Government is the most important factor of a state. It is the soul of state. It means that a government is the physical manifestation of the state, but government is not sovereign, whatever power it has, these are held by it by the virtue of being the representative of the state.

Different forms of Government: 

In different forms of government, the major ones are monarchy, aristocracy, dictatorship and democracy: 

(1) Monarchy: 

Monarchy is such a system of governance, wherein the supreme power of state rests in one person or a king. In historical context, monarchy is possibly the most ancient system of administration. In previous eras, this system of governance was prevalent in almost all the countries of the world.

In monarchy, qualities are less and defects are more. Monarchy, in the hands of incapable and selfish kings, turns it into a system of sheer injustice. The distorted form of monarchy is autocracy. Hence, at present, monarchy is considered as discarded system of governance. 

(2) Aristocracy: 

This means, a system of governance, wherein power of governance is centralized in the hands of some persons on the basis of their birth or an elite lineage. In Greece, aristocracy was the recognized system of governance. Plato and Aristotle had supported this. In aristocracy, law is all pervading. In this system, State and government are operated on the basis of intellect, quality and culture, but the general public is dealt with discrimination. This type of administration is an impediment to social progress. This is also against democratic concept.

(3) Dictatorship: 

In this type of system of governance, the power rests in the hands of a person or a group of persons. Dictator has monopoly on governance. In this mechanism, the ruler has unlimited powers. He gets the power through unconstitutional means and retains this by military strength. There is a centralization of powers in such an administration. Instead of being based on laws, administration is based on whims of the ruler.

In this type of administration, the administrator, while putting people under psychological control, decimates their emotions, desires and liberties. The spirit of justice, equality and freedom is rarely existent. Restrictions are imposed on citizens.

(4) Democracy: 

This system of administration is accepted as the best way of governance. In this mechanism, besides freedom, equality and justice, the people are provided enormous rights in economic, social, political and cultural spheres. In the backdrop of democracy there is public force. For the works of public welfare, public interest and development and also for the establishment of benevolent principles, goals, concept and objectives and their achievement, this system of administration is established. In this, people’s desire is the symbol of sovereignty. The people are allpowerful. The people have control on administration through adult franchise.