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With over 200 nations existing worldwide with distinct cultures and traditions, one might presume that there are hundreds of types of government regimes. But both historically and in contemporary times, that’s not the case.
Even while political regimes across these nations have evolved over time, they have largely adhered to a few distinct types of governance. Nowadays, every nation can finally be classified into just 9 explicit forms of government regimes.
Presidential republic: A president is the head of government and is independent of the legislature.
Semi-presidential republic: The head of state is a president who has some executive functions that are independent of the legislature, while the remaining executive powers are vested in ministries that are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
Parliamentary republic: Head of state is a president that is mostly or entirely ceremonial; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Republic with an executive presidency nominated by or elected by the legislature: The president is both head of state and government; ministry, including the president, may or may not be subject to parliamentary confidence.
Constitutional monarchy: The head of state is a monarch that is mostly or entirely ceremonial; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence.
Absolute monarchy: The head of state is executive; all authority is vested in an absolute monarch.
Semi-constitutional monarchy: The head of state is an executive monarch; monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions.
One-party state: The head of state is executive or ceremonial; power is constitutionally linked to a single political movement.
The current regime does not have a constitutional basis or countries in which constitutional provisions for government have been suspended.
The map below shows the government systems or regimes that rule the world today.
It’s imperative to note that this map charts government regimes according to each country’s legal framework.
Many nations have constitutions stating their de jure or legally recognized system of government, but their de facto or realized form of governance may be quite distinct.
