One leader or group has all the power in society. What is this system called?

• A. Authoritarianism
• B. Democracy
• C. Federalism
• D. Monarchy

Answer: (A)

Centralized power with limited or no checks and balances describes authoritarianism. In this system, one leader or a small group holds most or all political power and controls many aspects of life, often constraining elections, civil liberties, and opposition. The government operates with little accountability, using its authority to maintain control rather than reflect the will of the people.

This fits the description because democracy involves power from the people and regular free elections, federalism splits power between levels of government, and monarchy refers to rule by a monarch (which can be ceremonial or absolute). But the key idea here is the concentration of power in one leader or a ruling group, which is the hallmark of authoritarianism.