ntained for their good. All powers
which are exercised without the consent of the people are unjust and
tyrannical.

KINDS.--Government is of two kinds, civil and military.

_Civil government_ is the government of civil society, or the
government of the people in a peaceful state.

_Military government_ is the government of men in a state of war. It
prevails in the army and the navy, and sometimes in districts which are
the scenes of military operations.

Military government is conducted by the rules of martial law, and in
its penalties and exactions is much more severe than civil government.

FORMS OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

There are many forms of civil government, but they may be reduced to
three principal systems:

1. _Monarchy_: government by one person.

2. _Aristocracy_: government by a few persons.

3. _Democracy_: government by the people.

Every government is either one of these forms or is composed of two or
more of them.

MONARCHY.--A _monarchy_ is a government whose chief authority is vested
in one person, usually called king, queen, emperor, empress, or prince.
Monarchies are absolute or limited.

In an _absolute monarchy_ there is no limit to the power of the
monarch; his wishes are the laws of the people. The people are his
property, and in his person are combined all the powers of government,
legislative, executive, and judicial. Russia is the only civilized
nation whose government is still an absolute monarchy.

In a _constitutional monarchy_ the sovereign, or chief ruler, must
govern by laws made by a representative body elected by the people.
England and Germany are constitutional monarchies.

In an _hereditary monarchy_ the sovereign inherits the ruling power,
usually from his father.

In an _elective monarchy_ the sovereign is elected for life, usually by
the dignitaries of other nations.

A _patriarchy_ is a monarchy in which the chief power is exercised by a
patriarch, or father. The authority of the patriarch is confined to
his tribe. This form of government was common in ancient times, before
tribes were combined into nations.

A _theocracy_ is a monarchy whose rulers claim to be under the direct
guidance of God. The government of the ancient Hebrews was a theocracy.

ARISTOCRACY.--An _aristocracy_, sometimes called _oligarchy_, is a
government in which the supreme authority is vested in a privileged
few, distinguished by their wealth and social position.

The privi