Name Constitutional form Head of state Basis of executive legitimacy AfghanistanRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature AlbaniaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence AlgeriaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature AndorraConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence AngolaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Antigua and BarbudaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence ArgentinaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ArmeniaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature AustraliaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence AustriaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence AzerbaijanRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature The BahamasConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence BahrainConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions BangladeshRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence BarbadosConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence BelarusRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature BelgiumConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence BelizeConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence BeninRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature BhutanConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions BoliviaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Bosnia and HerzegovinaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence BotswanaRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence BrazilRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature BruneiAbsolute monarchyExecutiveAll authority vested in absolute monarch BulgariaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Burkina FasoRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature BurundiRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature CambodiaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence CameroonRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature CanadaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Cape VerdeRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence Central African RepublicRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ChadRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ChileRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ColombiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ComorosRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Costa RicaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature CÃ´te d'IvoireRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature CroatiaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence CubaRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement CyprusRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Czech RepublicRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Democratic Republic of the CongoRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence DenmarkConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence DjiboutiRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence DominicaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Dominican RepublicRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature East TimorRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence EcuadorRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature EgyptRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence El SalvadorRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Equatorial GuineaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature EritreaRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement EstoniaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence EthiopiaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Falkland IslandsConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Fijin/an/an/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime FinlandRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence FranceRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence GabonRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature The GambiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature GeorgiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature GermanyRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence GhanaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature GreeceRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence GrenadaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence GuatemalaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature GuineaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence Guinea-BissauRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence GuyanaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence HaitiRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence HondurasRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature HungaryRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence IcelandRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence IndiaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence IndonesiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature IranRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature IraqRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence IrelandRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence IsraelRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence ItalyRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence JamaicaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence JapanConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence JordanConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions KazakhstanRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature KenyaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence KiribatiRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence KosovoRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence KuwaitConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions KyrgyzstanRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature LaosRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement LatviaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence LebanonRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence LesothoConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence LiberiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature LibyaRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement LiechtensteinConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions LithuaniaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence LuxembourgConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence MacedoniaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence MadagascarRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence MalawiRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature MalaysiaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence MaldivesRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature MaliRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature MaltaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Marshall IslandsRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence MauritaniaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence MauritiusRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence MexicoRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature MicronesiaRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence MoldovaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence MonacoConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions MongoliaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence MontenegroRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence MoroccoConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions MozambiqueRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Myanmarn/an/an/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime NamibiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature NauruRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence NepalRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence NetherlandsConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence New ZealandConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence NicaraguaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature NigerRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence NigeriaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature North Korean/an/an/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime NorwayConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence OmanAbsolute monarchyExecutiveAll authority vested in absolute monarch PakistanRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence PalauRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature PalestineRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence PanamaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Papua New GuineaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence ParaguayRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature People's Republic of ChinaRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement PeruRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature PhilippinesRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature PolandRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence PortugalRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence QatarAbsolute monarchyExecutiveAll authority vested in absolute monarch Republic of the CongoRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature RomaniaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence RussiaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence RwandaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence Saint Kitts and NevisConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Saint LuciaConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence SamoaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence San MarinoRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence SÃ£o TomÃ© and PrÃncipeRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence Saudi ArabiaAbsolute monarchyExecutiveAll authority vested in absolute monarch SenegalRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence SerbiaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence SeychellesRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature Sierra LeoneRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature SingaporeRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence SlovakiaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence SloveniaRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Solomon IslandsConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence SomaliaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence Stateless society SomalilandRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature South AfricaRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence South KoreaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature SpainConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Sri LankaRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence SudanRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature SurinameRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence SwazilandAbsolute monarchyExecutiveAll authority vested in absolute monarch SwedenConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence SwitzerlandRepublicExecutivePresidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence SyriaRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement TaiwanRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence TajikistanRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature TanzaniaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ThailandConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence TogoRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature TongaConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions Trinidad and TobagoRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence TunisiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature TurkeyRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence TurkmenistanRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement TuvaluConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence UgandaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature UkraineRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence United Arab EmiratesConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions United KingdomConstitutional monarchyCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence United StatesRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature UruguayRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature UzbekistanRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature VanuatuRepublicCeremonialMinistry is subject to parliamentary confidence Vatican CityConstitutional monarchyExecutiveMonarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions VenezuelaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature VietnamRepublicExecutivePower constitutionally linked to a single political movement YemenRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ZambiaRepublicExecutivePresidency is independent of legislature ZimbabweRepublicExecutivePresidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Legend

orange - parliamentary republics
green - presidential republics, executive presidency linked to a parliament
yellow - presidential republics, semi-presidential system
blue - presidential republics full presidential system
red - parliamentary constitutional monarchies in which the monarch does not personally exercise power
magenta - constitutional monarchies in which the monarch personally exercises power, often (but not always) alongside a weak parliament
purple - absolute monarchies
brown - republics where the dominant role of a single party is codified in the constitution
olive - states where constitutional provisions for government have been suspended
grey - countries which do not fit any of the above systems

Note that this chart aims to represent de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy. Several states constitutionally deemed to be multiparty republics may also be broadly described as authoritarian states.

Systems of GovernancePresidential/Separated republicsThese are systems in which a president is the active head of the executive branch of government and is elected and remains in office independently of the legislature. The following list includes democratic and non-democratic states: Full presidential systemsIn full presidential systems, the president is both head of state and head of government. There is generally no prime minister, although if one exists he or she serves purely at the pleasure of the president.

Presidential systems without a prime minister

Argentina
Benin
Bolivia
Brazil
Burundi
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Gambia
Ghana
Guatemala
Honduras
Indonesia
Iran[1] (to some degree)
Liberia
Malawi
Maldives
Mexico
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Philippines
Rwanda
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sudan
Turkmenistan
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia

Presidential systems with a prime minister

Angola
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
CÃ´te d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Guinea (Guinea-Conakry)
Guinea-Bissau
Madagascar
Peru
South Korea
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda

Semi-presidential systemsIn semi-presidential systems, there is usually both a president and a prime minister. In such systems, the president has genuine executive authority, unlike in a parliamentary republic, but some of the role of a head of government is exercised by the prime minister.

Algeria
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa)
Djibouti
Egypt
France
Georgia
Guyana
Haiti
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Mali
Moldova
Mongolia
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Romania
Russian Federation
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic[2] (Western Sahara)
SÃ£o TomÃ© and PrÃncipe
Senegal
Somalia
Sri Lanka[3]
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Tajikistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Parliamentary republicsA parliamentary republic is a system in which a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. The president's degree of executive power may range from being reasonably significant (e.g. Pakistan) to little or none at all (eg. Ireland). Where the president holds little executive power, their function is primarily that of a symbolic figurehead.

Albania
Austria
Bangladesh[4]
Bulgaria
Croatia
Bosnia and Herzegovina[5]
Czech Republic
Dominica
East Timor (Timor-Leste)
Estonia
Ethiopia
Germany
Greece
Lithuania
Finland
Hungary
Pakistan
Serbia
Iceland
India
Ireland
Iraq
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Macedonia
Malta
Mauritius
Mauritania
Montenegro
Nepal
Poland
Portugal
Samoa
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Vanuatu

Mixed republican systemsWhat would normally be considered a prime minister is given title of president and serves as both the head of state and government.

Botswana[6]
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Federated States of Micronesia (Micronesia)
Nauru
San Marino[7]
South Africa[6]
Suriname
Switzerland[8]

Constitutional monarchiesThese 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 constrained by constitutional law. Constitutional monarchies with ceremonial monarchsSystems 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, 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 vote of no confidence.[9][10][dubious - discuss] The head of state is a constitutional monarch who only exercises his or her powers with the consent of the government, the people or their representatives.

Andorra[11]
Antigua and Barbuda[12]
Australia[12]
Bahamas[12]
Barbados[12]
Belgium
Belize[12]
Cambodia
Canada[12]
Denmark
Grenada[12]
Jamaica[12]
Japan
Lesotho
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Netherlands
New Zealand[12]
Norway
Papua New Guinea[12]
Saint Kitts and Nevis[12]
Saint Lucia[12]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[12]
Solomon Islands[12]
Spain
Sweden
Thailand
Tuvalu[12]
United Kingdom[12]

Constitutional monarchies with active monarchsThe prime minister is the nation's active executive but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at their own discretion.

Bahrain
Bhutan
Jordan
Kuwait
Liechtenstein
Monaco
Morocco
Tonga
United Arab Emirates[13]

Absolute monarchiesSpecifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive constitutional law.

Brunei
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Swaziland

TheocraciesStates based on a state religion where the head of state is selected by some form of religious hierarchy.

Iran[14] (to some degree)
Vatican City

One-party statesStates in which political power is concentrated within a single political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy. However, some do have elected governments.

People's Republic of China (Communist Party) (list)
Cuba (Communist Party) (list)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)(Workers' Party) (list)
Laos (Revolutionary Party) (list)
Syria (Arab Socialist Ba'th Party) (list)
Turkmenistan (Democratic Party) (list)
Vietnam (Communist Party) (list)

Military junta statesThe nation's military control the organs of government and all high-ranking political executives are also members of the military hierarchy.

Fiji (until 2010)
Libya
Myanmar
Mauritania
Guinea

TransitionalStates which have a system of government which is in transition or turmoil and are classified with the current direction of change.

Eritrea (presidential republic)
Somalia (semi-presidential republic)
East Timor (multi-party democracy)

Systems of Internal GovernanceFederalStates in which the federal government shares power with semi-independent regional governments. In many cases, the central government is (in theory) a creation of the regional governments; prime examples are Canada and the United States.

Argentina (23 provinces and 1 autonomous city)
Australia (6 states and 3 territories)
Austria (9 states)
Belgium (3 regions and 3 linguistic communities)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and BrÄko District)
Brazil (26 states and 1 federal district)
Canada (10 provinces and 3 territories)
Ethiopia (9 regions and 3 chartered cities)
Germany (16 states)
India (28 states and 7 union territories)
Iraq (Currently 18 governates and 1 region)
Malaysia (13 states and 3 federal territories)
Mexico (31 states and 1 federal district)
Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap)
Nigeria (36 states and 1 federal capital territory)
Pakistan (4 provinces and 2 territories)
Palau (16 states)
Papua New Guinea (18 provinces, 1 autonomous region and 1 capital district)
Russia (46 oblasts, 21 republics, 9 krais, 4 autonomous okrugs, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (14 parishes)
South Africa (9 provinces)
Switzerland (26 cantons)
United Arab Emirates (7 emirates)
United States (50 states and 1 federal district)
Venezuela (23 states, 1 capital district and 1 federal dependency)

DevolvedStates in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to self-governing subsidiary governments, creating a quasi-federation.

Spain (17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities)
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Regionalised unitaryStates in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional governments.

People's Republic of China (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions)
Italy (20 regions, 5 granted 'autonomous' status)
New Zealand (16 regions)
Philippines (17 regions and 1 autonomous region)

FederacyA federacy is a country in which some substates function like states in a federation and others like states in a unitary state.

Denmark (2 autonomous regions and 5 regions)
Finland (1 autonomous province and 19 regions)
Kingdom of the Netherlands (2 states and 12 provinces)
Portugal (2 autonomous regions ( Azores and Madeira) and 18 districts)
Serbia (significant autonomy granted to Vojvodina)
Tanzania (21 mainland regions and Zanzibar)
Ukraine (24 oblasts, 2 special-status cities, and Crimea)

UnitaryMain article: Unitary state European UnionThe European Union is a sui generis entity. It has elements of intergovernmentalism and a semi-presidential system, with the European Council acting as its collective "president" and the president of the European Commission as its "prime minister".

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