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{{Short description|none}}{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}{{Original research|date=April 2024}}}}{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}{{Systems of government}}{{For|further information|List of forms of government}}This is a list of sovereign states by constitutionally defined system of government. This list does not measure degree of democracy, political corruption, or state capacity of governments.

Parliamentary systems

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 by constitutional law.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, while 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).WEB,weblink The Constitution, 4 September 2019, Stortinget, WEB,weblink Europe :: Norway — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov, 27 June 2022, {{Dubious|Constitutional monarchy|date=November 2008}} The head of state is a constitutional monarch who normally only exercises his or her powers with the consent of the government, the people and/or their representatives (except in emergencies, e.g. a constitutional crisis or a political deadlock).{{efn|Some monarchs are given a limited number of discretionary reserve powers only to be used in certain circumstances in accordance with their responsibility to defend the constitution.}}{{div col}}

• {{flag|Andorra}}{{efn |name=and |content=The Bishop of Urgell and President of France serve as ex officio co-princes who have their interests known through a representative.}}
• {{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm |content=One of fifteen constitutional monarchies which recognize the Monarch of the United Kingdom as head of state, who presides over an independent government. The Monarch is titled separately in each country (e.g. King of Australia), and notionally appoints a Governor-General (GG) to each country other than the United Kingdom to act as his representative. The prime minister (PM) is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. These countries may be known as "Commonwealth realms".In many cases, the Governor-General or monarch has a lot more theoretical, or constitutional, powers than they actually exercise, except on the advice of elected officials, per constitutional convention. For example, the Constitution of Australia makes the GG the head of the executive branch (including commander-in-chief of the armed forces), although they seldom ever use this power, except on the advice of elected officials, especially the PM, which makes the PM the de facto head of government.{{fact|date=April 2024}}}}
• {{flag|Australia}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Bahamas}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Belgium}}
• {{flag|Belize}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Cambodia}}
• {{flag|Canada}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Cook Islands}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}{{efn |name=NZ-Monarch |content=The Cook Islands and Niue are under the sovereignty of the Monarch of New Zealand as self-governing states in free association with New Zealand. New Zealand and its associated states, along with Tokelau and the Ross Dependency, comprise the Realm of New Zealand.{{fact|date=April 2024}}}}
• {{flag|Denmark}}
• {{flag|Grenada}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Jamaica}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Japan}}
• {{flag|Lesotho}}
• {{flag|Luxembourg}}
• {{flag|Malaysia}}
• {{flag|Netherlands}}
• {{flag|New Zealand}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}{{efn |name=NZ-Monarch}}
• {{flag|Niue}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}{{efn |name=NZ-Monarch}}
• {{flag|Norway}}
• {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Saint Lucia}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Solomon Islands}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|Spain}}
• {{flag|Sweden}}
• {{Flag|Thailand}}
• {{flag|Tuvalu}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
• {{flag|United Kingdom}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}

{{div col end}}

Parliamentary republics with a ceremonial president

In a parliamentary republic, the head of government is selected or nominated by the legislature and is also accountable to it. The head of state is usually called a president and (in full parliamentary republics) is separate from the head of government, serving a largely apolitical, ceremonial role. In these systems, the head of government is usually called the prime minister, chancellor or premier. In mixed republican systems and directorial republican systems, the head of government also serves as head of state and is usually titled president.In some full parliamentary systems, the head of state is directly elected by voters. Under other classification systems, however, these systems may instead be classed as semi-presidential systems as presidents are always attached to a political party and may have broad powers (despite their weak presidency).JOURNAL, Elgie, Robert, Presidentialism, Parliamentarism and Semi-Presidentialism: Bringing Parties Back In, Government and Opposition, 2 January 2013, 46, 3, 392–409, 10.1111/j.1477-7053.2011.01345.x, 145748468,weblink Full parliamentary republican systems with presidents being purely ceremonial and neutral with no broad powers, do not have a directly elected head of state and instead usually use either an electoral college or a vote in the legislature to appoint the president.

Directly elected head of state

{{div col}}

• {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}{{efn |content=Collective presidency consisting of three members; one for each major ethnic group.}}{{efn |content=Despite having a collective head of state, Bosnia and Herzegovina's head of state is ceremonial, and as such is not executively governed by a directorial system.}}
• {{flag|Bulgaria}}WEB, Bulgaria's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2015,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Croatia}}WEB, Croatia's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2010,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Czech Republic}}WEB, Czech Republic 1993 (rev. 2013),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Finland}}
• {{flag|Iceland}}WEB, Iceland's Constitution of 1944 with Amendments through 2013,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Ireland}}WEB, Ireland's Constitution of 1937 with Amendments through 2012,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Moldova}}WEB, Moldova (Republic of) 1994 (rev. 2016),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Montenegro}}WEB, Montenegro 2007,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|North Macedonia}}
• {{flag|Poland}}{{efn |name=de jure |content=The Republic of Poland has been defined de jure by its Constitution as a parliamentary republic. However, the system is largely semi-presidential in nature as the President of Poland does exercise some power – the head of state appoints the Prime Minister as the head of government, and can veto legislation as well as dissolve parliament in certain situations. The Cabinet and Prime Minister appointed by the President are subject to a vote of confidence by the Polish Parliament (Sejm).WEB, Poland 1997 (rev. 2009),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 9 October 2021, WEB, Poland – The World Factbook, 22 September 2021,weblink 8 October 2021, WEB, Veser, Ernst, :de:Ernst Veser, 23 September 1997, Semi-Presidentialism-Duverger's Concept — A New Political System Model,weblink 21 August 2017, Department of Education, School of Education, University of Cologne , zh, 39–60, Duhamel has developed the approach further: He stresses that the French construction does not correspond to either parliamentary or the presidential form of government, and then develops the distinction of 'système politique' and 'régime constitutionnel'. While the former comprises the exercise of power that results from the dominant institutional practice, the latter is the totality of the rules for the dominant institutional practice of the power. In this way, France appears as 'presidentialist system' endowed with a 'semi-presidential regime' (1983: 587). By this standard he recognizes Duverger's pléiade as semi-presidential regimes, as well as Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania (1993: 87)., JOURNAL, Shugart, Matthew Søberg, Matthew Søberg Shugart, September 2005, Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive and Mixed Authority Patterns,weblink Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080819200307weblink">weblink 19 August 2008, 21 August 2017, JOURNAL, Shugart, Matthew Søberg, Matthew Søberg Shugart, December 2005, Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive And Mixed Authority Patterns,weblink French Politics, 3, 3, 323–351, 10.1057/palgrave.fp.8200087, free, 21 August 2017, Even if the president has no discretion in the forming of cabinets or the right to dissolve parliament, his or her constitutional authority can be regarded as 'quite considerable' in Duverger's sense if cabinet legislation approved in parliament can be blocked by the people's elected agent. Such powers are especially relevant if an extraordinary majority is required to override a veto, as in Mongolia, Poland, and Senegal. In these cases, while the government is fully accountable to parliament, it cannot legislate without taking the potentially different policy preferences of the president into account., WEB, McMenamin, Iain, Semi-Presidentialism and Democratisation in Poland,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120212225305weblink">weblink 12 February 2012, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, 11 December 2017, }}
• {{flag|Serbia}}WEB, Serbia 2006,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Singapore}}WEB, Singapore 1963 (rev. 2016),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Slovakia}}WEB, Slovakia 1992 (rev. 2017),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,
• {{flag|Slovenia}}WEB, Slovenia 1991 (rev. 2013),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,

{{div col end}}

Indirectly elected head of state

{{div col}}

• {{flag|Albania}}
• {{flag|Armenia}}
• {{flag|Bangladesh}}
• {{flag|Barbados}}
• {{flag|Dominica}}
• {{flag|Estonia}}
• {{flag|Ethiopia}}
• {{flag|Fiji}}
• {{flag|Georgia}}
• {{flag|Germany}}
• {{flag|Greece}}
• {{flag|Hungary}}
• {{flag|India}}
• {{flag|Iraq}}
• {{flag|Israel}}
• {{flag|Italy}}
• {{flag|Kosovo}}
• {{flag|Latvia}}
• {{flag|Lebanon}}
• {{flag|Malta}}
• {{flag|Mauritius}}
• {{flag|Nepal}}
• {{flag|Pakistan}}
• {{flag|Samoa}}
• {{flag|San Marino}}{{efn |content=Their two-person head of state, the Captains Regent, serve for six month terms.}}WEB, San Marino: Constitution - 1974,weblink Peaceful Assembly Worldwide, WEB,weblink San Marino: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report, {{efn |name=SM|content=Despite having a collective head of state, San Marino's head of state is ceremonial, and as such is not executively governed by a directorial system.}}
• {{flag|Somalia}}
• {{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
• {{flag|Vanuatu}}

{{div col end}}Nations with limited recognition are in italics.

Parliamentary republics with an executive president

A combined head of state and head of government in the form of an executive president is either elected by the legislature or by the voters from among candidates nominated by the legislature (in the case of Kiribati), and they must maintain the confidence of the legislature to remain in office. In effect, "presidents" in this system function the same as prime ministers do in other parliamentary systems.{{Disputed|Iran as a "monarchy" and elected prime-ministerial republics|date=April 2024}}{{div col}}

• {{flag|Botswana}}{{efn |content=The president is elected by parliament and holds a parliamentary seat (as an ex-officio), much like a prime minister. If a vote of no confidence is successful and they do not resign, it triggers the dissolution of the legislature and new elections (per section 92 of the Constitution).}}
• {{flag|Guyana}}{{efn |name=DSV}}{{efn |content=The president is constitutionally obligated to dissolve parliament after a successful no-confidence motion against the government (article 106(6)) and new elections are called within 3 months (article 61).WEB,weblink CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA ACT, Constitution, 2012, Parliament of Guyana, }}
• {{flag|Kiribati}}WEB, Kiribati's Constitution of 1979 with Amendments through 1995,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020, {{efn|content=Per the Constitution, Kiribati's president is elected by plurality voting after candidates for the presidency are nominated by the newly elected legislature. If a vote of no confidence against the president is successful, they are removed from office and the legislature stands dissolved (triggering a new election for it) and in the interim a body known as the "Council of State" (comprising the chief justice, the president of the public service commission and speaker of the legislature) serves the functions of the presidency.}}
• {{flag|Marshall Islands}}WEB, Marshall Islands 1979 (rev. 1995),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 15 January 2020,
• {{flag|Nauru}}WEB, Nauru 1968 (rev. 2015),weblink www.constituteproject.org, 15 January 2020,
• {{flag|South Africa}}WEB, South Africa's Constitution of 1996 with Amendments through 2012,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 12 January 2020,

{{div col end}}

Presidential systems

In presidential systems a president is the head of government, and is elected and remains in office independently of the legislature. There is generally no prime minister, although if one exists, in most cases they serve purely at the discretion of the president.

Presidential republics without a prime minister

{{div col}}

• {{flag|Angola}}{{efn |name=DSV |content=President and legislature are elected directly by the people via double simultaneous vote.}}WEB,weblink CONSTITUIÇÃO DA REPÚBLICA DE ANGOLA, 3 August 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120328113805weblink">weblink 28 March 2012, dead, dmy-all,
• {{flag|Benin}}
• {{flag|Bolivia}}{{efn |name=DSV}}
• {{flag|Brazil}}
• {{flag|Chile}}
• {{flag|Colombia}}
• {{flag|Comoros}}
• {{flag|Costa Rica}}
• {{flag|Cyprus}}
• {{flag|Dominican Republic}}
• {{flag|Ecuador}}
• {{flag|El Salvador}}
• {{flag|Gambia, The}}
• {{flag|Ghana}}
• {{flag|Guatemala}}
• {{flag|Honduras}}
• {{flag|Indonesia}}
• {{Flag|Iran}}{{efn|name=Ir |content=Self-described as the Islamic Republic, 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 for life by the elected Assembly of Experts. Candidates for both the Assembly of Experts and the presidency are vetted by the appointed Guardian Council.}}
• {{flag|Liberia}}
• {{flag|Malawi}}
• {{flag|Maldives}}
• {{flag|Mexico}}
• {{flag|Nicaragua}}
• {{flag|Nigeria}}
• {{flag|Palau}}
• {{flag|Panama}}
• {{flag|Paraguay}}
• {{flag|Philippines}}
• {{flag|Seychelles}}
• {{flag|Somaliland}}
• {{flag|Turkey}}
• {{flag|Turkmenistan}}
• {{flag|United States}}
• {{flag|Uruguay}}{{efn |name=DSV}}
• {{flag|Venezuela}}
• {{flag|Zambia}}
• {{flag|Zimbabwe}}

{{div col end}}Nations with limited recognition are in italics.

Presidential republics with a prime minister

The following countries have presidential systems where a post of prime minister (official title may vary) exists alongside that of the president. The president is still both the head of state and government and the prime minister's roles are mostly to assist the president.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Abkhazia}}
• {{flag|Argentina}} (see Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers)
• {{flag|Belarus}}
• {{flag|Burundi}}
• {{flag|Cameroon}}
• {{flag|Central African Republic}}
• {{flag|Djibouti}}
• {{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}
• {{flag|Ivory Coast}}
• {{flag|Kazakhstan}}WEB,weblink Official website of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
• {{flag|Kenya}} (see Prime Cabinet Secretary)
• {{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
• {{flag|Senegal}}
• {{flag|Sierra Leone}} (see Chief minister)
• {{flag|South Korea}}
• {{flag|Syria}}
• {{flag|Rwanda}}
• {{flag|Tajikistan}}
• {{flag|Tanzania}}
• {{flag|Togo}}
• {{flag|Transnistria}}
• {{flag|Uganda}}
• {{flag|Uzbekistan}}

{{div col end}}Nations with limited recognition are in italics.

Hybrid systems

Semi-presidential republics

In a semi-presidential republic a president exists alongside a prime minister and a cabinet, with the latter two being responsible to the legislature. It differs from a parliamentary system in that it has an executive president independent from legislature; and from the presidential system in that the cabinet, although named by the president, is responsible to the legislature, which may force the cabinet to resign through a motion of no confidence.JOURNAL, Duverger, European Journal of Political Research, quarterly, 8, 2, 165–187, 10.1111/j.1475-6765.1980.tb00569.x, free, The concept of a semi-presidential form of government, as used here, is defined only by the content of the constitution. A political regime is considered as semi-presidential if the constitution which established it, combines three elements: (1) the president of the republic is elected by universal suffrage, (2) he possesses quite considerable powers; (3) he has opposite him, however, a prime minister and ministers who possess executive and governmental power and can stay in office only if the parliament does not show its opposition to them., A New Political System Model: Semi-Presidential Government, 1980, JOURNAL, Veser, Ernst, :de:Ernst Veser, 1997, Semi-Presidentialism-Duverger's concept: A New Political System Model,weblink Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences, 11, 1, 39–60, 21 August 2016, MAGAZINE, Duverger, Maurice, Maurice Duverger, September 1996, Les monarchies républicaines, The Republican Monarchies,weblink fr, Pouvoirs, revue française d'études constitutionnelles et politiques, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 909782158, 0152-0768, 2-02-030123-7, 78, 107–120, 10 September 2016, JOURNAL, Bahro, Horst, Bayerlein, Bernhard H., Veser, Ernst, :de:Ernst Veser, October 1998, Duverger's concept: Semi-presidential government revisited, European Journal of Political Research, quarterly, 34, 2, 201–224, 10.1111/1475-6765.00405, 153349701, The conventional analysis of government in democratic countries by political science and constitutional law starts from the traditional types of presidentialism and parliamentarism. There is, however, a general consensus that governments in the various countries work quite differently. This is why some authors have inserted distinctive features into their analytical approaches, at the same time maintaining the general dichotomy. Maurice Duverger, trying to explain the French Fifth Republic, found that this dichotomy was not adequate for this purpose. He therefore resorted to the concept of 'semi-presidential government': The characteristics of the concept are (Duverger 1974: 122, 1978: 28, 1980: 166):1. the president of the republic is elected by universal suffrage,2. he possesses quite considerable powers and3. he has opposite him a prime minister who possesses executive and governmental powers and can stay in office only if parliament does not express its opposition to him.,

Premier-presidential systems

In a premier-presidential system the prime minister and cabinet are exclusively accountable to the legislature.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Algeria}}
• {{flag|Cape Verde}}
• {{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo|name=Congo, Democratic Republic of the}}
• {{flag|East Timor}}
• {{flag|Egypt}}
• {{flag|France}}
• {{flag|Lithuania}}
• {{flag|Madagascar}}
• {{flag|Mongolia}}
• {{flag|Northern Cyprus}}
• {{flag|Portugal}}
• {{flag|Romania}}
• {{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
• {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
• {{flag|Ukraine}}JOURNAL, Kudelia, Serhiy, Presidential activism and government termination in dual-executive Ukraine, Post-Soviet Affairs, 4 May 2018, 34, 4, 246–261, 10.1080/1060586X.2018.1465251, 158492144,

{{div col end}}Nations with limited recognition are in italics.

President-parliamentary systems

In a president-parliamentary system the prime minister and cabinet are dually accountable to the president and the legislature.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Austria}}{{efn |name=AT |content=The Republic of Austria is de jure semi-presidential according to the country's Constitution, however behaves more like a parliamentary republic in practice by constitutional convention, with the Chancellor being the country's leading political figure despite nominally being ranked third according to the Constitution.}}
• {{flag|Azerbaijan}}JOURNAL, Zaznaev, Oleg, 2005, Атипичные президентские и полупрезидентские системы, Atypical presidential and semi-presidential systems,weblink ru, Uchenyye Zapiski Kazanskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta, 147, 1, 62–64, 3 April 2021,
• {{flag|Congo, Republic of the}}
• {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}
• {{flag|Kazakhstan}weblink
• {{flag|Mauritania}}
• {{flag|Mozambique}}
• {{flag|Namibia}}
• {{flag|Palestine}}
• {{flag|Peru}}
• {{flag|Russia}}
• {{flag|South Ossetia}}
• {{flag|Taiwan}}
• {{flag|Tunisia}}

{{div col end}}Nations with limited recognition are in italics.

Assembly-independent republics

A combined head of state and head of government (usually titled president) is elected by the legislature but is not held accountable to it (as is their cabinet), thus acting more independently from the legislature.JOURNAL, Shugart, Matthew Søberg, Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive And Mixed Authority Patterns, French Politics, December 2005, 3, 3, 323–351, 10.1057/palgrave.fp.8200087, free, They may or may not also hold a seat in the legislature.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Federated States of Micronesia}}{{efn |name=Combo |content=Holds a legislative seat.}}WEB, Micronesia (Federated States of)'s Constitution of 1978 with Amendments through 1990,weblink www.constituteproject.org, 11 January 2020,
• {{flag|Suriname}}

{{div col end}}In a directorial republic, a council jointly exercises the powers and ceremonial roles of both the head of state and head of government. The council is elected by the parliament, but is not subject to parliamentary confidence during its fixed term.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Switzerland}}{{efn |name=CH |content=The President of Switzerland serves in a capacity amongst the Swiss Federal Council, the seven-member executive council which constitutes both the presidency and the government.}}

{{div col end}}

Semi-constitutional monarchies

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.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Bahrain}}
• {{flag|Bhutan}}
• {{flag|Jordan}}
• {{flag|Kuwait}}
• {{flag|Liechtenstein}}
• {{flag|Monaco}}
• {{flag|Morocco}}
• {{flag|Qatar}}
• {{flag|Tonga}}
• {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}{{efn |name=Ae |content= A federal absolute monarchy in which, different monarchies, or in this case, sheikhdoms fulfill both the duty of president and prime minister, although in actuality they are monarchs.}}BOOK, Stewart, Dona J., The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives, Routledge, 2013, London and New York, 978-0415782432, 155, BOOK, Day, Alan John, Political Parties of The World, Stockton, 1996, 1561591440, 599,

{{div col end}}

Absolute monarchies

Specifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive constitutional law. The monarch acts as both head of state and head of government.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Brunei}}
• {{flag|Eswatini}}
• {{flag|Oman}}
• {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
• {{flag|Vatican City}}{{efn |name=Va |content=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; however, as all its citizens and its residents are ordained Catholic clergy, members of the Swiss Guard, or their immediate family, they arguably have consented to obey the Pope or are minors. (Citizenship is , on the grounds of appointment to work in a certain capacity in the service of the Holy See and usually ceases upon cessation of the appointment. Citizenship is also extended to the spouse and children of a citizen, provided they are living together in the city; in practice, these are few in number, since the bulk of Vatican citizens are celibate Catholic clerics or religious. Some individuals are also authorized to reside in the city but do not qualify or choose not to request citizenship.)"Law on citizenship, residence and access" (in Italian). Vatican City State. 11 February 2011.}}

{{div col end}}

One-party states

States in which political power is by law concentrated within one political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy (in contrast to states where a multi-party system formally exists, but this fusion is achieved anyway through election fraud or underdeveloped multi-party traditions).{{div col}}

• {{flag|China|name=China}} (Communist Party leads eight minor political parties) (list){{efn |name=CHNhead |content=The President of China is legally a ceremonial office; however, since 1993, the presidency has been held by the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, who is the most powerful figure in the political system.NEWS,weblink Ending Term Limits for China's Xi Is a Big Deal. Here's Why. – Is the presidency powerful in China?, Chris Buckley and Adam Wu, 10 March 2018, New York Times, 1 December 2019, live,weblink 12 March 2018, In China, the political job that matters most is the general secretary of the Communist Party. The party controls the military and domestic security forces, and sets the policies that the government carries out. China's presidency lacks the authority of the American and French presidencies., For more info see politics of China.}}
• {{flag|Cuba}} (Communist Party) (list)
• {{flag|Eritrea}} (People's Front for Democracy and Justice) (list)
• {{flag|North Korea}} (Workers' Party leads the Democratic Front) (list)
• {{flag|Laos}} (People's Revolutionary Party leads the Front for National Construction) (list)
• {{flag|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}} (Polisario Front)
• {{flag|Vietnam}} (Communist Party leads the Fatherland Front) (list)

{{div col end}}Nations with limited recognition are in italics.

Military juntas

A committee of the nation's military leaders controls the government for the duration of a state of emergency. Constitutional provisions for government are suspended in these states; constitutional forms of government are stated in parentheses.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Burkina Faso}} {{small|(semi-presidential republic)}}WEB,weblink Burkina Faso military says it has seized power, BBC News, 24 January 2022, 30 August 2023,
• {{flag|Chad}} {{small|(semi-presidential republic)}}WEB,weblink Chad's President Idriss Déby dies 'in clashes with rebels', BBC News, 20 April 2021, 20 April 2021,
• {{flag|Gabon}} {{small|(presidential republic)}}WEB,weblink Gabon army officers say they have seized power after election in oil-rich country, Reuters, 30 August 2023, 30 August 2023,
• {{flag|Guinea}} {{small|(presidential republic)}}WEB,weblink Army colonel on Guinean TV says govt dissolved, borders shut, AP news, AP NEWS, 5 September 2021, 5 September 2021, WEB,weblink Guinea coup attempt: Soldiers claim to seize power from Alpha Condé, 5 September 2021, BBC News, 5 September 2021,
• {{flag|Mali}} {{small|(presidential republic)}}NEWS, Booty, Natasha, Pivac, Mark, Assimi Goïta: President gets sweeping powers in new Mali constitution,weblink 4 August 2023, BBC News, 23 July 2023,
• {{flag|Myanmar}} {{small|(assembly-independent republic)}}WEB, Abebe, Adem, Bulmer, Elliot, Electing Presidents in Presidential and Semi-Presidential Democracies,weblink International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 14 February 2024, 2019, NEWS, Paddock, Richard C., Myanmar Junta's Political Prisoners Since Coup Now Number 10,000,weblink 14 April 2022, The New York Times, 31 March 2022,
• {{flag|Niger}} {{small|(semi-presidential republic)}}NEWS, Aksar, Moussa, Balima, Boureima,

Niger soldiers say President Bazoum's government has been removed,weblink 27 July 2023, Reuters, 27 July 2023,

• {{flag|Sudan}} {{small|(presidential republic)}}NEWS, Gavin, Michelle, Junta and Public at Odds in Sudan,weblink 20 March 2023, Council on Foreign Relations, 8 April 2022, NEWS, Jeffrey, Jack, Analysis: Year post-coup, cracks in Sudan's military junta,weblink 20 March 2023, Associated Press News, 23 October 2022, Cairo, Egypt, WEB, Sudan's Constitution of 2005,weblink constituteproject.org, 20 March 2023,

{{div col end}}

Provisional governments

States that have a system of government that is in transition or turmoil. These regimes lack a constitutional basis.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Afghanistan|name=Afghanistan, Islamic Emirate of}}{{efn|name=AF|Afghanistan: {{as of|2022|12}}, despite the loss of territory to the Taliban in 2021, the Islamic Republic continues to hold Afghanistan's seat at the United Nations, with the newly reinstated Islamic Emirate remaining unrecognized by the organization.NEWS, Nichols, Michelle, 15 December 2022, Afghan Taliban Administration, Myanmar Junta Not Allowed Into United Nations for Now, Reuters,weblink 9 February 2023, 22 December 2022,weblink live, }}NEWS, Choi, Joseph, EU: Provisional Taliban government does not fulfill promises,weblink 14 April 2022, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, 8 September 2021,
• {{flag|Haiti}}
• {{flag|Libya}}
• {{flag|South Sudan}}
• {{flag|Yemen}}{{efn |name=YE|Disputed between the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council and the Supreme Political Council.NEWS, Ghobari, Mohamed, Tolba, Ahmed, Yemen president cedes powers to council as Saudi Arabia pushes to end war,weblink 14 April 2022, Reuters, Aden, 8 April 2022, }}

{{div col end}}

Systems of internal structure

Unitary states

A state governed as a single power in which the central government is ultimately supreme and any administrative divisions (sub-national units) exercise only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate. The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. Of the 193 UN member states, 126 are governed as centralized unitary states, and an additional 40 are regionalized unitary states.

Centralized unitary states

States in which most power is exercised by the central government. What local authorities do exist have few powers.

Regionalized unitary states

States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional authorities, but where constitutional authority ultimately remains entirely at a national level.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Azerbaijan}} (59 districts, and 1 autonomous republic)
• {{flag|Bolivia}} (9 departments)
• {{flag|Chile}} (16 regions)
• {{PRC}} (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 province-level municipalities, 2 special administrative regions, and 1 claimed province)
• {{flag|Colombia}} (34 departments, and 1 capital district)
• {{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}} (14 autonomous districts)
• {{flag|Denmark}} (5 regions, and 2 self-governing territories)
• {{flag|Finland}} (19 regions, and {{flag|Ã…land}})
• {{flag|France}} (18 regions, of which 5 are overseas regions)
• {{flag|Georgia}} (9 regions, and 2 autonomous republics)
• {{flag|Greece}} (7 decentralized administrations, and 1 autonomous monastic state)
• {{flag|Indonesia}} (38 provinces, of which 9 have special status)
• {{flag|Israel}} (6 districts, Judea and Samaria Area)
• {{flag|Italy}} (20 regions, of which 5 are autonomous)
• {{flag|Japan}} (47 prefectures)
• {{flag|Kazakhstan}} (17 regions, 3 cities with region rights)
• {{flag|Kenya}} (47 counties)
• {{flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands}} (4 constituent countries)
• {{flag|Mauritania}} (15 regions)
• {{flag|Moldova}} (32 districts, 3 municipalities, and 2 autonomous territorial units)
• {{flag|New Zealand}} (16 regions, 1 self-administering territory, and 2 states in free association)
• {{flag|Nicaragua}} (15 departments, 2 autonomous regions)
• {{flag|Norway}} (10 counties, 1 autonomous city, 2 integral overseas areas, 3 dependencies)
• {{flag|Papua New Guinea}} (20 provinces, 1 autonomous region, and 1 national capital district)
• {{flag|Peru}} (25 regions, and 1 province)
• {{flag|Philippines}} (one autonomous region subdivided into 5 provinces and 113 other provinces and independent cities grouped into 17 other non-autonomous regions)
• {{flag|Portugal}} (18 districts, and 2 autonomous regions)
• {{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}} (6 districts, and {{flag|Príncipe}})
• {{flag|Serbia}} (29 districts, 2 autonomous provinces (one of which is a partially recognized de facto independent state), and 1 autonomous city)
• {{flag|Solomon Islands}} (9 provinces, and 1 capital territory)
• {{flag|South Africa}} (9 provinces)
• {{flag|South Korea}} (8 provinces, 6 special cities, and 1 autonomous province)
• {{flag|Spain}} (17 autonomous communities, 15 communities of common-regime, 1 community of chartered regime, 3 chartered provinces, 2 autonomous cities)
• {{flag|Sri Lanka}} (9 provinces)
• {{flag|Tajikistan}} (3 regions, 1 autonomous region, and 1 capital city)
• {{flag|Tanzania}} (21 regions, and {{flag|Zanzibar}})
• {{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}} (9 regions, 1 autonomous island, 3 boroughs, and 2 cities)
• {{flag|Ukraine}} (24 oblasts, 2 cities with special status, and {{flag|Crimea}})
• {{flag|United Kingdom}} (4 countries – {{flag|England}}, {{flag|Scotland}}, Northern Ireland and {{flag|Wales}}, of which 3 have devolved governments – Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales)
• {{flag|Uzbekistan}} (3 regions, 1 autonomous republic, and 1 independent city)

{{div col end}}

Federation

States in which the national government shares power with regional governments with which it has legal or constitutional (wikt:parity|parity). The central government may or may not be (in theory) a creation of the regional governments.{{div col}}

• {{flag|Argentina}} (23 provinces and one autonomous city)
• {{flag|Australia}} (six states and ten territories)
• {{flag|Austria}} (nine states)
• {{flag|Belgium}} (three regions and three linguistic communities)
• {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} (two entities and one district that is a condominium of the two entities)
• {{flag|Brazil}} (26 states and the Federal District)
• {{flag|Canada}} (ten provinces and three territories)
• {{flag|Comoros}} ({{flag|Anjouan}}, {{flag|Grande Comore}}, and {{flag|Mohéli}})
• {{flag|Ethiopia}} (10 regions and 2 chartered cities)
• {{flag|Germany}} (16 states)
• {{flag|India}} (28 states and 8 union territories)
• {{flag|Iraq}} (18 governorates and one region: {{flag|Kurdistan}})
• {{flag|Malaysia}} (13 states and three federal territories)
• {{flag|Mexico}} (32 states)
• {{flag|Federated States of Micronesia}} ({{flag|Chuuk}}, {{flag|Kosrae}}, {{flag|Pohnpei}} and {{flag|Yap}})
• {{flag|Nepal}} (seven provinces)
• {{flag|Nigeria}} (36 states and one federal territory: Federal Capital Territory)
• {{flag|Pakistan}} (4 provinces, 2 autonomous territories and 1 federal territory)
• {{flag|Russia}} (46 oblasts, 22 republics (one of which is disputed), nine krais, four autonomous okrugs, three federal cities (one of which is disputed), one autonomous oblast)
• {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} (Saint Kitts, {{flag|Nevis}})
• {{flag|Somalia}} (six federal member states)
• {{flag|South Sudan}} (ten states)
• {{flag|Sudan}} (17 states)
• {{flag|Switzerland}} (26 cantons)
• {{flag|United Arab Emirates}} (seven emirates)
• {{flag|United States}} (50 states, one incorporated territory, and one federal district: {{flag|District of Columbia}})
• {{flag|Venezuela}} (23 states, one capital district, and the {{flag|Federal Dependencies of Venezuela}})

{{div col end}}

European Union

The exact political character of the European Union is debated, some arguing that it is (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.For more detailed discussion, see John McCormick, European Union Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Chapters 1 and 2.

See also

• List of countries by date of transition to a republican system of government
• List of political systems in France
• List of current heads of state and government

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}