Democracy vs. Republic

www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org

According to The 2011 World Almanac, as of mid-2010, there were 195 nations in the world. (This list is expected to expand to as many of 225 nations within the next decade, maybe even the next few years.) The 195 number includes three nations that are not members of the United Nations - the Republic of Kosovo, Taiwan and Vatican City. On the above date, 127 of the 195 nations had "Republic" in their name (See RP column.) The U.S.A. was not one of them.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Country

Type of government

Kingdom

DEM
RP

WA

CA

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Islamic republic

2004

x

x

x

Akrotiri

UK

x

Republic of Albania

Republic

1992

x

x

x

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

Republic

x

x

x

American Samoa

NA

x

Principality of Andorra

Parliamentary democracy with coprincipalities. The two princes are the president of France and bishop of Spain.

1993

x

x

Republic of Angola

Republic, multiparty presidential regime

1992

x

x

x

Anguilla

UK

x

Antigua and Barbuda

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Argentine Republic

Republic

1983

x

x

x

Republic of Armenia

Republic

1991

x

x

x

Aruba

Parliamentary democracy

x

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Territory of Australia

x

Commonwealth of Australia

Federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

1901

x

x

Republic of Austria

Federal republic

x

x

x

Republic of Azerbaijan

Republic

x

x

x

Commonwealth of the Bahamas

Constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Kingdom of Bahrain

Constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

People's Republic of Bangladesh

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Barbados

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Republic of Belarus

Republic in name through actually a dictatorship

x

x

x

Kingdom of Belgium

Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Belize

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Republic of Benin

republic

x

x

x

Bermuda

UK

x

Kingdom of Bhutan

Constitutional monarchy

x

2008

x

x

Plurinational State of Bolivia

Republic. Note constitution defines Bolivia as a Social Unitarian State

1983

x

x

Bosnia and Herzegovina

emerging federal democratic republic

x

x

Republic of Botswana

parliamentary republic

x

x

x

Bouvet Island

Territory of Norway

x

Federative Republic of Brazil

Federal republic

1985

x

x

x

British Indiana Ocean Territory

UK

x

British Virgin Islands

UK Internal, self-governing

x

Brunei Darussalam

Constitutional sultanate locally know as Malay Islamic Monarchy

x

x

Republic of Bulgaria

Parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Burkina Faso

Parliamentary republic

x

Republic of Burundi

republic

2005

x

x

x

Kingdom of Cambodia

Multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

x

1993

x

x

Republic of Cameroon

Republic, multiparty presidential regime

x

x

x

Canada

a parliamentary democracy, a federation and a constitutional monarchy

1931

x

x

Republic of Cape Verde

republic

x

x

x

Cayman Islands

UK

x

Central African Republic

republic

1993

x

x

x

Republic of Chad

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Chile

republic

1989

x

x

x

People's Republic of China

Communist state

x

x

x

Christmas Island

Australia

x

Clipperton Island

French possession

x

Cocos (Keeling) Island

Australia

x

Republic of Colombia

republic, executive branch dominates government structure

1974

x

x

x

Union of the Comoros

republic

x

x

Democratic Republic of the Congo Zaire (Brazzaville)

republic

1992

x

x

x

Republic of the Congo

2005

x

x

Cook Islands

self-governing in free association with New Zealand

x

Coral Sea Islands

Australia

x

Republic of Costa Rica

democratic republic

x

x

x

Republic of Cote d'lvoire (Ivory Coast)

republic, multiparty presidential regime. The government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators

x

x

x

Republic of Croatia

presidential/parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Republic of Cuba

Communist state

x

x

x

Republic of Cyprus

republic (country split (Turkey and Greece - it's complicated)

x

x

x

Czech Republic

Parliamentary democracy

1989

x

x

x

Kingdom of Denmark

Constitutional monarchy

x

1849

x

x

Dhekelia

UK

x

Republic of Djibouti

republic

x

x

x

Commonwealth of Dominica

Parliamentary democracy

x

x

Dominican Republic

democratic republic

x

x

x

Republic of Ecuador

republic

x

x

x

Arab Republic of Egypt

republic

x

x

x

Republic of El Salvador

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Equatorial Guinea

republic

x

x

x

State of Eritrea

transitional government since 1993

x

x

Republic of Estonia

parliamentary republic

x

x

x

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

federal republic

1995

x

x

x

European Union

a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization

x

Falklands Islands (Isles Malvinas)

UK/Argentina

x

Faroe Islands

Denmark

x

Republic of the Fiji Islands

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Finland

republic

x

x

x

French Republic

republic

1951

x

x

x

French Polynesia

NA

x

Gabonese Republic

republic, multiparty presidential regime

1993

x

x

x

Republic of the Gambia

republic

x

x

x

Gaza Strip

NA

x

Georgia

republic

2004

x

x

Federal Republic of Germany

federal republic

1949

x

x

x

Republic of Ghana

constitutional democracy

1992

x

x

x

Gibraltar

UK

x

Greenland

Denmark

x

Grenada

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Guam

US

x

Guatemala

constitutional democratic republic

Hellenic Republic (Greece)

parliamentary republic

19741985

x

x

x

Guernsey

UK

x

Republic of Guinea

republic

2010

x

x

x

Republic of Guinea-Bissau

republic

x

x

x

Cooperative Republic of Guyana

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Haiti

republic

2006

x

x

x

Heard Island
and Mcdonald Islands

Australia

x

Holy See (Vatican City)

ecclesiastical

x

x

Republic of Honduras

democratic constitutional republic

x

x

x

Hong Kong

China

x

Republic of Hungary

parliamentary democracy

1990

x

x

x

Republic of Iceland

constitutional republic

1915

x

x

x

Republic of India

federal republic

1952

x

x

x

Republic of Indonesia

republic

1999

x

x

x

Islamic Republic of Iran

theocratic republic

x

x

x

Republic of Iraq

parliamentary democracy

2005

x

x

x

Ireland

republic parliamentary democracy

x

x

Isle of Man

UK

x

State of Israel

parliamentary democracy

1948

x

x

Italian Republic

republic

1948

x

x

x

Jamaica

constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Jan Mayen

Norway

x

Japan

parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy

1952

x

x

Jersey

UK

x

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Republic of Kazakhstan

republic, authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

x

x

x

Republic of Kenya

republic

1993

x

x

x

Republic of Kiribati

republic

x

x

x

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North)

Communist state, one-man dictatorship

x

x

x

Republic of Korea (South)

republic

1987

x

x

x

Republic of Kosovo

republic

x

x

x

State of Kuwait

constitutional emirate

x

x

Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgystan)

republic

2005

x

x

x

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Communist state

x

x

x

Republic of Latvia

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Lebanese Republic

republic

2005

x

x

x

Kingdom of Lesotho

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Republic of Liberia

republic

2005

x

x

x

Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Libya)

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state

x

x

Principality of Liechtenstein

constitutional monarchy

x

x

Republic of Lithuania

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

constitutional monarchy

x

x

Macau

China

x

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Republic of Madagascar

republic

1992

x

x

x

Republic of Malawi

multiparty democracy

1994

x

x

x

Malaysia

constitutional monarchy - complicated

x

x

Republic of Maldives

republic

2008

x

x

x

Republic of Mali

republic

1992

x

x

x

Republic of Malta

republic

x

x

x

Republic of the Marshall Islands

constitutional government in free association with the US

x

x

x

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

military junta

2007

x

x

x

Republic of Mauritius

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Mayotte

parliamentary democracy

x

United Mexican States

federal republic

1949

x

x

Federated States of Micronesia

constitutional government in free association with the US

x

x

Republic of Moldova

republic

x

x

x

Principality of Monaco

constitutional monarchy

x

x

Mongolia

parliamentary

1990

x

x

Montenegro (Yugoslavia)

republic

x

x

Montserrat

UK

x

Kingdom of Morocco

constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Republic of Mozambique

republic

x

x

x

Union of Myanmar (Burma)

Military regime

x

x

Republic of Namibia

republic

1989

x

x

x

Nauru

republic

x

x

x

Navassa Island

US

x

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

federal democratic republic

1991

x

x

x

Kingdom of the Netherlands

constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Netherlands Antilles

Netherlands

x

New Caledonia

France

x

New Zealand

Parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

1893 1947

x

x

Republic of Nicaragua

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Niger

republic

1993

x

x

x

Federal Republic of Nigeria

federal republic

1999

x

x

x

Niue

New Zealand

x

Norfolk Island

Australia

x

Northern Mariana Islands

US

x

Kingdom of Norway

constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Sultanate of Oman

monarchy

x

x

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

federal republic

2008

x

x

x

Palestine

2005

Republic of Palau

US

x

x

x

Republic of Panama

Constitutional democracy

1989

x

x

x

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Paracel Islands

China

x

Republic of Paraguay

constitutional republic

x

x

x

Republic of Peru

constitutional republic

1980

x

x

x

Republic of the Philippines

republic

1986

x

x

x

Pitcairn Islands

UK

x

Republic of Poland

republic

1990

x

x

x

Portuguese Republic (Portugal)

republic, parliamentary democracy

1974

x

x

x

Puerto Rico

US

x

State of Qatar

emirate

x

x

Romania

republic

1990

x

x

Russian Federation

federation

1996

x

x

Republic of Rwanda

republic, presidential, multiparty system

x

x

x

Saint Barthelemy

France

x

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

UK

x

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

parliamentary democracy and Commonwealth realm

x

x

Saint Lucia

parliamentary democracy and Commonwealth realm

x

x

Saint Martin

France

x

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

France

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

parliamentary democracy and Commonwealth realm

x

x

Independent State of Samoa (Formerly Western Samoa)

parliamentary democracy

x

x

Republic of San Marino

republic

x

x

x

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

republic

x

x

x

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

monarchy

x

x

x

Republic of Senegal

republic

2000

x

x

x

Republic of Serbia (Yugoslavia)

republic

2000

x

x

x

Republic of Seychelles

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Sierra Leone

constitutional democracy

x

x

x

Republic of Singapore

parliamentary republic

x

x

x

Slovak Republic

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Republic of Slovenia

parliamentary republic

x

x

x

Solomon Islands

parliamentary democracy and Commonwealth realm

x

x

Somalia

no permanent national government, transitional, parliamentary federal government

x

x

Republic of South Africa

republic

1994

x

x

x

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

UK

x

Kingdom of Spain

parliamentary monarchy

x

1975

x

x

Spratly Islands

x

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

republic

x

x

x

Republic of the Sudan

government of national unity-the national congress party and Sudan people's liberation movement power-sharing Due to have national elections

x

x

x

South Sudan

98.8% of people vote to separate Southern Sudan from Sudan. Country yet to be named - 020911

Republic of Suriname

constitutional democracy

x

x

x

Svalbard

Norway

x

Kingdom of Swaziland

monarchy

x

x

x

Kingdom of Sweden

constitutional monarchy

x

1907

x

x

Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)

formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic

1798

x

x

Syrian Arab Republic

republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime

x

x

x

Taiwan

multiparty democracy

1992

x

x

Republic of Tajikistan

republic

x

x

x

United Republic of Tansania

republic

1995

x

x

x

Kingdom of Thailand

constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

republic

2002

x

x

x

Togolese Republic

republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

2007

x

x

x

Tokelau

New Zealand

x

Kingdom of Tonga

constitutional monarchy

x

x

x

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Tunisian Republic

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Turkey

republican parliamentary democracy

1950

x

x

x

Turkmenistan

defines itself as a secular democracy and a presidential republic; in actuality displays authoritarian presidential rule, with power concentrated within the executive branch

x

x

Turks and Caicos Islands

UK

x

Tuvalu

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

x

x

Republic of Uganda

Republic

1996

x

x

x

Ukraine

republic

2004

x

x

United Arab Emirates

federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

x

x

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Wales, Scotland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Bigraltar, British West Indies, Bermuda, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, St. Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Ascention, Pitcalm Island.

constitutional monarchy and Commonwealth realm

x

1918

x

x

United States of America - American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (St. John, St. Croix, St. Thomas), Navassa, Wake, Wilkes, Peale, Pacific Remote Islands Natl. Wildlife Refuge Complex, Midway Atoll, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reff, Palmyra Atoll, Jarvis Island, Howland and Baker Islands.

Constitution-based federal republic, strong democratic tradition

1789

x

x

Oriental Republic of Uruguay

constitutional republic

x

x

x

Republic of Uzbekistan

republic, authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

x

x

x

Republic of Vanuatu

parliamentary republic

x

x

x

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

federal republic

1958

x

x

x

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

communist state

x

x

x

Virgin Islands

US

x

Wake Islands

US

x

Wallis and Futuna

France

x

West Bank

x

Western Sahara

legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved territory contested by Morocco - it's complicated

x

Republic of Yemen

republic

x

x

x

Republic of Zambia

republic

1991

x

x

x

Republic of Zimbabwe

parliamentary democracy

x

x

x

Source: WA-The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011, CA-The CIA World Factbook 2011, DEM-Democracy, REP-Republic in name

Government Types

This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note: that for some countries more than one definition applies):

Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution or legally organized opposition.

Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority

Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizen's lives

Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.

Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single-often authoritarian-party holds power, state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a high social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people, i.e., a classless society)

Confederacy - confederation - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government.

Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.

Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.

Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.

Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.

Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.

Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws)

Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.

Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslin state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.

Federal (Federation) - A form of government in which sovereign power if formally divided - usually by means is a constitution-between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.

Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.

Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.

Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism develop in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung) which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.

Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx, he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners) to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to finally, a classless society - Communism.

Marxism - Leninism-an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.

Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.

Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.

Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility; to the people as well as to the parliament.

Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.

Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e.,the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament)

Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable)

Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.

Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.

Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan the lead of a Muslim state) the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.

Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc. - a government subject to religious authority.

Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values and beliefs of its population.

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