Final answer:
Totalitarian governments are characterized by leaders ruling without the people's explicit approval, political dissidents facing repercussions, and unfair and unfree general elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
A characteristic of totalitarian governments is that leaders rule without the explicit approval of the people. In a totalitarian government, the leaders hold all the power and make decisions without the consent of the citizens. They often use force, intimidation, and propaganda to maintain control over the population.
Another characteristic is that political dissidents cannot oppose the government with no repercussions. Totalitarian governments typically suppress any form of opposition, and dissenters are often subjected to harassment, imprisonment, or worse.
Finally, general elections are not fair and free in totalitarian governments. The ruling party in such regimes usually manipulates elections to ensure their continued hold on power and restricts the freedom of choice and expression.
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