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Autocracy

Definition

A system of government in which one person has absolute power.

Analogy

Imagine if your school was run by a principal who made all decisions without consulting teachers, students or parents. That would be similar to an autocracy - one person calling all the shots without any checks or balances.

Related terms

Dictatorship: A form of government in which a country or a group of countries is ruled by one person or political entity, and exercise through various mechanisms to ensure the entity's power remains strong.

Totalitarianism: A political concept where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible.

Despotism: It is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy.

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Practice Questions (1)

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.