<P> Some historical examples of oligarchy are the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics . Some critics of representative democracy think of the United States as an oligarchy . The Athenian democracy used sortition to elect candidates, almost always male, Greek, educated citizens holding a minimum of land, wealth and status . </P> <P> A theocracy is rule by a religious elite; a system of governance composed of religious institutions in which the state and the church are traditionally or constitutionally the same entity . The Vatican's (see Pope), Iran's (see Supreme Leader), Tibetan government's (see Dalai Lama), Caliphates and other Islamic states are historically considered theocracies . </P> <P> A republic is a form of government in which the country is considered a "public matter" (Latin: res publica), not the private concern or property of the rulers, and where offices of states are subsequently directly or indirectly elected or appointed rather than inherited . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Term </Th> <Th> Definition </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Republic </Td> <Td> Rule by a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people . A common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of state is not a monarch . Montesquieu included both democracies, where all the people have a share in rule, and aristocracies or oligarchies, where only some of the people rule, as republican forms of government . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Constitutional Republic </Td> <Td> Rule by a government whose powers are limited by law or a formal constitution, and chosen by a vote amongst at least some sections of the populace (Ancient Sparta was in its own terms a republic, though most inhabitants were disenfranchised). Republics that exclude sections of the populace from participation will typically claim to represent all citizens (by defining people without the vote as "non-citizens"). Examples include the United States, South Africa, India, etc . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Democratic republic </Td> <Td> A republic form of government where the country is considered a "public matter" (Latin: res publica), not a private concern or property of rulers / 3rd world, and where offices of states are subsequently, directly or indirectly, elected or appointed--rather than inherited--where all eligible citizens have an equal say in the local and national decisions that affect their lives . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parliamentary republic </Td> <Td> A republic, like Germany, India or Singapore, with an elected head of state, but where the head of state and head of government are kept separate with the head of government retaining most executive powers, or a head of state akin to a head of government, elected by a parliament . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Federal republic </Td> <Td> A federal union of states or provinces with a republican form of government . Examples include United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, Russia, and Switzerland . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Islamic Republic </Td> <Td> Republics governed in accordance with Islamic law . Examples include Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Socialist republic </Td> <Td> Countries like China and Vietnam are meant to be governed for and by the people, but with no direct elections . The term People's Republic is used to differentiate themselves from the earlier republic of their countries before the people's revolution, like the Republic of China . </Td> </Tr> </Table>

One of the reasons that are local governments are independent of the national government is