Types and Forms of Government

Types of Government

• Monarchy: Rule by a single person, either absolute (ruling by divine right) or limited (governing according to a constitution).
• Aristocracy: Power held by a privileged few, known as aristocrats.
• Oligarchy: Similar to aristocracy, but power is based on wealth.
• Democracy: Power exercised by the majority of the people.
  • Direct/Pure Democracy: The will of the state is formulated directly by the people in mass meetings or assemblies.
  • Indirect/Representative/Republican Democracy: The will of the state is formulated through representatives chosen by the people.

Forms of Government

• Unitary: National government controls both national and local affairs.
• Federal: Power is divided between national and local governments, each supreme within its jurisdiction.
• Parliamentary: Legislature has the power to remove the executive; the Cabinet or Ministry is responsible to both the legislature and the electorate.
• Presidential: Executive is independent of the legislature in terms of tenure, policies, and actions; both the president and members of the legislature are directly elected.

Sovereignty During Colonization

• Political Laws: Suspended or abrogated during colonization, requiring re-enactment by the new sovereign to remain in effect.
• Non-Political/Municipal Laws: Continue in operation unless changed by the new sovereign or contradicting its institutions.
• Judicial Decisions: Remain valid during occupation, even beyond those of a political nature which are annulled upon the restoration of the legitimate authority.

State and Sovereignty

• Dominium: State's ability to own or acquire property, including lands held in its proprietary capacity.
• Imperium: State's authority embodied in the concept of sovereignty.