What are the four ways of ruling a country?

The four common ways of ruling a country are democracy, autocracy, monarchy, and oligarchy. In a democracy, power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives. An autocracy is ruled by a single individual with absolute power, while a monarchy is led by a king or queen, which can be either absolute or constitutional. Oligarchy features a small group of individuals or families wielding control over the state, often prioritizing their interests over the general populace.