A form of government where a single ruler has complete control and suppresses opposition is referred to as?

A government characterized by a single ruler who exercises complete control and actively suppresses opposition is known as a dictatorship. This form of governance centralizes power in one individual or a small group, minimizing or eliminating democratic processes and often utilizing coercive measures to maintain authority. Dictatorships often arise in contexts where political dissent is not tolerated, leading to a lack of freedoms and rights for the populace.

In contrast, oligarchy refers to a form of government where power rests with a small number of people, typically elites or a specific class, rather than a single ruler. A constitutional monarchy involves a monarch whose powers are limited by a constitution or laws, allowing for democratic governance alongside monarchical traditions. Federalism denotes a system of governance where power is divided between a central authority and various regional entities, emphasizing distributed governance rather than centralized control. Thus, in the context of the question, dictatorship is the most accurate term that aligns with the description of a government led by a single ruler who suppresses opposition.