DK - WOW! The Visual Encyclopedia of Everything

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◀ MONARCHY

In the past, most countries were

ruled by a king or a queen and, as

head of state, the monarch’s word

was considered law. Although some

countries still maintain a monarchy,

their role is mainly ceremonial. It is

the elected government that

generally takes responsibility for

how the country is run.

REPUBLICS ▲

Countries that have a president

as their head of state instead

of a king or queen are called

republics. Presidents can be

elected by the citizens or

appointed by the legislature,

and usually act as head of

the nation’s government.

◀ LAW AND ORDER

A country’s judges, collectively called

the judiciary, make rulings on criminal

allegations or civil disputes in courts

of law. They interpret and uphold

laws passed by the government

before delivering their verdicts to

the citizens involved. The law in most

countries is upheld by a police force.

DEMOCRACY ▲

In democratic societies, citizens

have the opportunity to vote

for their preferred candidate

from a range of political parties.

On election day, people cast

their vote and the party with

the majority is established as

the new government.

Coloured

rosettes are

sometimes worn

by members of

political parties

to show their

allegiance in

the run-up to

an election

A ballot box is a locked

container into which

citizens place their

confidential votes

Presidents in South

America, such as Chile’s former

leader Michelle Bachelet, wear

sashes as symbols of office

United States

presidential

seal

Wigs are worn

by judges in some

countries as part

of legal tradition

This imperial seal

of China shows a

dragon guarding

a pearl, which

represents wisdom

Crafted with priceless

gems in 1838, the

State Crown was

first worn by British

queen, Victoria

German police cap

A gavel and block used

by a judge to maintain

silence in court

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