Politics, Law & Government
The world today is divided territorially into more than 190 countries, each of which possesses a national government that claims to exercise sovereignty and seeks to compel obedience to its will by its citizens. Governments can be classified in any number of ways. For example, they might be classified by the number of rulers, thus distinguishing government by one (as in a monarchy or a tyranny) from government by the few (in an aristocracy or oligarchy) and from government by the many (as in a democracy). Governments can also be classified by mode of succession; for example, ascension to governmental leadership may follow the rules of hereditary succession, or it may be determined through elections or by force. Governments also vary in terms of the laws and rules of conduct that each political entity follows.
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Featured content, February 16, 2026
property law
Property law, principles, policies, and rules by which disputes over property are to be resolved and by which property transactions...
international payment and exchange
International payment and exchange, respectively, any payment made by one country to another and the market in which national...
insurance
Insurance, a system under which the insurer, for a consideration usually agreed upon in advance, promises to reimburse the...
military aircraft
Military aircraft, any type of aircraft that has been adapted for military use. Aircraft have been a fundamental part of...
inheritance
Inheritance, the devolution of property on an heir or heirs upon the death of the owner. The term inheritance also designates...
constitutional law
Constitutional law, the body of rules, doctrines, and practices that govern the operation of political communities. In modern...
fascism
Fascism, political ideology and mass movement that dominated many parts of central, southern, and eastern Europe between...
police
Police, body of officers representing the civil authority of government. Police typically are responsible for maintaining...
Politics, Law & Government Quizzes
50 States, 50 Fun Facts Quiz
Find out something that makes each state great.
63 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Visual Arts Quizzes
How much do you know about the visual arts? You’ll need to know your Monet from your Manet—and a whole lot more—to make it...
80s Music Quiz
You can quiz if you want to, you can leave your friends behind...
90s Music Quiz
During the ’90s, reggae, contemporary R&B, alternative rock, and hip-hop dominated the popular music scene. It was a period...
Numbers and Mathematics
A-B-C, 1-2-3… If you consider that counting numbers is like reciting the alphabet, test how fluent you are in the language...
A Book Review: Fact or Fiction?
InThe War of the Worlds, were the enemies of Earth from Venus? Unlock your imagination and discover the literary...
A Brief History of the Computer Told from the 1990s: A Quiz
Sure, you may know all there is to know about the latest Macbook Pro. But can you compete in computer history as told from...
A Capital Idea
The city or town that functions as the seat of government and administrative center of a country, state, territory or province...
A Few Facts About Food Processing Quiz
How much do you know about where your food comes from? What about the science behind food processing? Test your knowledge...
A Game of Tennis: Fact or Fiction?
You may be familiar with Serena Williams and Andre Agassi, but how much do you really know about tennis? From its gameplay...
Politics, Law & Government Videos
Politics, Law & Government Subcategories
Banking & BusinessThis general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- legal profession
- European UnionEuropean organization
- international trade
Businesspeople & EntrepreneursThis general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Nawaz Sharifprime minister of Pakistan
- Donald Trump45th and 47th president of the United States
- Indra NooyiAmerican business executive
Economics & Economic SystemsEconomic system, any of the ways in which humankind has arranged for its material provisioning. One would think that there would be a great variety of such systems, corresponding to the many cultural arrangements that have characterized human society.
Articles
- coincurrency
- Soviet Unionhistorical state, Eurasia
- social securitygovernment program
International RelationsInternational relations is the study of the relations of states with each other and with international organizations and certain subnational entities (e.g., bureaucracies, political parties, and interest groups). It is related to a number of other academic disciplines, including political science, geography, history, economics, law, sociology, psychology, and philosophy.
Articles
- Liberal-Democratic Party of Japanpolitical party, Japan
- diplomacy
- World Bankinternational organization
Law, Crime & PunishmentThis general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- policelaw enforcement
- inheritancelaw
- constitutional law
MilitaryThis general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- war collegeeducational institution
- Army of TennesseeConfederate army during American Civil War
- United States Air ForceUnited States military
Politics & Political SystemsThis general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- intelligenceinternational relations
- political philosophy
- diplomacy
World LeadersThis general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- first ladyUnited States title
- CharlemagneHoly Roman emperor [747?–814]
- India
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