Final answer:
Modern governments vary significantly and some common forms include democracy, as seen in the United States, dictatorship exemplified by North Korea, monarchy like that of the United Kingdom, and republic, with India as an example. These forms of government differ in their power distribution and how they exert authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
Forms of Modern Governments and Their Comparisons
Modern governments can be categorized into various forms, including democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, and republic. In a democracy, power is vested in the people who exercise it either directly or through elected representatives. Common examples of democracies include the United States and many European countries.
Dictatorship is characterized by a single leader or group of leaders with little or no toleration for political pluralism or independent programs. Modern-day North Korea is an example of a dictatorship. Monarchy is a form of government ruled by a king, queen, or emperor. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy where the monarch's powers are regulated by a constitution.
A republic is a form of government where the country is considered a "public matter" and the head of state is an elected or nominated president, not a monarch. India is an example of a federal democratic republic. Each of these forms of government has different implications for how power is distributed and exercised within a country.