The Shapes from Government consist of the governance policy adopted in the organization of nations.
This is a complex issue that changes over the years as states expand regimes and systems in line with social trends.
The first scholar to reflect on the complexity of government was Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) - a Greek philosopher who dedicated himself to Metaphysics, Ethics and the State and in his work "Politics" analyzes political regimes, as well as their forms. .
See also:What is Politics?According to Aristotle
Aristotle describes government with criteria of justice and objectives that aim at the common good. Thus, he classifies the forms of government by the number and power given to the ruler(s).
According to Aristotle, the following forms of government were legitimate, pure - because they aimed at the common interest:
- Monarchy - King has supreme power
- Aristocracy - Some nobles hold power
- Democracy or Politeia - People have political control
In turn, the following forms that distorted the philosopher's conception of government - the so-called legitimate forms mentioned above - were illegitimate - because they aimed at self-interest - thus corrupting its political essence:
- Tyranny - Corruptly obtained supreme power
- Oligarchy - Power held by a group that exercises it unfairly
- Demagoguery or Olocracy - Power exercised by popular factions
After Aristotle, many other studies addressed this issue, resulting in different forms of government, such as Machiavelli considered:Republic and Principality.
Read more about Demagoguery.
Monarchy and Republic
Monarchy and Republic are the two forms of government that currently predominate.
In Monarchy power is exercised by the king, who is succeeded by descent. In this form of government there is no time limit, so its ruler - the monarch - holds office until his death or abdication.
Monarchy can be Absolute or Constitutional. In the first, power is unlimited, absolute as its name suggests.
As for the Constitutional Monarchy - also called the Parliamentary Monarchy - the government is exercised by the position of the prime minister.
With regard to the Republic, power is exercised by a president - in the case of presidentialism - or a prime minister - in the case of parliamentarism - elected through direct elections (directly by popular vote) or indirect (by representatives chosen by the people, who make up the so-called electoral college). Both the functions of the president and the prime minister are carried out for a fixed term.
Presidentialism and Parliamentarism
Presidentialism and Parliamentarianism are the main types of Democracy.
In Presidentialism, the president has executive powers and performs the positions of Head of State (represents the nation internationally) and Head of Government (manages the nation internally).
In Parliamentarianism, on the other hand, the Head of Government is called the Prime Minister, however the powers are in the hands of Parliamentarians (deputies).
Discover the characteristics of political powers in:Três Poderes.
Around the World
The study and reflection on this matter made it expand, so that different regimes and political systems are currently adopted by the world. Let's see:
- Saudi Arabia - Absolute Monarchy - Theocracy
- China - People's Republic
- United States of America - Presidential Republic
- Japan - Constitutional Monarchy
- Libya - Parliamentary Republic
- United Kingdom - Constitutional Monarchy
In Brazil
Between 1882 and 1889 Brazil went through the monarchic period. Subsequently, with the coup of November 15, 1889, the form of government in force is the Presidential Republic.
Between 1961 and 1963 the form of government in our country was Parliamentarianism.
November 15th marks the historic date of the proclamation of the republic in our country, whose first president was Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca.
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Despotism