Classification of governments can be based on:

Economy - what provides the goods and services that are bought, sold, and used?
Capitalism (Russia) In a capitalist or free-market economy, people own their own businesses and property and must buy services for private use, such as healthcare. Socialism Communism

(Norway) (Cuba) Socialist governments own many of the larger In a communist country, the government industries and provide education, health and owns all businesses and farms and welfare services while allowing citizens some provides its people's healthcare, economic choices education and welfare.

Politics - how is the government run?

Dictatorship (Iraq)
Rule by a single leader who has not been elected and may use force to keep control. In a military dictatorship, the army is in control. Usually, there is little or no attention to public opinion or individual rights.

Totalitarian (China)

Theocracy (Iran)

Monarchy (Jordan)

Parliamentary (Israel)

Republic (USA)

Anarchy (Afghanistan?)

Rule by a single A form of A monarchy political party. government has a king or People are forced where the rulers queen, who to do what the claim to be sometimes has government tells ruling on behalf absolute them and may of a set of power. Power also be prevented religious ideas, is passed along from leaving the or as direct through the country. agents of a family deity.

A parliamentary A republic is led Anarchy is a system is led by by representatives situation where representatives of the of the voters. there is no people. Each is Each is government. chosen as a member individually This can happen of a political party chosen for a set after a civil war in and remains in power period of time. a country, when a as long as his/her government has party does been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place.

Authority - who picks the government?

Revolutionary

Totalitarian

Oligarchy/Plutocracy

Democracy (India) In a democracy, the government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote which is a majority of the population - has a chance to have their say over who runs the country.

(USA, France, USSR etc) (North Korea) (Pakistan) The existing structure is Rule by a single political A form of government which consists of rule overthrown by a completely new party. by an elite group who rule in their own group. The new group can be very Votes for alternative interests, especially the accumulation of small - such as the military - or candidates and parties wealth and privilege. Only certain members of very large - as in a popular are simply not allowed. society have a valid voice in the government. revolution. After a period of time, Citizens are allowed and This can reflect (but is not limited to) this 'becomes' one of the other 'encouraged' to vote, economic interests, a particular religious type of government (unless there but only for the tradition (theocracy), or familial rule is another coup or uprising). government's chosen (monarchy). candidates.

REMEMBER: nearly every country in the world is ruled by a system that combines 2 or more of these (for example, the USA is not a true capitalist society, since the government actually provides some services for its citizens). Additionally, one person's opinion of the type of government may differ from another's (many argue that the USA is actually a plutocracy rather than a democracy).