- List of countries by system of government
-
This is a list of the countries categorised by system of government.
Contents
- 1 Alphabetical list of countries
- 2 Map
- 3 Systems of Governance
- 4 Systems of Internal Governance
- 5 European Union
- 6 Notes
- 7 See also
- 8 External links
Alphabetical list of countries
Name Constitutional form Head of state Basis of executive legitimacy
AfghanistanRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
AlbaniaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
AlgeriaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
AndorraConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
AngolaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Antigua and BarbudaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
ArgentinaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ArmeniaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
AustraliaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
AustriaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
AzerbaijanRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
The BahamasConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
BahrainConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
BangladeshRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
BarbadosConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
BelarusRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
BelgiumConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
BelizeConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
BeninRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
BhutanConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
BoliviaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Bosnia and HerzegovinaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
BotswanaRepublic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
BrazilRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
BruneiAbsolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
BulgariaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Burkina FasoRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
BurundiRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
CambodiaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
CameroonRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
CanadaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Cape VerdeRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Central African RepublicRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ChadRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ChileRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ColombiaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ComorosRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Costa RicaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Côte d'IvoireRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
CroatiaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
CubaRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
CyprusRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Czech RepublicRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Democratic Republic of the CongoRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
DenmarkConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
DjiboutiRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
DominicaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Dominican RepublicRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
East TimorRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
EcuadorRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Egyptn/a n/a n/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime
El SalvadorRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Equatorial GuineaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
EritreaRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
EstoniaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
EthiopiaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Fijin/a n/a n/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime
FinlandRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
FranceRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
GabonRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
The GambiaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
GeorgiaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
GermanyRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
GhanaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
GreeceRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
GrenadaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
GuatemalaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
GuineaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Guinea-BissauRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
GuyanaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
HaitiRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
HondurasRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
HungaryRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
IcelandRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
IndiaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
IndonesiaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
IranRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
IraqRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
IrelandRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
IsraelRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
ItalyRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
JamaicaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
JapanConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
JordanConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
KazakhstanRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
KenyaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
KiribatiRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
KuwaitConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
KyrgyzstanRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
LaosRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
LatviaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
LebanonRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
LesothoConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
LiberiaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Libyan/a n/a n/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime
LiechtensteinConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
LithuaniaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
LuxembourgConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
MacedoniaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
MadagascarRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
MalawiRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
MalaysiaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
MaldivesRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
MaliRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
MaltaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Marshall IslandsRepublic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
MauritaniaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
MauritiusRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
MexicoRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
FSMRepublic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
MoldovaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
MonacoConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
MongoliaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
MontenegroRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
MoroccoConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
MozambiqueRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
MyanmarRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
NamibiaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
NauruRepublic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
NepalRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
NetherlandsConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
New ZealandConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
NicaraguaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
NigerRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
NigeriaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
North KoreaRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
NorwayConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
OmanAbsolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
PakistanRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
PalauRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
PalestineRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
PanamaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Papua New GuineaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
ParaguayRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
People's Republic of ChinaRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
PeruRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
PhilippinesRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
PolandRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
PortugalRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
QatarAbsolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
Republic of the CongoRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
RomaniaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
RussiaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
RwandaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Sahrawi RepublicRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Saint Kitts and NevisConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Saint LuciaConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
SamoaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
San MarinoRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
São Tomé and PríncipeRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
Saudi ArabiaAbsolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
SenegalRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
SerbiaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
SeychellesRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
Sierra LeoneRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
SingaporeRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
SlovakiaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
SloveniaRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Solomon IslandsConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
SomaliaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence Stateless society
South AfricaRepublic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence
South KoreaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
South SudanRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
SpainConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Sri LankaRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
SudanRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
SurinameRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
SwazilandAbsolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
SwedenConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
SwitzerlandRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
SyriaRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
Republic of China (Taiwan)Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
TajikistanRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence
TanzaniaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ThailandConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
TogoRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
TongaConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
Trinidad and TobagoRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
TunisiaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
TurkeyRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
TurkmenistanRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
TuvaluConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
UgandaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
UkraineRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
United Arab EmiratesConstitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
United KingdomConstitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
United StatesRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
UruguayRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
UzbekistanRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
VanuatuRepublic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Vatican CityAbsolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch
VenezuelaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
VietnamRepublic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
YemenRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ZambiaRepublic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature
ZimbabweRepublic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence Map
Legend
- orange - parliamentary republics
- green - presidential republics, executive presidency linked to a parliament
- yellow - presidential republics, semi-presidential system
- blue - presidential republics full presidential system
- red - parliamentary constitutional monarchies in which the monarch does not personally exercise power
- magenta - constitutional monarchies in which the monarch personally exercises power, often (but not always) alongside a weak parliament
- purple - absolute monarchies
- brown - republics where the dominant role of a single party is codified in the constitution
- dark green - countries that constitutional provisions for government have been suspended
- gray - countries that does not fit in any of the above listed systems
Note that this chart aims to represent de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy. Several states constitutionally deemed to be multiparty republics may also be broadly described as authoritarian states.
Systems of Governance
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:
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.
Presidential systems without a prime minister
Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Benin
Bolivia
Brazil
Burundi
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Gambia
Ghana
Guatemala
Honduras
Indonesia
Iran[1] (to some degree)
Kiribati
Liberia
Malawi
Maldives
Mexico
Myanmar
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Philippines
Rwanda
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Sudan
Suriname
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Presidential systems with a prime minister
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Guinea (Guinea-Conakry)
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Kazakhstan
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Peru
Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
South Korea
Sri Lanka[2]
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Yemen
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.
Algeria
Burkina Faso
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa)
Djibouti
France
Georgia
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Lithuania
Madagascar
Mali
Mongolia
Niger
Palestine
Portugal
Russia
Romania
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Somalia
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Tajikistan
Zimbabwe
Directorial systems
The directorial system is the collective version of the presidential system. In a directorial republic a council jointly exercises both presidential and governmental powers. The council is appointed by the parliament (and democratically elected at local level), but it is not subject to political confidence during its term which has a fixed duration.
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 (e.g. Ireland). Where the president holds little executive power, his or her function is primarily that of a symbolic figurehead.
Albania
Austria
Bangladesh[4]
Bosnia and Herzegovina[5]
Bulgaria
Cape Verde
Croatia
Czech Republic
Dominica
East Timor (Timor-Leste)
Estonia
Ethiopia
Finland[6]
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
India
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lebanon
Macedonia
Malta
Mauritius
Moldova
Montenegro
Nepal
Pakistan
Poland
Samoa
San Marino
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Vanuatu
Mixed republican systems
A combined head of state and government is elected by the legislature, however they are not subject to parliamentary confidence during their term (although their cabinet is).
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 restrained or held back by constitutional law.
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 a vote of no confidence.[8][9][dubious ] 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.
Andorra[10]
Antigua and Barbuda[11]
Australia[11]
Bahamas[11]
Barbados[11]
Belgium
Belize[11]
Cambodia
Canada[11]
Denmark
Grenada[11]
Jamaica[11]
Japan
Lesotho
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Netherlands
New Zealand[11]
Norway
Papua New Guinea[11]
Saint Kitts and Nevis[11]
Saint Lucia[11]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[11]
Solomon Islands[11]
Spain
Sweden
Thailand
Tuvalu[11]
United Kingdom[11]
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.
Absolute monarchies
Specifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive constitutional law.
Theocracies
States based on a state religion where the head of state is selected by some form of religious hierarchy.
Single political movement states
States in which political power is by law concentrated within a single political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy (as opposed to states where the law establishes a multi-party system but this fusion is not achieved anyway through electoral fraud or simple inertia). However, some do have elected governments.
Cuba (Communist Party) (list)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)(Workers' Party) (list)
Eritrea (presidential republic)
Laos (People's Revolutionary Party) (list)
People's Republic of China (Communist Party) (list)
Sahrawi Republic (Polisario Front) (Politics of the Sahrawi Republic)
Syria (Arab Socialist Ba'th Party) (list)
Turkmenistan (Democratic Party) (list)
Vietnam (Communist Party) (list)
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.
Transitional
States which have a system of government which is in transition or turmoil and are classified with the current direction of change.
Systems of Internal Governance
Federal
States in which the federal government shares power with semi-independent regional governments. The central government may or may not be (in theory) a creation of the regional governments; prime examples are Switzerland and the United States.
Argentina (23 provinces and one autonomous city)
Australia (six states and three territories)
Austria (nine states)
Belgium (three regions and three linguistic communities)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brčko District)
Brazil (26 states and the Brazilian Federal District)
Canada (ten provinces and three territories)
Comoros (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli)
Ethiopia (nine regions and three chartered cities)
Germany (16 states)
India (28 states and seven union territories)
Iraq (18 governorates and one one region (Iraqi Kurdistan))
Malaysia (13 states and three federal territories)
Mexico (31 states and one federal district (Mexico City))
Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap)
Nepal (14 zones)
Nigeria (36 states and one federal territory (the Federal Capital Territory)
Pakistan (4 provinces, 2 autonomous areas and 2 territories)
Russia (46 oblasts, 21 republics, nine krais, four autonomous okrugs, two federal cities, one autonomous oblast)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (two states)
South Sudan (10 states)
Sudan (15 states)
Switzerland (26 cantons)
United Arab Emirates (seven emirates)
United States (50 states, one incorporated territory, and one federal district (District of Columbia))
Venezuela (23 states, one capital district and one federal dependency)
Regionalised unitary
States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional authorities.
Indonesia (30 autonomous province, 4 special autonomous province)
Italy (5 autonomous regions)
Kingdom of the Netherlands (4 constituent countries)
People's Republic of China (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions)
Philippines (1 autonomous region subdivided into 5 provinces and 113 other provinces and independent cities grouped into 16 other non-autonomous regions)
Spain (State divided in autonomous communities)
Tanzania (21 mainland regions and
Zanzibar)
Ukraine (24 oblasts, 2 special-status cities, and
Crimea)
United Kingdom (3 devolved administrations)
Unitary states
Main article: Unitary stateConfederation
Main article: ConfederationEuropean Union
The exact political character of the European Union is widely debated, some arguing that it is sui generis (unique), but others arguing that it has features of a federation or a confederation. It has elements of intergovernmentalism, with the European Council acting as its collective "president", and also elements of supranationalism, with the European Commission acting as its executive and bureaucracy.[14] But it is not easily placed in any of the above categories.
Notes
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ While the office of prime minister exists, the president is both the head of state and government.
- ^ The President of Switzerland serves in a primus inter pares capacity amongst the Swiss Federal Council, the seven-member executive council which constitutes both the presidency and the government.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Collective presidency consisting of three members; one for each major ethnic group.
- ^ Formerly a semi-presidential republic, it's now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter, First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University, who in his "Scandinavian Politics Today" (Manchester University Press, revised 2008), quotes Jaakko Nousiainen in "From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government" in Scandinavian Political Studies 24 (2) p95-109 as follows: "There are hardly any grounds for the epithet 'semi-presidential'." Arter's own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced: "The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi-presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament (Elgie 2004: 317)". According to the Finnish Constitution, the President has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval, and substantially has not the power to disband the parliament under its own desire. Finland is actually represented by its Prime Minister, and not by its President, in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union.
- ^ a b Combines aspects of a presidential system with aspects of a parliamentary system. The president is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat, much like a prime minister, but is immune from a vote of no confidence, unlike a prime minister.
- ^ Norwegian Parliament web page
- ^ CIA factbook on Norway
- ^ Bishop of Urgell and President of France serve as ex-officio co-princes who are have their interests known through a representative.
- ^ 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"
- ^ 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
- ^ a b The Vatican is an elective absolute monarchy and a Roman Catholic theocracy; its monarch, the Pope, is the head of the global Roman Catholic Church. His power within the Vatican City State is unlimited by any constitution, but all persons resident within the Vatican have consented to obey the Pope, either by virtue of being ordained Catholic clergy or members of the Swiss Guard.
- ^ For more detailed discussion, see John McCormick, European Union Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Chapters 1 and 2.
See also
- List of forms of government
- List of countries
- List of countries by date of transition to republican system of government
External links
- Global Scan- Election Tracker
- Countries categorized by system of government in 20th century at Historical Atlas of 20th Century
- [1] A Chronology of political history based on Government form
- Political Chronology Chronological development of political history
Categories:- Lists of countries
- Government-related lists
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