
their immediate predecessors

Coordinate government - the powers of the government is distributed

among separate departments equally independent of but coordinate with
each other
Consolidated government - the state confides all governmental powers to
a single body
De jure government - established according to the constitution of the state
and has the general support of the people
De facto government - established against existing constitution of the state
and is maintained against the rightful and lawful government
Revolutionary government - installed, whether by force or otherwise, not in
accordance with the procedure prescribed in an existing constitution
The Philippines is a representative, unitary, presidential civil, constitutional, elective,
coordinate, and de jure government. In a way, it also exercises direct or pure
democracy because of the constitutional provision on initiative and referendum.