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This is a list of countries categorized by system of government.
Alphabetical list of countries
| Name |
Constitutional basis |
Head of state |
Basis of executive legitimacy
|
Afghanistan | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Albania | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Algeria | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Andorra | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Angola | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Argentina | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Armenia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Australia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Austria | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Azerbaijan | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Bahamas | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Bahrain | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
Bangladesh | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Barbados | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Belarus | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Belgium | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Belize | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Benin | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Bhutan | Absolute monarchy |
Bolivia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Botswana | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
| Brazil | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Brunei | Absolute monarchy |
| Bulgaria | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Burkina Faso | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Burundi | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Cambodia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Cameroon | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Canada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Cape Verde | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Central African Republic | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Chad | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Chile | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
| Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Colombia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Comoros | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Costa Rica | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Croatia | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Cuba | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Cyprus | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Czech Republic | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Denmark | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Djibouti | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Dominica | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Dominican Republic | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Ecuador | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Egypt | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
El Salvador | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Equatorial Guinea | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Eritrea | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Estonia | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Ethiopia | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Fiji | Republic | No constitutional basis to current regime |
Finland | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
France | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Gabon | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Gambia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Georgia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Germany | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Ghana | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Greece | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Grenada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Guatemala | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Guinea | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Guinea-Bissau | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Guyana | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Haiti | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Honduras | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Hungary | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Iceland | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| India | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Indonesia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Iran | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Iraq | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Ireland | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Israel | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Italy | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Jamaica | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Japan | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Jordan | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
Kazakhstan | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Kenya | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Kiribati | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
| Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
| Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Kuwait | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
Kyrgyzstan | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Laos | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Latvia | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Lebanon | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Lesotho | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Liberia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Libya | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Liechtenstein | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
Lithuania | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Luxembourg | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Madagascar | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Malawi | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Malaysia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Maldives | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Mali | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Malta | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Marshall Islands | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
| Mauritania | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Mauritius | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Mexico | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
Moldova | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Monaco | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
| Mongolia | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Montenegro | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Morocco | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
Mozambique | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Myanmar | Republic | No constitutional basis to current regime |
Namibia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Nauru | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
| Nepal | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Netherlands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| New Zealand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Nicaragua | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Niger | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Nigeria | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Norway | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Oman | Absolute monarchy |
| Pakistan | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Palau | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Panama | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Papua New Guinea | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Paraguay | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Peru | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Philippines | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Poland | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Portugal | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Qatar | Absolute monarchy |
| Romania | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Russia | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Rwanda | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Saint Lucia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Samoa | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
San Marino | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
| Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Saudi Arabia | Absolute monarchy |
| Senegal | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
| Serbia | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Seychelles | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Sierra Leone | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Singapore | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Slovakia | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Slovenia | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Solomon Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Somalia | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
South Africa | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
Spain | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Sri Lanka | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
Sudan | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Suriname | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
Swaziland | Absolute monarchy |
Sweden | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Switzerland | Republic | Executive | Parliamentary |
Syria | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Tajikistan | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Tanzania | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Thailand | Constitutional monarchy | No constitutional basis to current regime |
Togo | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Tonga | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Tunisia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Turkey | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Turkmenistan | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Tuvalu | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
Uganda | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Ukraine | Republic | Executive | Semi-Presidential |
United Arab Emirates | Constitutional monarchy | Monarch personally exercises power alongside weak parliament |
United Kingdom | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
United States | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
| Uruguay | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Uzbekistan | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Vanuatu | Republic | Ceremonial | Parliamentary |
| Vatican City | Absolute monarchy |
| Venezuela | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Vietnam | Republic | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
| Yemen | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Zambia | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
Zimbabwe | Republic | Executive | Presidential |
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.
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, who is also head of the
legislature.
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 (eg. Poland) to little or none at all (eg. Ireland). Where the president holds little executive power, their function is primarily that of a symbolic
figurehead.
Mixed republican systems
Prime minister is also head of state and given title of president
Constitutional monarchies
Systems in which a
prime minister is the active head of the
executive branch of government and also leader of the
legislature. 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.
Commonwealth realms
Constitutional monarchies, in which
Queen Elizabeth II serves as head of state over an independent government. In each Realm, she acts as the monarch of that state, and is usually titled accordingly - for example,
Queen of Australia. The Queen 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.
Semi-constitutional monarchies
The
prime minister (or equivalent) is the nation's active executive, but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at his/her own independent discretion.
Absolute monarchies
Monarchies in which the monarch is the active head of the
executive branch and exercises all powers.
Theocracies
States based on a
state religion where the
head of state is selected by some form of religious hierarchy.
One-party states
States in which political power is concentrated within a single
political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy. However, some do have elected governments.
Military junta states
The nation's armed forces 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 cannot be accurately classified. (with current direction of change)
Systems of Internal Governance
Federal
States in which the
federal government shares power with semi-independent regional governments. In many cases, the central government is (in theory) a creation of the regional governments; a prime example is the United States.
Devolved
States in which the
central government has delegated some of its powers to self-governing subsidiary governments, creating a
de facto federation.
Regionalized unitary
States in which the
central government has delegated some of its powers to regional governments.
Federacy
A
federacy is a country in which some substates function like states in a federation and others like states in a unitary state.
Unitary
see Unitary state
Notes
1.
^ 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.
2.
^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
3.
^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
4.
^ Collective (3 member) presidency.
5.
^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
6.
^ While the office of Prime Minister exists, the President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
7.
^ The
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a
government in exile, located in
Tindouf, Algeria.
Most of the territory of Western Sahara is under
military occupation by
Morocco;
the rest is administered by the SADR.
8.
^ In Bangladesh, a
Caretaker government takes over for three months during parliamentary elections. The Caretaker government is headed by a Chief advisor (the last Chief Justice to retire), and a group of neutral, non-partisan advisors chosen from the civil society. During this time, the president has jurisdiction over the Ministry of defense and the Ministry of foreign affairs.
9.
^ Combines aspects of an executive presidency with a parliamentary system. President is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat, much like a prime minister. The President is both head of state and government.
10.
^ Combines aspects of an executive presidency with a parliamentary system. President is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat, much like a prime minister. The President is both head of state and government.
11.
^ There is neither a prime minister nor a president of Switzerland. The
President of the Swiss Confederation is merely
primus inter pares in the
Swiss Federal Council, the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government as well as the head of state of Switzerland.
12.
^ Collective presidency (two captains-regents). Captains-regents are both Head of State and Government simultaneously.
13.
^ Bishop of Urgell and
President of France serve as ex-officio co-princes
14.
^ The
King of Nepal gave himself absolute authority for three years in 2005; he has given up absolute power on
April 21,
2006, but constitutional government has not yet resumed
15.
^ Bhutan is in the process of
democratization by request of the
king.
16.
^ UAE is a federation of absolute monarchies, with the federal president drawn from hereditary emirs
17.
^ 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.
18.
^ The
President of Fiji is the actual leader who on 4 December 2006 dissolved the parliament without the prime minister's consent, thereby setting the stage for a coup by the military commander.
See also
External links
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Motto Ti Shqipëri më jep nder më jep emrin shqipëtar ( Albania give me honor, give me the Albanian name.)
Anthem
Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar''
("United Around the Flag")
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من الشعب و للشعب (Arabic)
"From the people and for the people"
Anthem
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Motto
"Virtus Unita Fortior" (Latin)
"Strength United is Stronger"
Anthem
El Gran Carlemany, Mon Pare
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Motto
"Virtus Unita Fortior" (Latin)
"Unity Provides Strength"
Anthem
Angola Avante! (Portuguese)
Forward Angola!
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Motto
"Each Endeavouring, All Achieving"
Anthem
Fair Antigua and Barbuda
Royal anthem
God Save the Queen 1
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Motto
En unión y libertad (Spanish)
"In Union and Freedom"
Anthem
Himno Nacional Argentino
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Motto Մեկ Ազգ, Մեկ Մշակույթ (Armenian)
"
..... Click the link for more information. AnthemAdvance Australia Fair [1]Capital Canberra
Largest city Sydney
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Land der Berge, Land am Strome (German)
Land of Mountains, Land on the River
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Motto
none
Anthem
Azərbaycan Respublikasının Dövlət Himni
(March of Azerbaijan)
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Motto
"Forward, Upward, Onward Together"
Anthem
"March On, Bahamaland"
Royal anthem
"God Save the Queen"
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Anthem بحريننا BahrainonaOur BahrainCapital(and largest city) Manama
..... Click the link for more information. AnthemAmar Shonar BanglaMy Golden BengalCapital(and largest city) Dhaka
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Anthem
Мы, беларусы (Belarusian)
My, Belarusy (transliteration)
We Belarusians
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Motto
Eendracht maakt macht (Dutch)
L'union fait la force" (French)
Einigkeit macht stark
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Motto
Sub Umbra Floreo (Latin)
"You'd Better Belize It"
Anthem
"Land of the Free"
Royal anthem
"God Save the Queen"
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Motto
"Fraternité, Justice, Travail" (French)
"Fellowship, Justice, Labour"
Anthem
L'Aube Nouvelle (French)
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Druk Gyal-Khab
Dru GäkhapKingdom of Bhutan
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem
Druk tsendhen..... Click the link for more information. Motto
"¡La unión es la fuerza!" (Spanish)
"Unity is strength!"
Anthem
Bolivianos, el hado propicio
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Motto"Jedna lasta, men' s' čini proljeće"
AnthemIntermeco..... Click the link for more information. Motto"Pula""Rain"
AnthemFatshe leno la ronaBlessed Be This Noble LandCapital(and largest city) Gaborone
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Ordem e Progresso (Portuguese)
"Order and Progress"
Anthem
Hino Nacional Brasileiro
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Motto
"Always in service with God's guidance" (translation)
Anthem
Allah Peliharakan Sultan
God Bless the Sultan
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Motto
Съединението прави силата (Bulgarian)
"Suedinenieto pravi silata"
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Motto
"Unité, Progrès, Justice" (French)
"Unity, Progress, Justice"
Anthem
Une Seule Nuit (French)
One Single Night
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Republika y'u BurundiRépublique du Burundi..... Click the link for more information. Motto"Nation, Religion, King"
AnthemNokoreachCapital(and largest city) Phnom Penh
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"Paix - Travail - Patrie" (French)
"Peace - Work - Fatherland"
Anthem
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