Following up on Tuesday's column about terms describing political systems - used and misused, carefully applied or wielded like a hammer - a refresher on that elusive beast which is government. Elusive because she defies all attempts to define her. Beastly because she is, after all, merely a reflection of ourselves - mighty and sometimes unwieldy, prone to corruption when unfettered, but capable of great acts no citizen could manage alone.

Political system: What is it? Not easy to answer; consult dictionary, encyclopedia, treatise by a multiple-Ph.D, and three textbooks and lo and behold, no two definitions will be exactly the same. That's because political systems are about people's complex relationship with government, and that's hard to pin down. It changes day to day and the list is virtually unlimited.

Still, one must try. A political system is the "collective members of a social organization in power." It is a "set of processes of interaction" and the "formal legal institutions that constitute a government or state."

Now, what kinds are there? Social scientists love to categorize. And subcategorize. Then history mucks it up with creativities of exception and redefinition, because no system in absolute purity covers all man's needs. Some might surprise you. Case in point: "democratic socialism" isn't in the same category as communism. It's classified as a form of democracy.

Let's back up.

First, anarchy. Call it a lack of government, no one in charge, state of nature and survival by brute strength and verve. Caveman.

Add rule of one, and we have dictatorship, monarchy, or autocracy, each presiding over all branches of government. A dictatorship is a cult of personality, absolute control with no independent law - Germany's Hitler and North Korea's Kim Jong-Il. A monarchy is similar, but with two exceptions: There are often laws even a monarch follows and unlike a dictatorship, which ends with death or overthrow, monarchy is inherited. Saudi Arabia is the modern classic, but consider Malaysia, where the "monarch" is elected. An autocrat differs from a dictator generally by degree of evil, considered less fearsome. Some called Cuba's Castro an autocrat; others argued dictator.

Now to rule by few: oligarchy, plutocracy, and aristocracy.

Oligarchy is generally a dictatorship stretched past one, concentrating power in the hands of a tyrannical few - by wealth, connection, or even military power. Princeton scholars point to South Africa in the 20th century.

An aristocracy is a monarchy of several, a group of royals ruling by birthright - England around 1700.

A plutocracy differs from aristocracy only in that birth is irrelevant; those with the most wealth get to rule. The city of Carthage and ancient "Republic of Rome" come to mind.

Finally, today's more popular choice, rule by many: democracy (direct or indirect/representative), republic, and communism. Applied socialism is too varied to put in one category, generally functioning as elements of another system, such as education and law enforcement in the U.S. and most other nations.

NEXT TUESDAY: Final installment; the forms of government

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network with degrees in international studies and law. Contact her at sholeh@cdapress.com.