Final answer:
Different forms of government vary based on who has authority and the legitimacy of that power, with legitimacy often derived from popular sovereignty in democracies, hereditary lineage in monarchies, or through other means in various systems like totalitarian governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The various forms of government are distinguished by who wields power and how the legitimacy of that power is established. In democracies like the United States, legitimacy arises from popular sovereignty, where the public elects officials who are entrusted with power through a social contract. This contrasts with other forms of government, such as monarchies where power is hereditary and justified by traditional authority, or totalitarian systems where control is seized and maintained without public consent.
Max Weber's types of authority—traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal—describe the basis of a government's legitimacy. Societies have evolved various forms of governance, such as democratic presidential republics, monarchies, oligarchies, and dictatorships. The legitimacy of these systems depends on a society's collective acceptance and perception of authority, which can evolve over time. For instance, a nation can transition from a monarchy to a democratic system that upholds human rights and justice.
The struggle for legitimacy in politics often leads to changes in how authority is perceived and contested, affecting how governments fulfill their obligations to citizens. As such, figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have acknowledged government legitimacy while advocating for the fulfillment of its duties to society equitably.