Final answer:
The situation described is a dictatorship, as indicated by the authoritarian power grab, political repression, and constitutional changes that entrenched military power, distinguishing it from an absolute monarchy that centers on hereditary rulership.The correct option is: c) Criticism of the President became unlawful.
Step-by-step explanation:
This is an example of dictatorship because Military General Branco overthrew the Brazilian President in 1964, which shows the seizure of power typically associated with a dictatorship. Additionally, the brutality of Branco's regime, the unlawful criticism of the president, and the arrests and torture of thousands of suspected communists are all hallmarks of a dictatorship, which often seeks to limit the freedoms of the populace and maintain power through intimidation and force.
When General Branco stepped down, he left behind a constitution that expanded military and executive powers, undermining efforts to restore democracy, further illustrating the authoritarian nature of his rule.
It cannot be an absolute monarchy because in a monarchy, the monarch usually ascends to the throne through hereditary succession and continues to reign until they die or abdicate. In contrast, a dictatorship does not involve a hereditary monarchy, and power is often taken by force or through undemocratic means. The correct option is:c) Criticism of the President became unlawful.