political system, form of government

the members of a social organization who are in power

• autocracy, autarchy — a political system governed by a single individual
• constitutionalism — a constitutional system of government (usually with a written constitution)
• democracy, republic, commonwealth — a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
• hegemony — the domination of one state over its allies
• oligarchy — a political system governed by a few people
• plutocracy — a political system governed by the wealthy people
• republic — a form of government whose head of state is not a monarch
• technocracy — a form of government in which scientists and technical experts are in control
• theocracy — a political unit governed by a deity (or by officials thought to be divinely guided)

• social group — people sharing some social relation

• party, political party — an organization to gain political power
• political unit — a unit with political responsibilities

• social organization, social organisation, social structure, social system, structure — the people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships