In which type of government does one individual hold legal authority?

In an autocracy, one individual possesses complete legal authority and control over the governance of the state. This centralized power allows the autocrat to make decisions without needing to consult or gain approval from other individuals or governing bodies. Autocracies can manifest in various forms, including dictatorships, where a single leader exercises control often without constitutional limits. The nature of autocracy is characterized by the concentration of power and the lack of democratic processes, meaning that the broader population has little to no participation in governance.

In contrast, monarchy involves a singular ruling figure, such as a king or queen, who often inherits their position, but the legal authority may sometimes be limited by a constitution (as in constitutional monarchies). Oligarchy features a small group of individuals holding power, not just a single figure. Democracy is a system where power is vested in the populace, allowing for collective decision-making rather than concentrating authority in one person. Thus, autocracy is the type of government defined by the concentration of legal authority in one individual.