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A dictatorship is a government headed by a dictator.

Originally a legitimate military office in the Roman Republic, the dictator was given his powers by the Senate. The dictator had absolute power, but for a limited time.

In the twentieth century, the term dictatorship has come to mean a government in which absolute power is concentrated in the hands of a dictator and sometimes his cronies. Many Latin American dictators have held the title of President, but wield extraordinary, often non-constitutional powers. Still other modern dictators seize power in a military coup d'état, and are supported by the military.

The dictator generally controls the three state powers : legislative, executive and judicial.

In dictatorship, there is not periodical universal, free, direct and secret polling of the citizens to elect the leaders. In some dictatorships, the power was obtained originally from democratic elections (like Hitler's nazism), but later the rest of parties and races were persecuted and no more free elections happened (see human rights).

The dictator and dictatorship members are subject to national and international responsibility for their acts (see International Criminal Court).

See also:

• Absolute monarchy
• Totalitarism
• Humanitarian interference

External Links:

• The Dictatorship
• Dictators and Tyrants Database Encyclopedia