| Term | Definition |
| ARCHY | rule |
| anarchy | total absence of rule or government |
| anarchist | a person who believes in anarchy |
| autarchy | rule by absolute sovereign |
| hierarchy | body of rulers or officials grouped in ranks, each being subordinate to the rank above |
| matriarchy | form of social organization in which the mother rules the family |
| matriarch | a mother who rules her family |
| monarchy | state ruled over by a single person, as a king or a queen |
| oligarchy | form of government in which few people have the power |
| patriarchy | form of social organization in which the father rules the family |
| polyarchy | form of government ruled by many |