Which form of government is characterized by a single person holding all power?

The form of government characterized by a single person holding all power is a dictatorship. In a dictatorship, the ruler possesses absolute authority over the state and often governs without the consent of the people or without any constitutional limitations. This concentration of power typically results in a lack of political pluralism and little to no public involvement in decision-making processes.

While both monarchies and dictatorships can involve a single leader, a monarchy can also be constitutional, with powers limited by laws or a parliament. In contrast, a dictatorship specifically denotes a situation where one individual exerts control, often through authoritarian means.

Democracy, on the other hand, entails governance based on the collective will of the people, usually through elected representatives, while oligarchy involves rule by a small group of individuals rather than a single leader. This distinction highlights why dictatorship is the accurate choice for the question regarding a government led by a single person with total power.