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0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8fcf0001Listen & subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher Note: we are no longer posting Civics 101 episodes to this site. Click here to visit the website for the podcast.Why does the U.S. have an Electoral College? How do congressional investigations work? What does the minority whip actually do? Civics 101 is the podcast refresher course on the basics of how our government works.Civics 101 is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting_

Episode 37: Autocracies & Oligarchies & Democracies, Oh My!

The United States is described as a republic, a federation, and a constitutional democracy. So, what is it? Are those terms interchangeable? And, while we're at it, what's the difference between totalitarianism, despotism, and dictatorship? Political science professor Seth Masket digs into the 'isms, 'cracies, and 'archies for a brief primer on different forms of government. 
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