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The form of state
The term form of state can be understood in various ways. This can be achieved by dividing the form of rule into monarchy and democracy. Another form is the division based on the form of government. This would then be the classification into monarchies and republics. The third variant would be the classification according to the organisational form of the states, i.e. their internal structure. In this case, a distinction is made between unitary states and federal states.
Classification by form of rule
Forms of government can be categorised in many different ways. One dimension of this classification is the number of people who determine the political direction. This may be a small number of people, a single individual, or the majority of the population. If only a few or a single person holds power, forms of government can be categorised as a monarchy, theocracies, dictatorships, oligarchies and other forms. In most common depictions, however, this form is represented only by the monarchy. If the majority of the population rules, the forms of government may include democracy, anarchy or others. However, democracy is used as the representative form of rule for this situation.
Classification by form of government
Classification based on the form of government divides the forms of state into monarchies and republics. This classification may coincide with the classification based on the form of rule. However, there is also a view in which the two are distinct. In a monarchy, it is always assumed that the state is ruled by one or a few individuals, but that the state also serves this group of rulers.
A republic differs from a democracy in that a republic serves the entire population, whereas in a democracy the entire population rules. A republic is usually democratic. However, it can also be ruled by only a part of the population, for example.
The Roman Republic (509 BC to 27 BC) was a republic that was primarily ruled by an oligarchy. There was a popular assembly, the Comitia, which was elected by the people. This assembly voted on laws proposed by the magistrates, elected the members of the magistracy, and voted on verdicts in criminal proceedings. However, decisions could not be made without the Senate. The Senate, in turn, was determined by a small number of censors. Membership of the Senate was restricted to a select few, consisting essentially of patricians, the noble upper class of the Roman Empire. The government was thus a mixture of democracy and monarchy.
In one-party states, only one political party remains in power permanently. There is usually an opposition. However, due to legal regulations or other factors, it has no realistic chance of taking power. The population therefore has no genuine choice regarding the political direction of the country, even though elections are usually held. Leaders are selected through internal party procedures, which likewise do not allow the general public to exert any influence. However, these states are republics, as they are oriented towards the common good and are governed by a large section of the population. There is also a significant gap between a republic and a democracy.
Classification by internal structure
States can be organised as unitary states or federal states.
A unitary state is administered centrally, usually via the state’s capital. The administration of regional units is carried out through administrative units subordinate to the central administration. A unitary state is sometimes also referred to as a centralised state.
In contrast, federal states are organised into constituent states. These are organised by local governments, for example with regional parliaments and governors. Unlike in a confederation, the constituent states are not sovereign.
