The following characterists define a dictatorship:
- an authoritarian form of government;
- a single leading person or group assuming unlimited powers (i.e., not limited by the constitution for example);
- the dictator has reached power through forceful or fraudulent means, such as rigged elections;
- the absence, or near-absence, of ideological variety in terms of pressure groups and the media;
- the disrespect of basic civil liberties, through intimidation and/or terror;
- the resort to propaganda as a way to maintain public support.