What type of government is characterized by absolute power held by one leader or group of people?

The type of government characterized by absolute power held by one leader or a specific group of individuals is authoritarianism. In an authoritarian regime, the political authority is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or a small cadre of leaders. These leaders maintain power often through coercive means, limiting personal freedoms and restricting political opposition. Citizens typically have little to no say in the governance of the country, and political pluralism is often suppressed.

In contrast, democratic systems are based on the principles of representative or participatory governance, where power is distributed among various elected representatives or is derived from the active engagement of the citizenry. Both representative and participatory models emphasize inclusivity and the involvement of the public in decision-making processes, fundamentally opposing the idea of absolute power held by a single entity. These distinctions highlight the nature of governance and political authority, clearly positioning authoritarianism as the correct answer in this context.