The uses of politics and power vary widely throughout the world today. They have variety throughout history. Not all governments give power to the people, as our government does. In some nations, the freedom we enjoy every day is not permitted to anyone except a few rulers. In some countries, the government controls industries. In others, such as ours, private individual control industries, although there are government rules they must follow. In some countries, monarchs (such as kings or queens) may rule. In other countries a prime minister, president, or dictator may rule. There are many forms of government. Is one best?
             Here are a few of the forms of government most commonly found in existence in the world today:
             Republic: The term republic comes from the Latin words "res publica." It means "the thing of the people." A republic actually belongs to the people. It is a form of government in which the people elect the representatives who rule the country. The representatives are responsible to the people for the laws that are made. The people can reelect the representatives if they are pleased with the government. In most republics, the right to vote is held only by the citizens of the country. A republic is sometimes referred to as a representative democracy. Ancient Rome and Ecuador are two examples of republics.
             Democracy: In a democracy, like a republic, the people hold the ruling power. The difference is that the people rule directly in a democracy. The word democracy comes from two Greek words which together mean "power of the people" – "demos kratos". Instead of electing representatives to rule the government, citizens in a democracy meet to make laws and run the country themselves. (The idea of democracy began in the city-sates of Ancient Greece, particularly the city-state of Athens.) Today, there are few pure democr
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