Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows people to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws.
A non-democratic form of government is where an individual or a single-party concentrates all power. Some non-democratic governments can be classified into categories such as:
Monarchy is a form of government in a state is ruled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and rules for life or until abdication.
An oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, corporate, or military control.
Technocracy is a form of government in which experts in technology would be in control of all decision making. Scientists, engineers, and technologists who have knowledge, expertise, or skills, would compose the governing body, instead of politicians, businessmen, and economists.
A Theocracy is a form of government in which religious leaders acting in the place of God rule the state. It is a form of government in which official policy is governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided or is pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religion or religious group.
An Aristocracy is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule; this is usually contrasted with democracy, in which all citizens are able to rule.
