In a well-written paragraph, explain how the governments of two different countries are similar and different. Use at least two of the following terms in your response: autocracy, oligarchy, democracy, unitary, federation, confederation, parliamentary.

A democracy is government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them.

Two types of democracy: (1) Direct democracy, in which all eligible citizens have direct participation to the decision making of the government; and (2) Representative Democracy, in which citizens exercise their power through elected representatives who then develop and make laws for the citizens. The second type of democracy exists in the United States of America (USA).

An oligarchy is a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; usually by the wealthiest class. These groups of people may be distinguished by royalty, wealth, education, or military control. Sometimes oligarchy governments are controlled by a few families who pass their power from one generation to the next.

Unlike monarchs, however, oligarchs do not have to be connected by bloodlines in order to inherit power. For example, one family may have power for several years, and then the power may be shifted to another group of people or another family based on their military ties or wealth. These decisions are not influenced by the people. They are influenced solely within the small group of people with whom the power is held.

The most well-known example is the former Soviet Union. Other examples of oligarchy governments are found in the countries of China, North Korea, and Venezuela.