View source for List of countries by system of government

{{Short description|none}}
{{For|further information|List of forms of government}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Original research|date=April 2024}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Systems of government}}
{{Basic forms of government}}
This is a list of [[List of sovereign states|sovereign states]] by their ''[[de jure]]'' systems of government, as specified by the incumbent regime's [[constitutional law]]. This list does not measure the degree of [[democracy]], [[political corruption]], or [[state capacity]] of governments.

==Parliamentary systems==
===Constitutional monarchies===
These are systems in which the [[head of state]] is a [[constitutional monarch]]; the existence of their office and their ability to exercise their authority is established and restrained by [[constitutional law]].

Systems in which a [[prime minister]] is the active head of the [[executive branch]] of government. In some cases, the prime minister is also the leader of the [[legislature]], while in other cases the executive branch is clearly separated from legislature (although the entire cabinet or individual ministers must step down in the case of a [[vote of no confidence]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stortinget.no/no/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/|title=The Constitution|date=4 September 2019|website=Stortinget}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/norway/|title=Europe :: Norway — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|date=27 June 2022 }}</ref> The head of state is a [[monarch]] who normally only exercises their powers with the consent of the government, the people and/or their representatives (except in emergencies, e.g. a constitutional crisis or a political deadlock).{{efn|Some monarchs are given a limited number of discretionary [[reserve power]]s only to be used in certain circumstances in accordance with their responsibility to defend the constitution.}}

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Andorra}}{{efn |name=and |content=The [[Bishop of Urgell]] and [[President of France]] serve as ''[[ex officio]]'' [[Co-Prince of Andorra|co-princes]] who have their interests known through a [[Governor-General|representative]].}}
*{{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm |content=One of fifteen constitutional monarchies which recognize the [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]] as head of state, who presides over an independent government. The Monarch is titled separately in each country (e.g. [[King of Australia]]), and notionally appoints a [[Governor-General]] (GG) to each country other than the United Kingdom to act as his representative. The [[prime minister]] (PM) is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. These countries may be known as "[[Commonwealth realm]]s".<br />In many cases, the Governor-General or monarch has a lot more theoretical, or constitutional, powers than they actually exercise, except on the advice of elected officials, per [[constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]]. For example, the [[Constitution of Australia]] makes the GG the head of the executive branch (including [[commander-in-chief]] of the armed forces), although they seldom ever use this power, except on the advice of elected officials, especially the PM, which makes the PM the ''[[de facto]]'' head of government.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}}}
*{{flag|Australia}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Bahamas}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Belgium}}
*{{flag|Belize}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Cambodia}}
*{{flag|Canada}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*''{{flag|Cook Islands}}''{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}{{efn |name=NZ-Monarch |content=The [[Cook Islands]] and [[Niue]] are under the sovereignty of the Monarch of New Zealand as self-governing [[associated states|states in free association]] with New Zealand. New Zealand and its associated states, along with [[Tokelau]] and the [[Ross Dependency]], comprise the [[Realm of New Zealand]].{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}}}
*{{flag|Denmark}}{{efn |name=DanishRealm |content=The [[Danish Realm]] consists of [[Denmark]], [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]] and all are under the sovereignty of the [[Monarchy of Denmark|Monarch of the Danish Realm]].}}
*{{flag|Grenada}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Jamaica}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Japan}}
*{{flag|Lesotho}}
*{{flag|Luxembourg}}
*{{flag|Malaysia}}
*{{flag|Netherlands}}
*{{flag|New Zealand}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}{{efn |name=NZ-Monarch}}
*''{{flag|Niue}}''{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}{{efn |name=NZ-Monarch}}
*{{flag|Norway}}
*{{flag|Papua New Guinea}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Saint Lucia}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Solomon Islands}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|Spain}}
*{{flag|Sweden}}
*{{Flag|Thailand}}
*{{flag|Tuvalu}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}{{efn |name=Commonwealthrealm}}
{{div col end}}

===Parliamentary republics===
In a [[parliamentary republic]], the [[head of government]] is selected or nominated by the legislature and is also accountable to it. The [[head of state]] is usually called a [[President (government title)|president]] and (in full parliamentary republics) is separate from the head of government, serving a largely apolitical, ceremonial role. In these systems, the head of government is usually called the prime minister, chancellor or premier. In mixed republican systems and [[Directorial republic|directorial republican systems]], the head of government also serves as head of state and is usually titled president.

In some full parliamentary systems, the head of state is directly elected by voters. Under other classification systems, however, these systems may instead be classed as [[semi-presidential systems]] as presidents are always attached to a political party and may have broad powers (despite their weak presidency).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Elgie |first1=Robert |title=Presidentialism, Parliamentarism and Semi-Presidentialism: Bringing Parties Back In |journal=Government and Opposition |date=2 January 2013 |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=392–409 |doi=10.1111/j.1477-7053.2011.01345.x|s2cid=145748468 |url=http://doras.dcu.ie/20746/1/G_and_O_Samuels_and_Shugart_DORAS.pdf }}</ref> Full [[Parliamentary republic|parliamentary republican systems]] with presidents being purely ceremonial and neutral with no broad powers usually do not have a directly elected head of state and instead often use either an [[electoral college]] or a vote in the legislature to appoint the president.

====Parliamentary republics with directly elected ceremonial heads of state====
{{div col}}
*{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}{{efn |content=Collective presidency consisting of three members; one for each major ethnic group.}}{{efn |content=Despite having a collective head of state, Bosnia and Herzegovina's head of state is ceremonial, and as such is not executively governed by a directorial system.}}
*{{flag|Bulgaria}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Bulgaria's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2015 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bulgaria_2015.pdf?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Croatia}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Croatia's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2010 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Croatia_2010.pdf?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Czech Republic 1993 (rev. 2013) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Czech_Republic_2013?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Finland}}
*{{flag|Iceland}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Iceland's Constitution of 1944 with Amendments through 2013 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iceland_2013.pdf?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ireland}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Ireland's Constitution of 1937 with Amendments through 2012 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Ireland_2012.pdf |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Moldova}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Moldova (Republic of) 1994 (rev. 2016) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Moldova_2016?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Montenegro}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Montenegro 2007 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Montenegro_2007?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|North Macedonia}}
*{{flag|Serbia}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Serbia 2006 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Serbia_2006?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Singapore}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Singapore 1963 (rev. 2016) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Singapore_2016?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Slovakia}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Slovakia 1992 (rev. 2017) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Slovakia_2017?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Slovenia}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Slovenia 1991 (rev. 2013) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Slovenia_2013?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

====Parliamentary republics with indirectly elected ceremonial heads of state====
{{div col}}
*{{flag|Albania}}
*{{flag|Armenia}}
*{{flag|Barbados}}
*{{flag|Dominica}}
*{{flag|Estonia}}
*{{flag|Ethiopia}}
*{{flag|Fiji}}
*{{flag|Georgia}}
*{{flag|Germany}}
*{{flag|Greece}}
*{{flag|Hungary}}
*{{flag|India}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}
*{{flag|Israel}}
*{{flag|Italy}}
*''{{flag|Kosovo}}''
*{{flag|Latvia}}
*{{flag|Lebanon}}
*{{flag|Malta}}
*{{flag|Mauritius}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Samoa}}
*{{flag|San Marino}}{{efn |content=Their two-person head of state, the [[Captains Regent]], serve for six month terms.}}<ref>{{cite web |title=San Marino: Constitution - 1974 |url=https://www.rightofassembly.info/assets/downloads/1974_Constitution_of_San_Marino.pdf |website=Peaceful Assembly Worldwide}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/san-marino/freedom-world/2021 | title=San Marino: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report }}</ref>{{efn |name=SM|content=Despite having a collective head of state, San Marino's head of state is ceremonial, and as such is not executively governed by a directorial system.}}
*{{flag|Somalia}}
*{{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
*{{flag|Togo}}
*{{flag|Vanuatu}}
{{div col end}}

====Parliamentary republics with an executive president====
{{main|Parliamentary republics with an executive president}}

A combined head of state and head of government in the form of an [[executive president]] is either elected by the legislature or by the voters from among candidates nominated by the legislature (in the case of Kiribati),<ref name=kiribaticonst/> and they must maintain the confidence of the legislature to remain in office. In effect, "presidents" in this system function the same as prime ministers do in other [[parliamentary system]]s.

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Botswana}}{{efn |content=The president is elected by the parliament and holds a parliamentary seat (as an ''[[ex-officio]]''), much like a prime minister. If a vote of no confidence is successful and they do not resign, it triggers the dissolution of the legislature and new elections (per section 92 of the [[Constitution of Botswana|Constitution]]).}}
*{{flag|Guyana}}{{efn|[[President of Guyana|President]] and [[National Assembly (Guyana)|legislature]] are elected directly by the people via [[double simultaneous vote]].}}{{efn |content=The president is constitutionally obligated to dissolve parliament after a successful no-confidence motion against the government (article 106(6)) and new elections are called within 3 months (article 61).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://parliament.gov.gy/constitution.pdf|title=CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA ACT|last1=Constitution|year=2012|website=Parliament of Guyana}}</ref>}}
*{{flag|Kiribati}}<ref name=kiribaticonst>{{cite web |title=Kiribati's Constitution of 1979 with Amendments through 1995 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Kiribati_1995.pdf?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>{{efn|content=Per the Constitution, Kiribati's president is elected by plurality voting after candidates for the presidency are nominated by the newly elected legislature. If a vote of no confidence against the president is successful, they are removed from office and the legislature stands dissolved (triggering a new election for it) in the interim a body known as the "Council of State" (comprising the chief justice, the president of the public service commission and speaker of the legislature) serves the functions of the presidency.}}
*{{flag|Marshall Islands}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Marshall Islands 1979 (rev. 1995) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Marshall_Islands_1995?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Nauru}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Nauru 1968 (rev. 2015) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Nauru_2015?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|South Africa}}<ref>{{cite web |title=South Africa's Constitution of 1996 with Amendments through 2012 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/South_Africa_2012.pdf?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Suriname}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Grondwet Suriname 1987 (Suriname 1987 Constitution)|url=https://www.dna.sr/wetgeving/surinaamse-wetten/geldende-teksten-tm-2005/grondwet-suriname/ |website=www.dna.sr |access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref>{{efn |content= According to constitution of Suriname the Parliament is the highest college of state, and that the government is accountable to parliament; Constitution Chapter XIII, Art. 117, paragraph 2. The parliament can also remove the president by majority vote based on article 74a, 82 of the constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sris.sr/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Grondwet-met-Mvt.pdf|title=Grondwet van Suriname [Constitution of Suriname]}}</ref>}}
{{div col end}}

Non-UN members or observers are in italics.

==Presidential systems==
<noinclude><!-- The content of this section is transcluded at Presidential system#States with a presidential system of government -->
In [[presidential system]], a [[President (government title)|president]] is both the [[Head of state|head of state]] and [[Head of government|head of government]], and is elected and remains in office independently of the legislature. There is generally no prime minister, although if one exists, in most cases they serve purely at the discretion of the president.</noinclude>

===Presidential republics without a prime minister===

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Angola}}{{efn|[[President of Angola|President]] and [[National Assembly (Angola)|legislature]] are elected directly by the people via [[double simultaneous vote]].}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.angolaembassy.org.il/documents/AngolaConstitution05.02.2010.pdf |title=CONSTITUIÇÃO DA REPÚBLICA DE ANGOLA  |access-date=3 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328113805/http://www.angolaembassy.org.il/documents/AngolaConstitution05.02.2010.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
*{{flag|Argentina}}
*{{flag|Benin}}
*{{flag|Bolivia}}{{efn|[[President of Bolivia|President]] and [[Plurinational Legislative Assembly|legislature]] are elected directly by the people via [[double simultaneous vote]].}}
*{{flag|Brazil}} 
*{{flag|Chile}}
*{{flag|Colombia}}
*{{flag|Comoros}}
*{{flag|Costa Rica}}
*{{flag|Cyprus}}
*{{flag|Dominican Republic}}
*{{flag|Ecuador}}
*{{flag|El Salvador}}
*{{flag|Gabon}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/gabon-president-nguema-takes-office-01bf39c9d2166da3649fdf469883532c|title=Gabon swears in former military chief as president, signalling return to constitutional order|website=Associated Press|date=3 May 2025|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>
*{{flag|The Gambia}}
*{{flag|Ghana}}
*{{flag|Guatemala}}
*{{flag|Honduras}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}
*{{flag|Liberia}}
*{{flag|Malawi}}
*{{flag|Maldives}}
*{{flag|Mexico}}
*{{flag|Nicaragua}}
*{{flag|Nigeria}}
*{{flag|Palau}}
*{{flag|Panama}}
*{{flag|Paraguay}}
*{{flag|Philippines}}
*{{flag|Seychelles}}
*''{{flag|Somaliland}}''
*{{flag|Syria}}<ref>{{cite web |date=14 March 2025 |title=Syria's new constitution gives sweeping powers, ignores minority rights |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20250314-syria-s-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights |accessdate=15 March 2025 |publisher=rfi}}</ref>
*{{flag|Turkey}}
*{{flag|Turkmenistan}} 
*{{flag|United States}} 
*{{flag|Uruguay}}{{efn|[[President of Uruguay|President]] and [[General Assembly of Uruguay|legislature]] are elected directly by the people via [[double simultaneous vote]].}}
*{{flag|Venezuela}}
*{{flag|Zambia}}
*{{flag|Zimbabwe}}
{{div col end}}

Non-UN members or observers are in italics.

===Presidential republics with a prime minister===
The following countries have presidential systems where the post of prime minister (official title may vary) exists alongside that of the president. The president is still both the head of state and government and the prime minister's role is to mostly assist the president.
{{div col}}
*''{{flag|Abkhazia}}''
*{{flag|Burundi}}
*{{flag|Cameroon}}
*{{flag|Central African Republic}}
*{{flag|Djibouti}}
*{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}
*{{flag|Ivory Coast}}
*{{flag|Kenya}} (see [[Prime Cabinet Secretary]])
*{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
*{{flag|Senegal}}
*{{flag|Sierra Leone}} (see [[List of heads of government of Sierra Leone|Chief minister]])
*{{flag|South Korea}}
*{{flag|Tajikistan}}
*{{flag|Tanzania}}
*{{flag|Tunisia}}
*{{flag|Uganda}}
{{div col end}}
Non-UN members or observers are in italics.

==Hybrid systems==
===Semi-presidential republics===
<noinclude><!-- The content of this section is transcluded at Semi-presidential republic#Republics with a semi-presidential system of government -->
In a [[semi-presidential republic]] a president exists alongside a prime minister and a [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]], with the latter two being responsible to the legislature. It differs from a parliamentary system in that it has an executive president independent from the legislature; and from the presidential system in that the cabinet, although named by the president, is responsible to the legislature, which may force the cabinet to resign through a [[motion of no confidence]].<ref name="Duverger1980">{{Cite journal |last=Duverger|journal=[[European Journal of Political Research]] |type=quarterly |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=165–187 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-6765.1980.tb00569.x |doi-access=free |quote=The concept of a semi-presidential form of government, as used here, is defined only by the content of the constitution. A political regime is considered semi-presidential if the constitution which established it combines three elements: (1) the president of the republic is elected by universal suffrage, (2) he possesses quite considerable powers; (3) he has opposite him, however, a prime minister and ministers who possess executive and governmental power and can stay in office only if the parliament does not show its opposition to them. |title=A New Political System Model: Semi-Presidential Government|year=1980}}</ref><ref name="Veser1997">{{Cite journal |last=Veser |first=Ernst |author-link=:de:Ernst Veser |year=1997 |title=Semi-Presidentialism-Duverger's concept: A New Political System Model |url=http://www.rchss.sinica.edu.tw/app/ebook/journal/11-01-1999/11_1_2.pdf |journal=Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=39–60 |access-date=21 August 2016 |archive-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208014114/http://www.rchss.sinica.edu.tw/app/ebook/journal/11-01-1999/11_1_2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Pouvoirs1996">{{cite magazine |last=Duverger |first=Maurice |author-link=Maurice Duverger |date=September 1996 |title=Les monarchies républicaines |trans-title=The Republican Monarchies |url=http://www.revue-pouvoirs.fr/IMG/pdf/78Pouvoirs_p107-120_monarchies_republicaines.pdf |language=fr |magazine=[[Pouvoirs, revue française d'études constitutionnelles et politiques]] |location=Paris |publisher=Éditions du Seuil |oclc=909782158 |issn=0152-0768 |isbn=2-02-030123-7 |issue=78 |pages=107–120 |access-date=10 September 2016 |archive-date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001151614/https://revue-pouvoirs.fr/IMG/pdf/78Pouvoirs_p107-120_monarchies_republicaines.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="DuvergerRevisited">{{cite journal |last1=Bahro |first1=Horst |last2=Bayerlein |first2=Bernhard H. |last3=Veser |first3=Ernst |author-link3=:de:Ernst Veser |date=October 1998 |title=Duverger's concept: Semi-presidential government revisited |journal=[[European Journal of Political Research]] |type=quarterly |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=201–224 |doi=10.1111/1475-6765.00405 |s2cid=153349701 |quote=The conventional analysis of government in democratic countries by political science and constitutional law starts from the traditional types of presidentialism and parliamentarism. There is, however, a general consensus that governments in the various countries work quite differently. This is why some authors have inserted distinctive features into their analytical approaches, at the same time maintaining the general dichotomy. Maurice Duverger, trying to explain the French Fifth Republic, found that this dichotomy was not adequate for this purpose. He therefore resorted to the concept of 'semi-presidential government': The characteristics of the concept are (Duverger 1974: 122, 1978: 28, 1980: 166):<br />1. the president of the republic is elected by universal suffrage,<br />2. he possesses quite considerable powers and<br />3. he has opposite him a prime minister who possesses executive and governmental powers and can stay in office only if parliament does not express its opposition to him. }}</ref></noinclude>

====President-parliamentary systems====
In a president-parliamentary system, the prime minister and cabinet are dually accountable to the president and the legislature.<ref name=semi/>

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Austria}}{{efn |name=AT |content=The [[Republic of Austria]] is ''de jure'' [[semi-presidential]] according to the country's [[Constitution of Austria|Constitution]], but is ''de facto'' more like a [[parliamentary republic]]. According to the [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]], the [[Chancellor of Austria|Chancellor]] is the country's leading political figure, despite nominally being ranked third according to the Constitution.}}
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}}<ref name="Zaznaev">{{cite journal|last=Zaznaev|first=Oleg|date=2005|title=Атипичные президентские и полупрезидентские системы|trans-title=Atypical presidential and semi-presidential systems|url= https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/atipichnye-prezidentskie-i-poluprezidentskie-sistemy/viewer|language=ru|journal=Uchenyye Zapiski Kazanskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta|volume=147|issue=1|pages=62–64|access-date=3 April 2021}}</ref>
*{{flag|Belarus}}<ref>[[Constitution of Belarus]], 106, 97.5 97.7.</ref>
*{{flag|Chad}}<ref>{{cite web |author1=Leubnoudji Tan Nathan |title=Chad's Proposed New Constitution: Between Hopes for Refoundation and an Uncertain Future |url=https://constitutionnet.org/news/chads-proposed-new-constitution-between-hopes-refoundation-and-uncertain-future |website=ConstitutionNet |publisher=[[International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance]] |access-date=12 June 2024 |date=4 October 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Congo, Republic of the}}
*{{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}}<ref>https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2017)010-e {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
*{{flag|Mauritania}}
*{{flag|Mozambique}}
*{{flag|Namibia}}
*{{flag|Peru}}
*{{flag|Russia}}<ref name="Zaznaev"/>
*{{flag|Rwanda}}
*''{{flag|South Ossetia}}''
*''{{flag|Taiwan}}''{{efn|[[Constitution of the Republic of China|Nominally]] a [[parliamentary republic]]; the semi-presidential system is based on [[Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China|temporary additional articles]]. According to the [[Constitution of the Republic of China]], the [[National Assembly (Republic of China)|National Assembly]] indirectly elects the [[President of the Republic of China|President of the Republic]], which is the ceremonial figurehead of the state. Executive power rested with the [[Premier of the Republic of China|President of the Executive Yuan]], who is nominated and appointed by the president, with the consent of the [[Legislative Yuan]]. The additional articles made the President directly elected by the citizens of the [[Free area of the Republic of China|free area]] and replaced Legislative Yuan confirmation for Premieral appointments with a conventional [[vote of no confidence]], superseding the ordinary constitutional provisions. A [[sunset clause]] in the additional articles will terminate them in the event of a hypothetical resumption of ROC rule in Mainland China.}}
*''{{flag|Transnistria}}''
*{{flag|Uzbekistan}}
{{div col end}}

Non-UN members or observers are in italics.

====Premier-presidential systems====
In a premier-presidential system, the prime minister and cabinet are exclusively accountable to the legislature.<ref name=semi/>

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Algeria}}
*{{flag|Cape Verde}}
*{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo|name=Congo, Democratic Republic of the}}
*{{flag|East Timor}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|France}}
*{{flag|Lithuania}}
*{{flag|Madagascar}}
*{{flag|Mongolia}}
*''{{flag|Northern Cyprus}}''
*{{flag|Poland}}{{refn|<ref>{{cite web |title=Poland 1997 (rev. 2009) |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Poland_2009?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=9 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Veser |first=Ernst |author-link=:de:Ernst Veser |date=23 September 1997 |title=Semi-Presidentialism-Duverger's Concept — A New Political System Model |url=https://www.rchss.sinica.edu.tw/files_news/11-01-1999/11_1_2.pdf|access-date=21 August 2017 |publisher=Department of Education, School of Education, [[University of Cologne]], zh |pages=39–60 |quote=Duhamel has developed the approach further: He stresses that the French construction does not correspond to either parliamentary or the presidential form of government, and then develops the distinction of 'système politique' and 'régime constitutionnel'. While the former comprises the exercise of power that results from the dominant institutional practice, the latter is the totality of the rules for the dominant institutional practice of power. In this way, France appears as 'presidentialist system' endowed with a 'semi-presidential regime' (1983: 587). By this standard, he recognizes Duverger's ''pléiade'' as semi-presidential regimes, as well as Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania (1993: 87). }}</ref><ref name="Draft">{{cite journal |last=Shugart |first=Matthew Søberg |author-link=Matthew Søberg Shugart |date=September 2005 |title=Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive and Mixed Authority Patterns |url=http://dss.ucsd.edu/~mshugart/semi-presidentialism.pdf |journal=Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819200307/http://dss.ucsd.edu/~mshugart/semi-presidentialism.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2008 |access-date=21 August 2017 }}</ref><ref name="Shugart2005">{{cite journal |last=Shugart |first=Matthew Søberg |author-link=Matthew Søberg Shugart |date=December 2005 |title=Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive And Mixed Authority Patterns |url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1057%2Fpalgrave.fp.8200087.pdf |journal=French Politics |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=323–351 |doi=10.1057/palgrave.fp.8200087 |doi-access=free |access-date=21 August 2017 |quote=Even if the president has no discretion in the forming of cabinets or the right to dissolve parliament, his or her constitutional authority can be regarded as 'quite considerable' in Duverger's sense if cabinet legislation approved in parliament can be blocked by the people's elected agent. Such powers are especially relevant if an extraordinary majority is required to override a veto, as in Mongolia, Poland, and Senegal. In these cases, while the government is fully accountable to Parliament, it cannot legislate without taking the potentially different policy preferences of the president into account. }}</ref><ref name="McMenamin" >{{cite web |last=McMenamin |first=Iain |title=Semi-Presidentialism and Democratisation in Poland |url= http://webpages.dcu.ie/~mcmenami/Poland_semi-presidentialism_2.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120212225305/http://webpages.dcu.ie/~mcmenami/Poland_semi-presidentialism_2.pdf |archive-date=12 February 2012 |publisher=School of Law and Government, [[Dublin City University]] |access-date=11 December 2017 }}</ref>}}
*{{flag|Portugal}}
*{{flag|Romania}}
*{{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
*{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
*{{flag|Ukraine}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kudelia |first1=Serhiy |title=Presidential activism and government termination in dual-executive Ukraine |journal=Post-Soviet Affairs |date=4 May 2018 |volume=34 |issue=4 |pages=246–261 |doi=10.1080/1060586X.2018.1465251|s2cid=158492144 }}</ref>
{{div col end}}

Non-UN members or observers are in italics.

===Assembly-independent republics===
====Assembly-independent parliamentary republics with an executive president====
A combined head of state and head of government (usually titled president) is elected by the legislature but is not held accountable to it (as is their cabinet), thus acting more independently from the legislature.<ref name=semi>{{cite journal |last1=Shugart |first1=Matthew Søberg |title=Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive And Mixed Authority Patterns |journal=French Politics |date=December 2005 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=323–351 |doi=10.1057/palgrave.fp.8200087|doi-access=free }}</ref> They may or may not also hold a seat in the legislature.

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Federated States of Micronesia}}{{efn |name=Combo |content=Holds a legislative seat.}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Micronesia (Federated States of)'s Constitution of 1978 with Amendments through 1990 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Micronesia_1990.pdf?lang=en |website=www.constituteproject.org |access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

====Directorial republic====
In a [[directorial system|directorial republic]], a council jointly exercises the powers of the head of government [[collective leadership|collectively]]. The council is elected by the parliament but is not subject to [[Confidence (political science)|parliamentary confidence]] during its fixed term. The president who exercises the ceremonial roles of the head of state is a member of the directorial council in a ''[[primus inter pares]]'' (first among equals) capacity and has no powers over other members of the directory.
{{div col}}
*{{flag|Switzerland}}{{efn |name=CH |content=The [[President of the Swiss Confederation|President of Switzerland]] serves solely in a {{lang|la|[[primus inter pares]]}} capacity amongst the [[Swiss Federal Council]], Switzerland's seven-member [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]] which acts as both the head of state and the head of government, with the position traditionally rotating yearly among the members of the council in order of seniority.}}
{{div col end}}

===Semi-constitutional monarchies===
The prime minister is the nation's active executive, but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at their own discretion.

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Bahrain}}
*{{flag|Bhutan}}
*{{flag|Jordan}}
*{{flag|Kuwait}}
*{{flag|Liechtenstein}}
*{{flag|Monaco}}
*{{flag|Morocco}}
*{{flag|Qatar}}
*{{flag|Tonga}}
*{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}{{efn |name=Ae |content= A federal absolute monarchy in which different monarchies or, in this case, sheikhdoms fulfill both the duty of president and prime minister, although in actuality they are monarchs.}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Stewart|first=Dona J.|title=The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives|publisher=Routledge|date=2013|location=London and New York|isbn=978-0415782432|page=155}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Day|first=Alan John|title=Political Parties of The World|publisher=Stockton|date=1996|isbn=1561591440|page=599}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Theocratic republic==
{{flag|Iran}} combines the forms of a presidential republic, with a president elected by universal suffrage, and a [[theocracy]], with a [[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]] who is ultimately responsible for state policy, chosen for life by the elected [[Assembly of Experts]]. Candidates for both the Assembly of Experts and the presidency are vetted by the appointed [[Guardian Council]].  {{Main|Politics of Iran}}

==Absolute monarchies==
Specifically, monarchies in which the monarch's exercise of power is unconstrained by any substantive constitutional law. The monarch acts as both head of state and head of government.
{{div col}}
*{{flag|Brunei}}
*{{flag|Eswatini}}
*{{flag|Oman}}
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
*''{{flag|Vatican City}}''{{efn |name=Va |content=The Vatican is an [[elective monarchy|elective]] absolute monarchy and a Roman Catholic theocracy; its monarch, the [[Pope]], is the head of the global [[Roman Catholic Church]]. His power within the Vatican City State is unlimited by any constitution; however, as all its citizens and its residents are ordained Catholic clergy, members of the [[Swiss Guard]], or their immediate family, they arguably have consented to obey the Pope or are minors. (Citizenship is {{Lang|la|jus officii}}, on the grounds of appointment to work in a certain capacity in the service of the Holy See and usually ceases upon cessation of the appointment. Citizenship is also extended to the spouse and children of a citizen, provided they are living together in the city; in practice, these are few in number, since the bulk of Vatican citizens are [[clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church|celibate]] Catholic clerics or [[religious life|religious]]. Some individuals are also authorized to reside in the city but do not qualify or choose not to request citizenship.)<ref>"[https://www.vaticanstate.va/it/stato-governo/legislazione-e-normativa/leggi-e-decreti/category/1-alcune-leggi.html?download=11:legge-sulla-cittadinanza-la-residenza-e-l-accesso Law on citizenship, residence and access]" (in Italian). Vatican City State. 11 February 2011.</ref>}}
{{div col end}}

Non UN members or observers are in italics.

==One-party states==
States in which political power is ''by law'' concentrated within [[one-party state|one political party]] whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy (in contrast to states where a [[multi-party system]] formally exists, but [[Dominant-party system|this fusion is achieved anyway through election fraud or underdeveloped multi-party traditions]]).

{{div col}}
*{{flag|China|name=China}} <small>([[Chinese Communist Party|Communist Party]] leads eight minor political parties) ([[List of political parties in China|list]])</small>{{efn |name=CHNhead |content=The [[President of the People's Republic of China|President of China]] is legally a [[figurehead|ceremonial office]]; however, since 1993, the presidency has been held by the [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]], who is the most powerful figure in the political system.<ref name="Head of China">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/world/asia/china-xi-jinping-term-limit-explainer.html|title=Ending Term Limits for China's Xi Is a Big Deal. Here's Why. – Is the presidency powerful in China?|author=Chris Buckley and Adam Wu|date=10 March 2018|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|access-date=1 December 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312103512/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/world/asia/china-xi-jinping-term-limit-explainer.html|archive-date=12 March 2018|quote=In China, the political job that matters most is the general secretary of the Communist Party. The party controls the military and domestic security forces and sets the policies that the government carries out. China's presidency lacks the authority of the American and French presidencies.}}</ref> For more information see [[politics of China]].}}
*{{flag|Cuba}} <small>([[Communist Party of Cuba|Communist Party]]) ([[List of political parties in Cuba|list]])</small>
*{{flag|Eritrea}} <small>([[People's Front for Democracy and Justice]]) ([[List of political parties in Eritrea|list]])</small>
*{{flag|North Korea}} <small>([[Workers' Party of Korea|Workers' Party]] leads two minor parties) ([[List of political parties in North Korea|list]])</small>
*{{flag|Laos}} <small>([[Lao People's Revolutionary Party|People's Revolutionary Party]] leads the [[Lao Front for National Construction|Front for National Construction]]) ([[List of political parties in Laos|list]])</small>
*''{{flag|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}'' <small>([[Polisario Front]])</small>
*{{flag|Vietnam}} <small>([[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]] leads the [[Vietnamese Fatherland Front|Fatherland Front]]) ([[List of Vietnamese political parties|list]])</small>
{{div col end}}

Non-UN members or observers are in italics.

==Military juntas==
A committee of the nation's military leaders controls the government for the duration of a [[state of emergency]]. Constitutional provisions for government are suspended in these states; constitutional forms of government are stated in parentheses.

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Burkina Faso}} {{small|([[semi-presidential republic]])}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60118993|title=Burkina Faso military says it has seized power|website=[[BBC News]]|date=24 January 2022|access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Madagascar}} {{small|([[semi-presidential republic]])}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8xjjdgl8vo|title=Madagascar military says it has seized power as president moves to 'safe place'|website=[[BBC News]]|date=14 October 2025|access-date=15 October 2025}}</ref>
*{{flag|Guinea}} {{small|([[presidential republic]])}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/africa-guinea-army-government-dissolved-214f607402a533c581bbd7ef91d5bb0f|title=Army colonel on Guinean TV says govt dissolved, borders shut|website=[[AP news|AP NEWS]]|date=5 September 2021|access-date=5 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-58453778|title=Guinea coup attempt: Soldiers claim to seize power from Alpha Condé|access-date=5 September 2021|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=5 September 2021}}</ref>
*{{flag|Mali}} {{small|([[presidential republic]])}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Booty |first1=Natasha |last2=Pivac |first2=Mark |title=Assimi Goïta: President gets sweeping powers in new Mali constitution |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66282417 |access-date=4 August 2023 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=23 July 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Myanmar}} {{small|([[assembly-independent republic]])}}<ref name="Myanmar">{{cite web |last1=Abebe |first1=Adem |last2=Bulmer |first2=Elliot |title=Electing Presidents in Presidential and Semi-Presidential Democracies |url=https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/electing-presidents-in-presidential-and-semi-presidential-democracies.pdf |publisher=[[International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance]] |access-date=14 February 2024 |date=2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Paddock |first1=Richard C. |title=Myanmar Junta's Political Prisoners Since Coup Now Number 10,000 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/world/asia/myanmar-coup-prisoners.html |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=31 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Niger}} {{small|([[semi-presidential republic]])}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Aksar |first1=Moussa |last2=Balima |first2=Boureima |title=
Niger soldiers say President Bazoum's government has been removed |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/soldiers-nigers-presidential-guard-blockade-presidents-office-security-sources-2023-07-26/ |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=Reuters |date=27 July 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Sudan}} {{small|([[presidential republic]])}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gavin |first1=Michelle |title=Junta and Public at Odds in Sudan |url=https://www.cfr.org/blog/junta-and-public-odds-sudan |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=[[Council on Foreign Relations]] |date=8 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jeffrey |first1=Jack |title=Analysis: Year post-coup, cracks in Sudan's military junta |url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-africa-cairo-sudan-democracy-2b87ee19685ec2667ac05acff8b4ed9e |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=[[Associated Press News]] |date=23 October 2022 |location=[[Cairo, Egypt]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sudan's Constitution of 2005 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Sudan_2005.pdf?lang=en |website=constituteproject.org |access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Governments without a permanent constitution==
===Provisional governments===
States that have a system of government that is in transition or turmoil. These regimes lack a permanent constitution.

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Bangladesh}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaikh |first=Emran Hossain |date=2024-08-07 |title=Interim govt: What the law says |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/parliament/353947/interim-govt-what-the-law-says |website=Dhaka Tribune }}</ref><ref name="Dr Yunus-led interim govt legal: SC">{{Cite news |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/court/supreme-court-legitimises-interim-govt-912966|title=Dr Yunus-led interim govt legal: SC|website=THE BUSINESS STANDARD|date=9 August 2024|access-date=10 August 2024|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810073631/https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/court/supreme-court-legitimises-interim-govt-912966 |archive-date=10 August 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flag|Haiti}}
*{{flag|Libya}}
*{{flag|Nepal}}<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF8qRC-zcfg |title=Nepal Protests Big Update: Chief Justice Sushila Karki Chosen As Interim Leader of Nepal |date=10 September 2025 |author=[[CNN-News18]] |access-date=10 September 2025 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
*{{flag|Palestine}}''<ref name="UN_RES_6719">{{UN doc |body=A |type=R |session=67 |resolution_number=19 |docid=A/RES/67/19 |url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/19862D03C564FA2C85257ACB004EE69B |title=Status of Palestine in the United Nations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012121039/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/19862D03C564FA2C85257ACB004EE69B |archive-date=12 October 2015 |date=2012-11-29|quote=Taking into consideration that the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in accordance with a decision by the Palestine National Council, is entrusted with the powers and responsibilities of the Provisional Government of the State of Palestine}}</ref>
*{{flag|South Sudan}}
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg}} [[Syria]]<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2025-03-31 |title=Syria swears in new transitional government months after Assad's removal |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/30/middleeast/syria-new-transitional-government-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
*{{flag|Yemen}}{{efn |name=YE|[[Yemeni civil war (2014–present)|Disputed]] between the internationally recognized [[Presidential Leadership Council]] and the [[Supreme Political Council]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ghobari |first1=Mohamed |last2=Tolba |first2=Ahmed |title=Yemen president cedes powers to council as Saudi Arabia pushes to end war |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemen-president-relieves-deputy-his-post-2022-04-07/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Reuters|location=[[Aden]] |date=8 April 2022}}</ref>}}
{{div col end}}

Non-UN members or observers are in italics.

=== Islamic theocracy===
{{flag|Afghanistan}}{{efn|name=AF|Afghanistan: {{as of|2023}}, the ruling Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan [[Recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|was mostly unrecognized]] and the defunct {{flag|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan}} remained recognized by the United Nations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Michelle |date=15 December 2022 |title=Afghan Taliban Administration, Myanmar Junta Not Allowed Into United Nations for Now |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/afghan-taliban-administration-myanmar-junta-not-allowed-into-united-nations-now-2022-12-15/ |access-date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222082508/https://www.reuters.com/world/afghan-taliban-administration-myanmar-junta-not-allowed-into-united-nations-now-2022-12-15/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Bezhan |first=Frud |date=7 September 2021 |title=Key Figures In The Taliban's New Theocratic Government |url=https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-government-figures/31448372.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206103928/https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-government-figures/31448372.html |archive-date=6 February 2022 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=[[Radio Farda]] |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=George |first=Susannah |date=18 February 2023 |title=Inside the Taliban campaign to forge a religious emirate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2023/afghanistan-taliban-islamic-law-rights/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218082415/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2023/afghanistan-taliban-islamic-law-rights/ |archive-date=18 February 2023 |access-date=19 February 2025 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> has a [[theocratic]] system wherein the [[Supreme Leader of Afghanistan|Supreme Leader]] holds unlimited political power and the [[Quran]] is used in place of a constitution.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmad |first1=Javid |date=26 January 2022 |title=The Taliban's religious roadmap for Afghanistan |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/talibans-religious-roadmap-afghanistan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126024710/https://www.mei.edu/publications/talibans-religious-roadmap-afghanistan |archive-date=26 November 2022 |access-date=19 February 2025 |website=[[Middle East Institute]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ziaei |first1=Hadia |date=4 September 2022 |title=Officials: Afghanistan Does Not Need a Constitution |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-179697 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126034250/https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-179697 |archive-date=26 November 2022 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=[[TOLOnews]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dawi |first1=Akmal |date=28 March 2023 |title=Unseen Taliban Leader Wields Godlike Powers in Afghanistan |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/unseen-taliban-leader-wields-godlike-powers-in-afghanistan-/7026112.html |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=[[Voice of America]]}}</ref>
{{main|Politics of Afghanistan}}

==Systems of internal structure==
===Unitary states===
{{Main|Unitary state}}A [[State (polity)|state]] governed as a single power in which the [[central government]] is ultimately supreme and any [[administrative division]]s (sub-national units) exercise only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate. The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. Of the 193 [[Member states of the United Nations|UN member states]], 126 are governed as centralized unitary states, and an additional 40 are regionalized unitary states.

====Centralized unitary states====
States in which most power is exercised by the central government. What local authorities do exist have few powers.

====Regionalized unitary states====
{{Main|Regional state}}
States in which the [[central government]] has delegated some of its powers to regional authorities, but where constitutional authority ultimately remains entirely at a national level.

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}} <small>([[Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan|59 districts]], and [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|1 autonomous republic]])</small>
*{{flag|Bolivia}} <small>([[Administrative divisions of Bolivia|9 departments]])</small>
*{{flag|Chile}} <small>([[Administrative divisions of Chile|16 regions]])</small>
*{{flag|China}} <small>([[Provinces of China|22 provinces]], [[Autonomous regions of China|5 autonomous regions]], [[Direct-controlled municipality of China|4 province-level municipalities]], [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|2 special administrative regions]], and [[Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China|1 claimed province]])</small>
*{{flag|Colombia}} <small>([[Departments of Colombia|34 departments]], and [[Bogotá|1 capital district]])</small>
*{{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}} <small>([[Districts of Ivory Coast|14 autonomous districts]])</small>
*{{flag|Denmark}} <small>([[Regions of Denmark|5 regions]], and [[Danish Realm|2 self-governing territories]])</small>
*{{flag|Finland}} <small>([[Regions of Finland|19 regions]], and {{flag|Åland}})</small>
*{{flag|France}} <small>([[regions of France|18 regions]], of which 5 are [[Overseas collectivity|overseas regions]])</small>
*{{flag|Georgia}} <small>([[Administrative divisions of Georgia (country)|9 regions]], and [[Administrative divisions of Georgia (country)|2 autonomous republics]])</small>
*{{flag|Greece}} <small>([[Decentralized administrations of Greece|7 decentralized administrations]], and [[Monastic community of Mount Athos|1 autonomous monastic state]])</small>
*{{flag|Indonesia}} <small>([[provinces of Indonesia|38 provinces]], of which 9 have [[Subdivisions of Indonesia#First level|special status]])</small>
*{{flag|Israel}} <small>([[Districts of Israel|6 districts]], [[Judea and Samaria Area]])</small>
*{{flag|Italy}} <small>([[regions of Italy|20 regions]], of which 5 are autonomous)</small>
*{{flag|Japan}} <small>([[Prefectures of Japan|47 prefectures]])</small>
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}} <small>([[Regions of Kazakhstan|17 regions]], 3 cities with region rights)</small>
*{{flag|Kenya}} <small>([[Counties of Kenya|47 counties]])</small>
*{{flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands}} <small>([[Countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands|4 constituent countries]])</small> 
*{{flag|Mauritania}} <small>([[Regions of Mauritania|15 regions]])</small>
*{{flag|Moldova}} <small>([[Administrative divisions of Moldova|32 districts]], 3 municipalities, and 2 autonomous territorial units)</small>
*{{flag|New Zealand}} <small>([[Regions of New Zealand|16 regions]], [[Tokelau|1 self-administering territory]], and [[Associated State|2 states in free association]])</small> 
*{{flag|Nicaragua}} <small>([[Departments of Nicaragua|15 departments]], [[Zelaya Department|2 autonomous regions]])</small> 
*{{flag|Norway}} <small>([[Counties of Norway|10 counties]], [[Oslo|1 autonomous city]], [[List of possessions of Norway|2 integral overseas areas]], [[Dependencies of Norway|3 dependencies]])</small>
*{{flag|Papua New Guinea}} <small>([[Provinces of Papua New Guinea|20 provinces]], [[Autonomous Region of Bougainville|1 autonomous region]], and [[National Capital District (Papua New Guinea)|1 national capital district]])</small>
*{{flag|Peru}} <small>(25 [[Regions of Peru|regions]], and 1 [[Lima province|province]])</small> 
*{{flag|Philippines}} <small>([[Bangsamoro|one autonomous region]] subdivided into [[Provinces of the Philippines|5 provinces]] and [[List of primary local government units of the Philippines|113 other provinces and independent cities]] grouped into [[Regions of the Philippines|17 other non-autonomous regions]])</small>
*{{flag|Poland}} <small>([[Voivodeships of Poland|16 voivodeships]])</small>
*{{flag|Portugal}} <small>([[Districts of Portugal|18 districts]], and [[autonomous regions of Portugal|2 autonomous regions]])</small>
*{{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}} <small>([[Districts of São Tomé and Príncipe|6 districts]], and {{flag|Príncipe}})</small>
*{{flag|Serbia}} <small>([[Districts of Serbia|29 districts]], [[Administrative divisions of Serbia|2 autonomous provinces]] (one of which is a partially recognized ''de facto'' independent state), and [[Belgrade|1 autonomous city]])</small>
*{{flag|Solomon Islands}} <small>([[Provinces of Solomon Islands|9 provinces]], and [[Honiara|1 capital territory]])</small>
*{{flag|South Africa}} <small>([[Provinces of South Africa|9 provinces]])</small>
*{{flag|South Korea}} <small>([[Provinces of South Korea|8 provinces]], [[list of special cities of South Korea|6 special cities]], and [[Jeju province|1 autonomous province]])</small>
*{{flag|Spain}} <small>([[Autonomous communities of Spain|17 autonomous communities]], [[Communities of chartered regime|15 communities of common-regime, 1 community of chartered regime, 3 chartered provinces]], [[autonomous cities of Spain|2 autonomous cities]])</small>
*{{flag|Sri Lanka}} <small>([[Provinces of Sri Lanka|9 provinces]])</small>
*{{flag|Tajikistan}} <small>([[Regions of Tajikistan|3 regions]], [[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region|1 autonomous region]], and [[Dushanbe|1 capital city]])</small>
*{{flag|Tanzania}} <small>([[Regions of Tanzania|21 regions]], and {{flag|Zanzibar}})</small>
*{{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}} <small>([[Regions and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|9 regions]], [[Tobago|1 autonomous island]], 3 boroughs, and 2 cities)</small>
*{{flag|Ukraine}} <small>([[Oblasts of Ukraine|24 oblasts]], [[City with special status|2 cities with special status]], and {{flag|Autonomous Republic of Crimea|name=Crimea}})</small>
*{{flag|United Kingdom}} <small>([[Countries of the United Kingdom|4 countries]] – {{flag|England}}, {{flag|Scotland}}, [[Northern Ireland]] and {{flag|Wales}}, of which 3 have [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|devolved governments]] – [[Scottish Government|Scotland]], [[Northern Ireland Executive|Northern Ireland]] and [[Welsh Government|Wales]])</small>
*{{flag|Uzbekistan}} <small>([[Regions of Uzbekistan|3 regions]], [[Tashkent|1 independent city]], and one autonomous republic: {{flag|Karakalpakstan}})</small>
{{div col end}}

===Federation===
{{Main|Federation}}
States in which the [[Federal government|national government]] shares power with regional governments with which it has legal or constitutional [[wikt:parity|parity]]. The central government may or may not be (in theory) a creation of the regional governments.

{{div col}}
*{{flag|Argentina}} <small>([[Provinces of Argentina|23 provinces]] and [[Buenos Aires|one autonomous city]])</small>
*{{flag|Australia}} <small>([[States and territories of Australia|six states, two self-governing territories]] and eight [[Direct Rule|directly-administered]] territories)</small>
*{{flag|Austria}} <small>([[States of Austria|nine states]])</small>
*{{flag|Belgium}} <small>([[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|three regions and three linguistic communities]])</small>
*{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} <small>([[Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina|two entities]] and [[Brčko District|one district]] that is a condominium of the two entities)</small>
*{{flag|Brazil}} <small>([[States of Brazil|26 states]] and the [[Federal District (Brazil)|Federal District]])</small>
*{{flag|Canada}} <small>([[Provinces and territories of Canada|ten provinces and three territories]])</small>
*{{flag|Ethiopia}} <small>([[Regions of Ethiopia|10 regions and 2 chartered cities]])</small>
*{{flag|Germany}} <small>([[States of Germany|16 states]])</small>
*{{flag|India}} <small>([[States and territories of India|28 states]] and [[Union territory|8 union territories]])</small>
*{{flag|Iraq}} <small>([[Governorates of Iraq|18 governorates]] and [[Regions of Iraq|one region]]: {{flag|Kurdistan}})</small>
*{{flag|Malaysia}} <small>([[States of Malaysia|13 states]] and [[Federal Territory (Malaysia)|three federal territories]])</small>
*{{flag|Mexico}} <small>([[States of Mexico|32 states]])</small>
*{{flag|Federated States of Micronesia}} <small>({{flag|Chuuk}}, {{flag|Kosrae}}, {{flag|Pohnpei}} and {{flag|Yap}})</small>
*{{flag|Nepal}} <small>([[Provinces of Nepal|seven provinces]])</small>
*{{flag|Nigeria}} <small>([[States of Nigeria|36 states]] and one federal territory: [[Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)|Federal Capital Territory]])</small>
*{{flag|Pakistan}} <small>([[Administrative units of Pakistan|4 provinces, 2 autonomous territories and 1 federal territory]])</small>
*{{flag|Russia}} <small>([[Oblasts of Russia|46 oblasts]], [[Republics of Russia|21 republics]], [[Krais of Russia|nine krais]], [[Autonomous okrugs of Russia|four autonomous okrugs]], [[Federal cities of Russia|two federal cities]], [[Jewish Autonomous Oblast|one autonomous oblast]])</small>
*{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} <small>([[Saint Kitts]], {{flag|Nevis}})</small>
*{{flag|Somalia}} <small>([[States and regions of Somalia|six federal member states]])</small>
*{{flag|South Sudan}} <small>([[States of South Sudan|ten states]])</small>
*{{flag|Sudan}} <small>([[States of Sudan|17 states]])</small>
*{{flag|Switzerland}} <small>([[Cantons of Switzerland|26 cantons]])</small>
*{{flag|United Arab Emirates}} <small>([[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|seven emirates]])</small>
*{{flag|United States}} <small>([[U.S. state|50 states]], one [[incorporated territory]], and one federal district: {{flag|District of Columbia}})</small>
*{{flag|Venezuela}} <small>([[States of Venezuela|23 states]], [[Capital District (Venezuela)|one capital district]], and the {{flag|Federal Dependencies of Venezuela}})</small>
{{div col end}}

==European Union==
{{main|List of European Union member states by political system}}

The exact political character of the [[European Union]] is debated, some arguing that it is {{Lang|la|[[sui generis]]}} (unique), but others arguing that it has features of a [[federation]] or a [[confederation]]. It has elements of [[intergovernmentalism]], with the [[European Council]] acting as its collective "president", and also elements of [[supranationalism]], with the [[European Commission]] acting as its executive and bureaucracy.<ref>For a more detailed discussion, see John McCormick, ''European Union Politics'' (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Chapters 1 and 2.</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of countries by date of transition to a republican system of government]]
*[[List of political systems in France]]
*[[List of current heads of state and government]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Countries By System of Government}}
[[Category:Lists of countries by system of government| ]]
[[Category:Government-related lists|System]]
[[Category:Countries by form of government]]