Government
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Executive branch
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Government
Head of government
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Parliamentary system
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Westminster System
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For the 'government' in parliamentary systems, see Executive (government)
A government is a body that has the power to make and the authority to enforce rules and laws within a civil, corporate, religious, academic, or other organization or group.[1]
Depending on closeness to those who are governed and their holds all the power, a government consists of different levels including: local governments, regional governments and national governments. This category includes absolute monarchies, as well as dictatorships.
In oligarchies power is held by a small group of people who share the same interests.
Democracies are governments where the people as a whole, hold the power. It may be exercised by them (direct democracy), or through representatives chosen by them (representative democracy).
Anarchy is a lack of government or imposed rule.
The boundaries between the above forms of government are not absolutely clear. For example, during the 19th century, many proclaimed "democracies" restricted voting rights to a minority of the population (e.g. property-owning males). This could qualify them as oligarchies, rather than as democracies[citation needed]. On the other hand, the non voting minority was often quite large (20-30% of the population) and its members did not form a voting group with common interests. This is seen as the hallmark of most oligarchies. Thus, this form of government occupied a space between democracy and oligarchy as they are understood today.
