A dictatorship is an example of this type of government in which one person holds all the power.

A dictatorship is an example of this type of government in which one person holds all the power.

• A. Democracy
• B. Theocracy
• C. Anarchy
• D. Autocracy

Answer: (D)

Power concentrated in a single ruler describes this form of government. In autocracy, one person holds most or all political authority, and there are few checks on that power. A dictatorship is a specific type of autocracy in which the ruler maintains control through force, propaganda, and control of institutions such as the military and police. This is different from democracy, where citizens participate in elections and have protections that limit rulers’ power; from theocracy, where religious leaders govern according to religious law; and from anarchy, where there is no functional government at all. So, since the defining feature is centralized power in one person, autocracy is the best description.

Power concentrated in a single ruler describes this form of government. In autocracy, one person holds most or all political authority, and there are few checks on that power. A dictatorship is a specific type of autocracy in which the ruler maintains control through force, propaganda, and control of institutions such as the military and police. This is different from democracy, where citizens participate in elections and have protections that limit rulers’ power; from theocracy, where religious leaders govern according to religious law; and from anarchy, where there is no functional government at all. So, since the defining feature is centralized power in one person, autocracy is the best description.