Sociology is the study of human social behavior, human development, organizations, and

institutions. In order to better understand those institutions and how humans are organized, it is
important to understand how societies are governed.
This lesson will discuss and differentiate between the five main forms of power, or government,
utilized in past and present societies: monarchy, democracy, oligarchy, authoritarianism,
and totalitarianism.
Boy: Whoa, what's going on in that country?
Girl: It looks like they aren't happy with their government.
Boy: Why wouldn't they be happy? Can't they elect their leaders and play a role in their government?
Girl: No! There are many forms of government in which people have no say in any matters, private
or public. All societies are established under some form of power or government. The well-known
sociologist Max Weber defined power as the ability to achieve goals even if some people in the
society hold differing opinions and goals. Power takes on different forms in different societies. Let
me tell you about the five basic forms of government.

Monarchy
Let's begin with monarchy. Monarchy was the most common form of government until the 19th
century. Monarchy is a form of government in which a single family rules from generation to
generation. The power, or sovereignty, is personified in a single individual.
There are two main types of monarchy that differ based on the level of power held by the individual
or family currently in power. Absolute monarchy exists when the monarch has no or few legal
limitations in political matters. Constitutional monarchies, which are more common, exist when the
monarch retains a distinctive legal and ceremonial role but exercises limited or no political power.
The most familiar example of a monarchy is the constitutional monarchy that exists in the United
Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state of the U.K. as well as monarch of fifteen other
independent countries. She and the royal family have ceremonial roles but do not make up the laws
that govern the people.

Democracy
Another form of government is a democracy. Democracy is defined as a form of government in
which power belongs to the people. There are two forms of democracy. One is direct democracy, in
which all eligible citizens have direct participation in the decision making of the government. The
second and more common form of democracy is representative democracy, in which citizens
exercise their power through elected representatives. The elected representatives propose, develop,
and create laws for the citizens to abide by.
The most familiar example of democracy is the representative democracy that exists in the United
States of America. Americans elect a president and representatives of Congress.

Oligarchy
The next form of government is oligarchy. Oligarchy is a form of government in which all power
resides with a few people or in a dominant class or group within the society. 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.

Authoritarianism
Governments can also impose their power in forceful methods. Authoritarianism is a form of
government in which the people have no participation. The characteristics of authoritarianism include
absolute obedience to authority by the people and ill-defined and often changing executive power.
An example of this type of government is the country of Cuba. In Cuba, there is one leader that rules
the

Government comprises the set of legal and political institutions that regulate the relationships among
members of a society and between the society and outsiders. These institutions have the authority to
make decisions for the society on policies affecting the maintenance of order and the achievement of
certain societal goals. This article provides an overview of the types of government, the ways
authority can be distributed, the divisions of government, and the functions of government. Separate
articles deal with the origins and development of the concept of the state, the theoretical and
practical development of representation, law, and the study of government (see political science).

The power of a government over its own citizens varies, depending on the degree to which it is free
of limitations and restraints. The power of a government abroad also varies, depending on the
human and material resources with which it can support its foreign policy. Governments range in
size and scope from clans, tribes, and the shires of early times to the superpowers and international
governments of today. Until recent times some governments were strong enough to
establish empires that ruled not only their own people but other peoples and states across national,
ethnic, and language boundaries. The present-day counterpart of the empire is the superpower that
is able to lead or dominate other countries through its superior military and economic strength.
Within the modern nation-state, government operates at many different levels, ranging from villages
to cities, counties, provinces, and states.

Types of Government
Aristotle, a Greek political philosopher of the 4th century B.C., distinguished three principal kinds
of government: monarchy, aristocracy, and polity (a kind of enlightened democracy). The differences
among them chiefly concerned whether power were held by one, by a few, or by many. Aristotle
thought that the selfish abuse of power caused each type to become perverted, respectively, into
tyranny, oligarchy, and a lower form of democracy characterized by mob rule. Monarchy tended to
become tyrannical because it vested authority in a single ruler. Aristocracy, a government based on
birth and privilege, in which the rulers governed for the good of the whole society, tended to become
oligarchy as a consequence of restricting political power to a special social and economic class; only
a few members of the class would have enough drive and ability to acquire the power to govern. The
polity, likewise, would deteriorate into ochlocracy, or mob rule, if the citizens pursued only their
selfish interests.

Aristotle's classifications suited the societies of ancient times, but they do not correspond to
the power structure of later societies. Modern writers have developed a variety of schemes for
classifying governments, based on the nature of the ruling class, the economic system, the
government's political institutions, the principles of authority, the acquisition and exercise of power,
and other factors. Some influential writers on government include Thomas Hobbes, Baron de
Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, and the
sociologist Max Weber.

Monarchy
The most common form of government from ancient times to the early part of the 20th century was
monarchy, or rule by a hereditary king or queen. Monarchy passed through three basic stages,
varying according to the nation and the political and economic climate. The first stage was that of the
absolute monarch. In the Christian part of the world during the Middle Ages, a conflict developed
between the pope and the kings who recognized his spiritual authority. The pope wanted to expand
the power of the church beyond spiritual matters to include the temporal realm. But some kings
proclaimed that God had given them the right to rule, and by proclaiming this divine right they were
able to give legitimacy to their reigns and limit the pope's power. (See church and state; investiture
controversy.)

Limited monarchy was the second stage. Kings depended on the support of the most powerful
members of the nobility to retain their thrones. In England and some other Western European
countries, the nobility placed limits on the power of the ruler to govern. This was done in England, for
example, through the Magna Carta. Threatened with the loss of political and financial support, even
the strongest kings and emperors had to accept a system of laws that protected the rights and
privileges of powerful social and economic classes.

The third stage in the evolution of monarchy was the constitutional monarchy. Present-day
monarchs are nearly all symbolic rather than actual rulers of their countries. (A few exceptions can
be found in Africa and Asia.) In such monarchies as Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and
Spain, governing power is now in the hands of the national parliaments.

Constitutional Government
Today most governments derive their legitimacy from national constitutions that provide a legal
framework for their rule and specify how power is to be exercised and controlled. Even one-party
states, such as the traditional Communist countries and other nations in Africa, Asia, and South
America, have found it necessary to establish formal constitutions. In democratic countries the
constitution can be amended or replaced by popular vote, either directly or through a system of
elected representatives. In authoritarian one-party systems, however, all political power, including
that of revising the constitution, resides with the leaders of the party. The constitution may thus be
only a paper facade, and in order to understand how the country is governed one must examine the
actual political process.

Democracy
Representative government in the modern world is based not only on a constitution that provides for
it but on the actual rule of lawthe assurance that provisions of the constitution will be enforced. It
requires that citizens be free to organize competing political parties, engage in political campaigns,
and hold elections according to agreed-upon rules. Democratic governments vary in structure. Two
common forms are the parliamentary and the presidential. In the parliamentary form of government,
as in Australia, Britain, Canada, or India, all political power is concentrated in the parliament
or legislature. The prime minister or premier and the officers of the cabinet are members of the
parliament. They continue in office only as long as parliament supportsor has "confidence" in
their policies. In the presidential form of government, as in France and the United States, the voters
elect a powerful chief executive who is independent of the legislature but whose actions are
delimited by constitutional and other legal restraints.

Dictatorship
As a form of government, dictatorship is principally a 20th-century phenomenon. The dictator, often
a military leader, concentrates political power in himself and his clique. There is no effective rule of
law. The regime may or may not have a distinctive political ideology and may or may not allow token
opposition. The main function of a dictatorship is to maintain control of all governmental operations.
There have been some casesIndira Gandhi in India and several military dictatorships in Latin
Americain which authoritarian rulers have relaxed their control and have even allowed open
elections. In certain Soviet-bloc countries of Eastern Europe dictators were forced from power in
bloodless coups or voluntarily relinquished their authority to popularly elected officials as
Soviet power declined.

The totalitarian dictatorship, as in Nazi Germany, Communist China, and the former USSR, is much
more thoroughgoing. It seeks to control all aspects of national life, including the beliefs and attitudes
of its people. It has a set of ideas that everyone is expected to embrace, such as
revolutionary Marxism or counterrevolutionary fascism. At its most extreme, as during the leadership
of Joseph Stalin in the USSR, the power of the dictator may become more absolute than in any of
the earlier forms of tyranny. Such gross power in the hands of one person results inevitably in the
development of what has been called a cult of personality. The leader is credited with almost
infallible wisdom, because to admit that he or she may be wrong would deprive the regime of its
authority. In some Communist countries the cult of personality appears to have given way to the
dominance of a group of party leadersa ruling oligarchy. The administrative complexities of
managing a modern industrial state are too great to be monopolized by an individual leader such as
Stalin or Mao Zedong(Mao Tse-tung). The successor regime in China, for example, continues to
claim infallibility for its policies and doctrines but not for the leaders. Examples of 20th-century
dictators in addition to those already mentioned include Idi Amin Dada(Uganda),
Kemal Atatrk (Turkey), Fulgencio Batista and Fidel Castro (Cuba), Francisco Franco (Spain),
Saddam Hussein(Iraq), Ferdinand Marcos (Philippines), Benito Mussolini (Italy),
Juan Peron (Argentina), and Antnio Salazar (Portugal).

Distribution of Authority
Effective government in any form requires a workable method for distributing authority within the
country. The larger and more diverse the jurisdiction of the government, the stronger the tendency
toward a federal system in which authority is "layered" or distributed among different levels. In
countries with a relatively homogeneous population and with a common tradition, language, and
sense of national history, the central governments may not be federal but unitarythat is, they may
retain most of the administrative power at the center. Loosely allied autonomous states sometimes
join together to create a type of central government known as a confederation, in which the
central government exists only at the pleasure of the sovereign members.

Federal Systems
The United States and India with their state governments and Canada and China with their provincial
governments are examples of workable federal systems in large nations with very diverse
populations. Other federal states include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, and Germany.
The national governments of these countries are clearly more powerful than those of their
subdivisions, even though the constitutions delegate many powers and responsibilities to the
subnational units. In certain prescribed policy areas a state government may have a high degree of
autonomy. In the United States, for example, state legislatures pass laws having to do with state
affairs; state administrators carry them out; and state judiciaries interpret them.

Federal systems also include autonomous local governments such as county governments
and municipal governmentsin cities, boroughs, townships, and villages local governments may
stand in a relationship to their state governments that corresponds to that of state governments with
the national government. The citizens in each jurisdiction elect many of the public officials. In
addition, certain special districts exist with a single function, such as education or sanitation, and
have their own elected officials.

The layers of government in a federal system may not be clearly defined in practice. Often the
different levels compete for control of functions and programs. In the United States and other
countries the tendency over the years has been for the national government to become much more
involved in areas that once were the exclusive domain of state or regional governments. In addition,
the distribution of authority has become even more complex and varied with the rise of large
metropolitan areasthe megalopolisand the corresponding new local governmental organizations
such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Unitary States
In unitary states the national government performs all the governmental functions. Subnational
national units administer matters within their jurisdiction, but their powers are set and delegated by
the national authority. The national government retains the police powerthe inherent power to
provide for the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. Taxation and major lawmaking powers also
rest almost entirely with the national government.

Most nations are unitary states, but their institutions and processes may differ markedly. Great
Britain, for example, is considered a unitary system, yet a certain degree of regional autonomy exists
in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and local county governments perform certain fairly
autonomous functions. In France, however, strict control over the administrative territorial
subdivisions is exercised by the national government. In other unitary states there exists only token
territorial decentralization.

Confederations
Confederation produces the weakest central government. Member states in a confederation retain
their sovereignty, delegating to the central government only those powers that are essential for its
maintenance. The individual states jealously guard their power to tax and to make their own laws.
The central government serves as a coordinating instrument to protect the interests of all its
members. It also represents the confederation in dealings with outside governments, but its actions
are subject to the review and approval of the confederated states.

The weakness of the confederate form of government led the United States to abandon that system
in 1789 after only eight years. Confederations, however, have also served other nationsGermany
and Switzerland, for exampleas a preliminary step toward a more unified government. No modern
nation-state is organized along confederate lines, yet some international organizations, such as the
British Commonwealth of Nations, the European Union (formerly the European Community), and
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have some aspects of a confederation.

Divisions of Government
Various political thinkers have distinguished types of government activity. Montesquieu was the first,
however, to urge the creation of three separate institutions or divisions of governmentthe
executive, legislative, and judiciala distinction that became common in almost all modern
constitutions. Some governmental structures, notably that of the United States, are based on the
principle of separation of powers at nearly every level. Executive, legislative, and judicial powers are
divided into three branches of government, creating a system of checks and balances among them
and helping to protect citizens from arbitrary and capricious actions on the part of any of the three
branches. Such protection is crucial in the area of civil rightsthose constitutionally guaranteed
rights that shield the citizen from tyrannical actions bygovernment. Often, in times of grave national
emergency, when the central government needs more power, the public is willing to grant it. The
executive branch usually predominates at such time (see president of the United States).

Proponents of the separation of powers bring an additional argument in its favor: they point out that
the system diminishes the influence of special-interest groups over any one branch of government or
over the government as a whole. It is difficult for even the strongest faction to dominate
a government in which the executive is elected by the entire population, members of the legislature
represent different geographical constituencies, and the judges are appointed by the executive with
the approval of the legislature.

Not all states, of course, have such clear divisions of government, nor do divisions necessarily
guarantee personal liberties. Parliamentary democratic systems, for example, tend to merge
legislative and executive functions yet control the exercise of power by constitutional methods of
sharing it. Authoritarian states may, however, be constitutionally bound to have separate organs
of government yet actually concentrate power in the executive.

Functions of Government

Maintenance of Authority
One of the principal functions of government is to remain in power. Governments do not relinquish
their authority unless compelled to do so. Many of the actions of politicians and civil servants can be
explained by the need to maintain and enhance their power.

Every government strives to increase its legitimacy in the eyes of the people. It may identify itself
with ancient traditions, with hope for the future, or with fear of a common enemy. Some governments
employ repression, never relaxing their vigils against real or imagined opponents. Even
democracies, when threatened, are likely to engage in a search for subversives and "enemies of the
people."

When a regime draws its main support from a privileged class or group that decreases in numbers
and strength, when a government becomes ineffective in handling domestic affairs or countering
external threats, or when a society's consensus on the principles and goals
of government evaporates, a government tends to lose authority. The French monarchy in the 18th
century and the Russian monarchy in the 20th century were based on aristocracies that had lost
much of their legitimacy in the eyes of the people. Eventually these regimes were unable to enforce
their laws, and revolutions swept them from power.

Governments tend, therefore, to foster widespread ideological commitment to the nation through
patriotic ceremonies, propaganda, and civic education; they employ armed forces and intelligence-
gathering organizations for national defense; they maintain police and prison systems to ensure
domestic order; and they undertake the administration of supervisory and regulatory functions to
carry out national goals by establishing various bureaucracies to handle each complex function.
Administration
All governments recognize the principle that the public must be protected and served. The citizen, in
effect, surrenders a degree of individual sovereignty to the government in return for protection of life
and property and the delivery of essential services. Governments supervise the resolution of
conflicting interests, the workings of the political process, the enforcement of laws and rights, and
the monitoring of national income (see income, national) and international trade; they regulate
economic and social relationships among individuals and private organizations; and they carry out
enterprises such as production of military goods, provision of postal services, and ownership
of power utilities and public works. Among the most basic services provided by government are the
printing and coining of money, the provision of roads, sewers, water, education, and social and
welfare services.

With the growth of the welfare state, governments began to provide services such as social
security and health insurance. But the scope of government regulation is now much broader. In the
United States the government sets minimum wages, limits the rates charged by public utilities, buys
farm commodities to keep prices up, forbids the sale of harmful foods and drugs, sets standards for
gasoline consumption by automobiles, requires manufacturers to install antipollution devices, and
monitors the safety of factories. Federal, state, and local governments in the United States also
engage directly in economic activity. They impose taxes, produce and consume goods, sell
electric power, lend money to farmers, and insure bank deposits.

In other countries governments intrude even further into the workings of the economy. In Western
Europe governments own and operate telephone, radio, and television services, railroads, coal
mines, and aircraft companies. In some countries, such as Sweden and Great Britain, the entire
health system is also run by the state. In countries with Communist governments, such as the former
USSR, North Korea, China, and Cuba, the state has attempted to control the entire economic life of
the nation. All economic planning is centralized in the government and its bureaucracies. When the
system fails to produce the goods and services expected by the people, the government is forced to
increase the level of repression of its citizens in order to remain in power.

Internal Conflicts
The end of the cold war and the loss of control by the superpowers over international events have
led to a different type of stress on many governments. The threats to their sovereignty are no longer
external. Many nations, especially those artificially carved out of old empires that expired during both
World Wars, are finding that the arbitrary power that maintained the central governments is no
longer sufficient for the task. The communication revolution, through radio and the satellite
transmission of television, has truly created a "global village." Citizens no longer live in isolation.
They demand the rights and privileges enjoyed by others.

Another kind of demand governments must try to meet comes from ethnic and religious groups that
in some cases seek autonomy from the government. Some of these conflicts result in attempts
at genocide, and the rest of the world appears powerless to intervene. These problems are not
limited to Third World countries. NATO has revised its original purpose of preventing an invasion of
western Europe to a strategy of maintaining smaller mobile forces to prevent the internal breakup of
nations. But these internal conflicts continue to have the potential to produce anarchy and chaos,
threatening entire regions.

International Government
In modern times national governments have become increasingly involved with one another in
supranational systems. The League of Nations, established in 1919, grew to include more than 90
members. It collapsed in World War II but was succeeded by the United Nations (UN). The UN, like
the League, is a voluntary association generally without power to act unless the five permanent
members of the Security Council agree. It has, however, served as a forum for international debate
and a convenient meeting ground for negotiations. The UN has also committed military forces of
member nations in an attempt to limit the scope of conflicts that cannot be solved by national
governments. UN forces have suffered casualties in some of these conflicts. The United Nations is
now an international government in both theory and reality, and the organization will continue to face
many serious challenges in many parts of the world.

Associated with the UN are a number of specialized organizations that perform important
governmental functions. They include the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International
Atomic Energy Agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Court of
Justice (World Court), the International Labor Organization, the International Monetary Fund,
the World Health Organization, and the International Telecommunication Union.

The specialized agencies have enabled national governments to cooperate in many practical
matters such as setting standards, extending technical and financial assistance to developing
countries, eliminating or controlling epidemic diseases, and establishing an international monetary
system.

Regional associations of nations have usually existed in a loose confederation for national security
purposes or for vaguely defined geographical and political purposes. The European Union of 15
member nations has taken the concept of regional association to a much higher level. It has moved
to create a political union among sovereign states, and its Common Market constitutes one of the
major economies of the world.

Reviewed by Thomas B. Hartmann

Rule by the wealthy; a system wherein governance is indebted to, dependent

upon or heavily influenced by the desires of the rich. Plutocratic influence can
Plutocracy alter any form of government. For instance, in a republic, if a significant
number of elected representative positions are dependent upon financial
support from wealthy sources, it is a plutocratic republic.
 Rule by the strong; a system of governance where those who are strong
Kraterocracy(might
enough to seize power through physical force, social maneuvering or political
makes right)
cunning.

Rule by the meritorious; a system of governance where groups are selected

Meritocracy on the basis of people's ability, knowledge in a given area, and contributions
to society.

Rule by the intelligent; a system of governance where creativity, innovation,

Geniocracy intelligence and wisdom are required for those who wish to govern.
Comparable tonoocracy.

Rule by the honourable; a system of governance ruled by honorable citizens

and property owners. Socrates defines a timocracy as a government ruled by
people who love honour and are selected according to the degree of honour
Timocracy
they hold in society. This form of timocracy is very similar to meritocracy, in
the sense that individuals of outstanding character or faculty are placed in the
seat of power.

Rule by the educated or technical experts; a system of governance where

people who are skilled or proficient govern in their respective areas of
expertise in technology would be in control of all decision making. Doctors,
Technocracy engineers, scientists, professionals and technologists who have knowledge,
expertise, or skills would compose the governing body instead of politicians,
businessmen and economists.[1] In a technocracy, decision makers would be
selected based upon how knowledgeable and skillful they are in their field.

Despotic attributes[edit]

Societies with despotism attributes are ruled by a single entity with absolute power, whose decisions
are subject to neither external legal restraints nor regular mechanisms of popular control (except
perhaps for implicit threat). That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a
group, as in an oligarchy. The word despotism means to "rule in the fashion of despots".
 Term Definition

Power resides in the hands of one single person. That person may be, for example,
an absolute monarch or a dictator. The Roman Republic made dictators to lead during
times of war; the Roman dictators only held power for a small time. In modern times, an
Autocracy autocrat's rule is that not stopped by any rules of law, constitutions, or other social and
political institutions. After World War II, many governments in Latin America, Asia, and
Africa were ruled by autocratic governments. Examples of autocrats include Joseph
Stalin, Idi Amin, Muammar Gaddafi, Adolf Hitler and Gamal Abdul Nasser.

Rule by a small number of people. Differently from aristocracy, these people rule
because they share a common attribute (wealth, connections, strength, intelligence,
specialization, honour, et cetera). Generally they are not a specific social class except
Oligarchy
for being usually wealthy such as Russian oligarchs. It is a specific group that
usually constitute the top sectors of the government, although they still may be religious,
military or noble leaders for example.

Monarchic attributes[edit]

Countries with monarchy attributes are those where a family or group of families (rarely another type
of group), called the royalty, represents national identity, with power traditionally assigned to one of
its individuals, called the monarch, who mostly rule kingdoms. The actual role of the monarch and
other members of royalty varies from purely symbolical (crowned republic) to partial and restricted
(constitutional monarchy) to completely despotic (absolute monarchy). Traditionally and in most
cases, the post of the monarch is inherited, but there are also elective monarchies where the
monarch is elected.

Term Definition

A traditional and historical system where the monarch exercises ultimate governing
authority as head of state and head of government. Many nations of Europe during
Absolute
the Middle Ages were absolute monarchies. Modern examples include mainly Islamic
monarchy
countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Brunei and one African
country Swaziland.
 Term Definition

Also called parliamentary monarchy, the monarch's powers are limited by law or by a
formal constitution,[2][3] usually assigning them to those of the head of state. Many
Constitutional
modern developed countries, including the United
monarchy
Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Japan, are constitutional
monarchy systems.

A form of government where the monarch (and family) is an official ceremonial entity
with no political power. The royal family and the monarch are intended to represent
Crowned
the country and may perform speeches or attend an important ceremonial events as a
republic
symbolical guide to the people, but hold no actual power in decision-making,
appointments, et cetera.

A traditional and historical system where the monarch exercises ultimate governing
authority as head of state and head of government. Many nations of Europe during
Absolute
the Middle Ages were absolute monarchies. Modern examples include mainly Islamic
monarchy
countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Brunei and one African
country Swaziland.

Also called parliamentary monarchy, the monarch's powers are limited by law or by a
formal constitution,[2][3] usually assigning them to those of the head of state. Many
Constitutional
modern developed countries, including the United
monarchy
Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Japan, are constitutional
monarchy systems.

Pejorative attributes[edit]

Regardless of the form of government, the actual governance may be influenced by sectors
with political power which are not part of the formal government. Certain actions of the governors,
such as corruption, demagoguery, or fear mongering, may disrupt the intended way of working of the
government if they are widespread enough.
 Term Definition

Rule by banks;[4] a system of governance with excessive power or influence of

Bankocracy banks and other financial authorities on public policy-making. It can also refer to a
form of government where financial institutions rule society.

Rule by corporations; a system of governance where an economic and political

system is controlled by corporations or corporate interests.[5] Its use is generally
Corporatocracy
pejorative. Examples include company rule in India and business voters for
the City of London Corporation.

Rule by nephews; favouritism granted to relatives regardless of merit; a system of

governance in which importance is given to the relatives of those already in
power, like a nephew (where the word comes from). In such governments even if
Nepotocracy
the relatives aren't qualified they are given positions of authority just because they
know someone who already has authority. Pope Alexander VI (Borgia) was
accused of this.

Rule by the stupid; a system of governance where the worst or least-qualified

citizens govern or dictate policies. Due to human nature being inherently flawed, it
Kakistocracy
has been suggested that every government which has ever existed has been a
prime example of kakistocracy. See Idiocracy.

Rule by thieves; a system of governance where its officials and the ruling class in
general pursue personal wealth and political power at the expense of the wider
population. In strict terms kleptocracy is not a form of government but a
Kleptocracy(mafia characteristic of a government engaged in such behavior. Examples include
state) Mexico as being considered a "narcokleptocracy", (narco-state) since its
democratic government is perceived to be corrupted by those who profit from
trade in illegal drugs smuggled into the United States and Vladimir Putin's style of
government in the Russian Federation often called mafia state.
 Term Definition

Rule by the general populace; a system of governance where mob rule is

government by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of legitimate
authorities. As a pejorative for majoritarianism, it is akin to
the Latin phrase mobile vulgus meaning "the fickle crowd", from which the English
Ochlocracy term "mob" was originally derived in the 1680s. Ochlocratic governments are
often a democracy spoiled by demagoguery, "tyranny of the majority" and the rule
of passion over reason; such governments can be as oppressive as autocratic
tyrants. Ochlocracy is synonymous in meaning and usage to the modern, informal
term "mobocracy".

Rule by banks;[4] a system of governance with excessive power or influence of

Bankocracy banks and other financial authorities on public policy-making. It can also refer to a
form of government where financial institutions rule society.

Rule by corporations; a system of governance where an economic and political

system is controlled by corporations or corporate interests.[5] Its use is generally
Corporatocracy
pejorative. Examples include company rule in India and business voters for
the City of London Corporation.

Rule by nephews; favouritism granted to relatives regardless of merit; a system of

governance in which importance is given to the relatives of those already in
power, like a nephew (where the word comes from). In such governments even if
Nepotocracy
the relatives aren't qualified they are given positions of authority just because they
know someone who already has authority. Pope Alexander VI (Borgia) was
accused of this.

Rule by the general populace; a system of governance where mob rule is

government by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of legitimate
Ochlocracy
authorities. As a pejorative for majoritarianism, it is akin to
the Latin phrase mobile vulgus meaning "the fickle crowd", from which the English
term "mob" was originally derived in the 1680s. Ochlocratic governments are
 Term Definition

often a democracy spoiled by demagoguery, "tyranny of the majority" and the rule
of passion over reason; such governments can be as oppressive as autocratic
tyrants. Ochlocracy is synonymous in meaning and usage to the modern, informal
term "mobocracy".

Rule by the stupid; a system of governance where the worst or least-qualified

citizens govern or dictate policies. Due to human nature being inherently flawed, it
Kakistocracy
has been suggested that every government which has ever existed has been a
prime example of kakistocracy. See Idiocracy.

Rule by thieves; a system of governance where its officials and the ruling class in
general pursue personal wealth and political power at the expense of the wider
population. In strict terms kleptocracy is not a form of government but a
Kleptocracy(mafia characteristic of a government engaged in such behavior. Examples include
state) Mexico as being considered a "narcokleptocracy", (narco-state) since its
democratic government is perceived to be corrupted by those who profit from
trade in illegal drugs smuggled into the United States and Vladimir Putin's style of
government in the Russian Federation often called mafia state.

Other attributes[edit]

Term Definition

Rule by the people; in a general sense, in a democracy, all the people of

a state or polity are involved in making decisions about its affairs. Also refer to the rule by
a government chosen by election where most of the populace are enfranchised. The key
distinction between a democracy and other forms of constitutional government is usually
Democracy taken to be that the right to vote is not limited by a person's wealth or race (the main
qualification for enfranchisement is usually having reached a certain age). A democratic
government is, therefore, one supported (at least at the time of the election) by
a majority of the populace (provided the election was held fairly). A "majority" may be
defined in different ways. There are many "power-sharing" (usually in countries where
people mainly identify themselves by race or religion) or "electoral-college" or
 Term Definition

"constituency" systems where the government is not chosen by a simple one-vote-per-

person headcount.

By elements of who elects the empowered[edit]

Dictatorial attributes[edit]

This section needs

expansion.You can help
by adding to it. (December 2012)

Term Definition

Rule by authoritarian governments is identified in societies where a specific set of

people possess the authority of the state in a republic or union. It is a political
Authoritarian
system controlled by unelected rulers who usually permit some degree of individual
freedom.

Rule by a totalitarian government is characterised by a highly centralised and

Totalitarian
coercive authority that regulates nearly every aspect of public and private life.

Democratic attributes[edit]

Term Definition

Variant of democracy; wherein the people or citizens of a country elect

Representative
representatives to create and implement public policy in place of active participation
democracy
by the people.

Social Variant of democracy; social democracy rejects the "either/or"

democracy phobiocratic/polarisation interpretation of capitalism versus socialism. It claims that
fostering a progressive evolution of capitalism will gradually result in the evolution of
 Term Definition

capitalist economy into socialist economy. Social democracy argues that all citizens
should be legally entitled to certain social rights. These are made up of universal
access to public services such as: education, health care, workers' compensation,
public transportation, and other services including child care and care for the elderly.
Social democracy is connected with the trade union labour movement and supports
collective bargaining rights for workers. Contemporary social democracy advocates
freedom from discrimination based on differences of: ability/disability, age, ethnicity,
sex, gender, language, race, religion, sexual orientation, and social class.

Variant of democracy; refers to a system of government in which lawfully elected

Totalitarian representatives maintain the integrity of a nation state whose citizens, while granted
democracy the right to vote, have little or no participation in the decision-making process of the
government.

Variant of democracy; government in which the state is governed by randomly

selected decision makers who have been selected by sortition (lot) from a broadly
inclusive pool of eligible citizens. These groups, sometimes termed "policy juries",
"citizens' juries", or "consensus conferences", deliberately make decisions about
public policies in much the same way that juries decide criminal cases. Demarchy, in
theory, could overcome some of the functional problems of
conventional representative democracy, which is widely subject to manipulation
by special interests and a division between professional policymakers (politicians
Demarchy and lobbyists) vs. a largely passive, uninvolved and often uninformed electorate.
According to Australian philosopher John Burnheim, random selection of
policymakers would make it easier for everyday citizens to meaningfully participate,
and harder for special interests to corrupt the process.

More generally, random selection of decision makers from a larger group is known
as sortition (from the Latin base for lottery). The Athenian democracy made much
use of sortition, with nearly all government offices filled by lottery (of full citizens)
rather than by election. Candidates were almost always male, Greek, educated
citizens holding a minimum of wealth and status.

Direct Variant of democracy; government in which the people represent themselves and
 Term Definition

democracy vote directly for new laws and public policy.

Variant of democracy; a form of government in which representative

democracy operates under the principles of liberalism. It is characterised by fair,
free, and competitive elections between multiple distinct political parties,
a separation of powers into different branches of government, the rule of law in
everyday life as part of an open society, and the protection of human rights and civil
liberties for all persons. To define the system in practice, liberal democracies often
draw upon a constitution, either formally written or uncodified, to delineate the
Liberal powers of government and enshrine the social contract. After a period of sustained
democracy expansion throughout the 20th century, liberal democracy became the predominant
political system in the world. A liberal democracy may take various constitutional
forms: it may be a republic, such as France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Taiwan,
or the United States; or a constitutional monarchy, such asJapan, Spain, or
the United Kingdom. It may have a presidential system (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, or
the United States), a semi-presidential system (France,Portugal, or Taiwan), or
a parliamentary system (Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, India, Italy, New
Zealand, or the United Kingdom).

An electocracy is a political system where citizens are able to vote for their
Electocracy government but cannot participate directly in governmental decision making and
where the government does not share any power.

Term Definition

An electocracy is a political system where citizens are able to vote for their
Electocracy government but cannot participate directly in governmental decision making and
where the government does not share any power.

Variant of democracy; a form of government in which representative

democracy operates under the principles of liberalism. It is characterised by fair,
free, and competitive elections between multiple distinct political parties,
a separation of powers into different branches of government, the rule of law in
Liberal
everyday life as part of an open society, and the protection of human rights and civil
democracy
liberties for all persons. To define the system in practice, liberal democracies often
draw upon a constitution, either formally written or uncodified, to delineate the
powers of government and enshrine the social contract. After a period of sustained
expansion throughout the 20th century, liberal democracy became the predominant
 Term Definition

political system in the world. A liberal democracy may take various constitutional
forms: it may be a republic, such as France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Taiwan,
or the United States; or a constitutional monarchy, such asJapan, Spain, or
the United Kingdom. It may have a presidential system (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, or
the United States), a semi-presidential system (France,Portugal, or Taiwan), or
a parliamentary system (Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, India, Italy, New
Zealand, or the United Kingdom).

Direct Variant of democracy; government in which the people represent themselves and
democracy vote directly for new laws and public policy.

Variant of democracy; government in which the state is governed by randomly

selected decision makers who have been selected by sortition (lot) from a broadly
inclusive pool of eligible citizens. These groups, sometimes termed "policy juries",
"citizens' juries", or "consensus conferences", deliberately make decisions about
public policies in much the same way that juries decide criminal cases. Demarchy, in
theory, could overcome some of the functional problems of
conventional representative democracy, which is widely subject to manipulation
by special interests and a division between professional policymakers (politicians
Demarchy and lobbyists) vs. a largely passive, uninvolved and often uninformed electorate.
According to Australian philosopher John Burnheim, random selection of
policymakers would make it easier for everyday citizens to meaningfully participate,
and harder for special interests to corrupt the process.
More generally, random selection of decision makers from a larger group is known
as sortition (from the Latin base for lottery). The Athenian democracy made much
use of sortition, with nearly all government offices filled by lottery (of full citizens)
rather than by election. Candidates were almost always male, Greek, educated
citizens holding a minimum of wealth and status.

Variant of democracy; refers to a system of government in which lawfully elected

Totalitarian representatives maintain the integrity of a nation state whose citizens, while granted
democracy the right to vote, have little or no participation in the decision-making process of the
government.

Variant of democracy; social democracy rejects the "either/or"

Social phobiocratic/polarisation interpretation of capitalism versus socialism. It claims that
democracy fostering a progressive evolution of capitalism will gradually result in the evolution of
capitalist economy into socialist economy. Social democracy argues that all citizens
 Term Definition

should be legally entitled to certain social rights. These are made up of universal
access to public services such as: education, health care, workers' compensation,
public transportation, and other services including child care and care for the elderly.
Social democracy is connected with the trade union labour movement and supports
collective bargaining rights for workers. Contemporary social democracy advocates
freedom from discrimination based on differences of: ability/disability, age, ethnicity,
sex, gender, language, race, religion, sexual orientation, and social class.

Variant of democracy; wherein the people or citizens of a country elect

Representative
representatives to create and implement public policy in place of active participation
democracy
by the people.

Oligarchic attributes[edit]

Governments with oligarchic attributes are ruled by a small group of segregated, powerful or
influential people who usually share similar interests or family relations. These people may spread
power and elect candidates equally or not equally. An oligarchy is different from a true democracy
because very few people are given the chance to change things. An oligarchy does not have to be
hereditary or monarchic. An oligarchy does not have one clear ruler but several rulers.

Some historical examples of oligarchy are the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Some
critics of representative democracy think of the United States as an oligarchy. TheAthenian
democracy used sortition to elect candidates, almost always male, Greek, educated citizens holding
a minimum of land, wealth and status.

Term Definition

Rule by various judges, the kritarchs; a system of governance composed of law

enforcement institutions in which the state and the legal systems are traditionally
or constitutionally the same entity. The kritarchs, magistrates and other adjudicators
Kritarchy have the legal power to legislate and administer the enforcement of government laws in
addition to the interposition of laws and the resolution of disputes. (Not to be confused
with "judiciary" or "judicial system".) Somalia, ruled by judges with the tradition
of xeer,[6] as well as the Islamic Courts Union, is a historical example.[7]
 Term Definition

Rule by the proletariat, the workers, or the working class. Examples of ergatocracy
Ergatocracy include communist revolutionaries and rebels which control most of society and create
an alternative economy for people and workers. See Dictatorship of the proletariat.

Rule by social connections; a term invented by the editorial board of the American
technology magazine Wired in the early 1990s. A portmanteau of Internet and
aristocracy, netocracy refers to a perceived global upper-class that bases its power on a
technological advantage and networking skills, in comparison to what is portrayed as a
Netocracy
bourgeoisie of a gradually diminishing importance. The netocracy concept has been
compared with Richard Florida's concept of the creative class. Bard and Sderqvist have
also defined an under-class in opposition to the netocracy, which they refer to as the
consumtariat.

Rule by military service; a system of governance composed of military government in

which the state and the military are traditionally or constitutionally the same entity.
Citizens with mandatory or voluntary active military service or who have been honorably
Stratocracy discharged have the right to govern (not to be confused with "military junta" or "military
dictatorship"). The Spartan city-state is a historical example; its social system and
constitution were completely focused on military training and excellence. Stratocratic
ideology often attaches to the honor-oriented timocracy.

Rule by a religious elite; a system of governance composed of religious institutions in

which the state and the church are traditionally or constitutionally the same entity. The
Theocracy
Vatican's (see Pope), Iran's (see Supreme Leader), Tibetan government's (see Dalai
Lama), Caliphates and other Islamic states are historically considered theocracies.

Other attributes[edit]

Term Definition
 Term Definition

A society without a publicly enforced government or political authority.[8][9] Sometimes said

to be non-governance; it is a structure which strives for non-hierarchical, voluntary
associations among agents. Anarchy is a situation where there is no state. When used in
this sense, anarchy may[10] or may not[11] be intended to imply political disorder
or lawlessness within a society.

A modern example could be that of hidden web.[citation needed]

Anarchy This can be a natural, temporary result of civil war in a country, when an established state
has been destroyed and the region is in a transitional period without definitive
leadership.[12] Alternatively, it has been presented as a viable long term choice by
individuals who oppose the state and other forms of coercive hierarchies. These
individuals typically think people should organize in non-hierarchical, voluntary
associations where people voluntarily help each other.[13] There are a variety of forms of
anarchy that attempt to avoid the use of coercion, violence, force and authority, while still
producing a productive and desirable society.[14][15]

A regime type where power is not vested in public institutions (as in a normal democracy)
but spread amongst elite groups who are constantly competing with each other for power.
Examples of anocracies in Africa include the warlords of Somalia and the shared
governments in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Anocracies are situated midway between
an autocracy and a democracy.[16]

The Polity IV dataset[clarification needed] recognised anocracy as a category. In that dataset,

anocracies are exactly in the middle between autocracies and democracies.
Anocracy
Often the word is defined more broadly. For example, a 2010 International
Alert publication defined anocracies as "countries that are neither autocratic nor
democratic, most of which are making the risky transition between autocracy and
democracy".[17] Alert noted that the number of anocracies had increased substantially
since the end of the Cold War. Anocracy is not surprisingly the least resilient political
system to short-term shocks: it creates the promise but not yet the actuality of an inclusive
and effective political economy, and threatens members of the established elite; and is
therefore very vulnerable to disruption and armed violence.

A politically unstable kleptocratic government that economically depends upon the exports
Banana
of a limited resource (fruits, minerals), and usually features a society composed
 Term Definition

republic of stratified social classes, such as a great, impoverished ergatocracy and a ruling
plutocracy, composed of the aristocracy of business, politics, and the military.[18] In political
science, the term banana republic denotes a country dependent upon limited primary-
sector productions, which is ruled by a plutocracy who exploit the national economy by
means of a politico-economic oligarchy.[19] In American literature, the term banana
republic originally denoted the fictional Republic of Anchuria, a servile dictatorship that
abetted, or supported for kickbacks, the exploitation of large-scale plantation agriculture,
especially banana cultivation.[19] In U.S. politics, the term banana republic is a pejorative
political descriptor coined by the American writer O. Henry in Cabbages and Kings (1904),
a book of thematically related short stories derived from his 18961897 residence
in Honduras, where he was hiding from U.S. law for bank embezzlement.[20]

The theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao
Maoism Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a
communist state are to keep in touch with the people.

By elements of how power distribution is structured[edit]

Republican attributes[edit]

A republic is a form of government in which the country is considered a "public matter" (Latin: res
publica), not the private concern or property of the rulers, and where offices of states are
subsequently directly or indirectly elected or appointed rather than inherited.

Term Definition

Rule by a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them,
have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or
chosen by elected people.[21][22] A common simplified definition of a republic is a
Republic government where the head of state is not a monarch.[23][24]Montesquieu included
both democracies, where all the people have a share in rule,
and aristocracies or oligarchies, where only some of the people rule, as republican
forms of government.[25]

Constitutional Rule by a government whose powers are limited by law or a formal constitution, and
 Term Definition

Republic chosen by a vote amongst at least some sections of the populace (Ancient Sparta was
in its own terms a republic, though most inhabitants were disenfranchised). Republics
that exclude sections of the populace from participation will typically claim to represent
all citizens (by defining people without the vote as "non-citizens"). Examples include
the United States, South Africa, India, etc.

A republic form of government where the country is considered a "public matter"

(Latin: res publica), not a private concern or property of rulers/3rd world, and where
Democratic
offices of states are subsequently, directly or indirectly, elected or appointed rather
republic
than inherited where all eligible citizens have an equal say in the local and national
decisions that affect their lives.

A republic, like Germany, India or Singapore, with an elected head of state, but where
Parliamentary the head of state and head of government are kept separate with the head of
republic government retaining most executive powers, or a head of state akin to a head of
government, elected by a parliament.

A federal union of states or provinces with a republican form of government. Examples

Federal
include United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico,Russia,
republic
and Switzerland.

Islamic Republics governed in accordance with Islamic law. Examples

Republic include Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.

Countries like China and Vietnam are meant to be governed for and by the people, but
Socialist with no direct elections. The term People's Republic is used to differentiate
republic themselves from the earlier republic of their countries before the people's revolution,
like the Republic of China.

Federalism attributes[edit]

This section needs

 expansion.You can help
by adding to it. (January 2013)

Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant
(Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to
describe a system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central
governing authority and constituent political units (such as states or provinces). Federalism is a
system based upon democratic rules and institutions in which the power to govern is shared
between national and provincial/state governments, creating what is often called a federation.
Proponents are often called federalists.

Term Definition

Rule by a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them,
have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or
chosen by elected people.[21][22] Montesquieu included both democracies, where all the
Federalism people have a share in rule, and aristocracies or oligarchies, where only some of the
people rule, as republican forms of government.[25]

Examples include the Russian Federation, USSR, the United States, Mexico, Brazil
and India.

A federal monarchy is a federation of states with a single monarch as overall head of the
Federal federation, but retaining different monarchs, or a non-monarchical system of government,
monarchy in the various states joined to the federation.

Modern examples include Malaysia and the UAE.

Federal A federal union of states or provinces with a republican form of government. Examples
republic include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Russia, and Switzerland.

Other power structure attributes[edit]

Term Definition

Rule by a government based on relatively disorganised principles and

Adhocracy
institutions as compared to a bureaucracy, its exact opposite.
 Term Definition

Rule by a government based on small (usually family) unit with a semi-informal

Band society hierarchy, with strongest (either physical strength or strength of character) as
leader. Very much like a pack seen in other animals, such as wolves.

Rule by a system of governance with many bureaus, administrators, and petty

Bureaucracy
officials

Rule by a government based on small complex society of varying degrees of

Chiefdom(Tribalism)
centralisation that is led by an individual known as a chief.

Ruled by a data fed group of secluded individuals that regulates aspects of

Cybersynacy public and private life using data feeds and technology having no interactivity
with the citizens but using "facts only" to decide direction.

A system of democratic government in which the ministers of the executive

branch derive their legitimacy from and are accountable to a legislature or
Parliamentary
parliament; the executive and legislative branches are interconnected. It is a
system
political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can
elect people to represent them.

A system of government where an executive branch is led by a president who

serves as both head of state and head of government. In such a system, this
Presidential system
branch exists separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and
which it cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss.

Rule by a government under the sovereignty of rational laws and civic right as
Nomocracy opposed to one under theocratic systems of government. In a nomocracy,
ultimate and final authority (sovereignty) exists in the law.
Forms of government by other characteristic attributes[edit]
By socio-economic system attributes[edit]
Further information: Economic system

Historically, most political systems originated as socioeconomic ideologies. Experience with those
movements in power and the strong ties they may have to particular forms of government can cause
them to be considered as forms of government in themselves.

Term Definition

A social-economic system in which means of production are commonly owned (either by

the people directly, through the commune or by communist society), and production is
Communism
undertaken for use, rather than for profit.[26][27] Communist society is
thus stateless, classless, moneyless, and democratic.

A social-economic system in which the state plays a key role in the protection and
promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the
Welfare
principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public
state
responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good
life.

A social-economic system in which widespread property ownership as fundamental

right;[28] the means of production are spread as widely as possible rather than being
centralized under the control of the state (state socialism), a few individuals (plutocracy),
Distributism or corporations (corporatocracy).[29] Distributism fundamentally
opposes socialism and capitalism,[30][31] which distributists view as equally flawed and
exploitative. In contrast, distributism seeks to subordinate economic activity to human
life as a whole, to our spiritual life, our intellectual life, our family life".[32]

A social-economic system in which workers negotiate with owners of means of

production (machines, tools, factories, etc.) to use those means of production in
Capitalism exchange for a portion of what the workers produce, usually in the form of capital. The
owners of the means of production are entitled to whatever portion of the products of the
workers' labor that the workers dictate.
 Term Definition

A social-economic system in which workers, democratically and socially own the means
of production[33] and the economic framework may be decentralized, distributed
Socialism or centralized planned or self-managed in autonomous economic units.[34] Public
services would be commonly, collectively, or state owned, such
ashealthcare and education.

A social-economic system of land ownership and duties. Under feudalism, all the land in
a kingdom was the king's. However, the king would give some of the land to the lords or
Feudalism nobles who fought for him. These presents of land were called manors. Then the nobles
gave some of their land to vassals. The vassals then had to do duties for the nobles.
The lands of vassals were called fiefs.

A social-economic system that concentrates power in the state at the expense of

individual freedom. Among other variants, the term subsumes theocracy, absolute
Statism
monarchy, Nazism, fascism, authoritarian socialism, and plain, unadorned dictatorship.
Such variants differ on matters of form, tactics and ideology.

[Verse 1]
When you're feeling lost in the night
When you feel your world just ain't right
Call on me, I will be waiting
Count on me, I will be there
Anytime the times get too tough
Anytime your best ain't enough
I'll be the one to make it better
I'll be there to protect you
See you through
I'll be there and there is nothing
I won't do
[Chorus]
I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero your strength
Anything you need
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time
Promise you
For you I will

[Verse 2]
I will shield your heart from the rain
I will let no harm come your way
Oh these arms will be your shelter
No these arms won't let you down
If there is a mountain to move
I will move that mountain for you
I'm here for you, I'm here forever
I will be your fortress, tall and strong
I'll keep you safe
I'll stand beside you, right or wrong

[Chorus]
I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon (yeah, yeah)
I will be your hero your strength
Anything you need (I will be..)
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time
Promise you
For you I will

[Bridge]
For you I will, lay my life on the line
For you I will fight, oooooh
For you I will die
With every breath, with all my soul
I'll give my world
I'll give it all
Put your faith in me (put you're faith in me)
And I'll do anything

[Chorus]
I will cross the ocean for you (I will cross the ocean for you)
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero your strength
Anything you need
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time
Promise you (Promise you)
For you I will, I will, I will, I will

I will cross the ocean for you

I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero your strength
Anything you need, (Anything you need)
I will be the sun in your sky (yeah, yeah)
I will let you wait for all times
Promise you (I promise you)
For you I will (Ooooh)
I promise you
For you I will