What kind of government is a theocracy?

A theocracy is a form of government in which religious leaders hold the primary authority and governance is based on religious laws and principles. In this system, the political leaders are typically believed to be divinely inspired or appointed by a deity, and their decrees are considered to be based on sacred texts and the dictates of the faith they represent. This kind of governance often intertwines with the moral and ethical guidelines of the religion, influencing not just political decisions but also societal norms and laws.

The characteristics of a theocracy can be seen in historical examples such as ancient Egypt, where pharaohs were considered gods, or in modern cases like Iran, where the supreme leader wields significant power grounded in Islamic law. This contrasts distinctly from systems governed by military leaders, multimedia influences, or democratic principles, which operate under different sets of rules and ideologies.