What type of government is characterized by rule from a single individual?

The correct answer is the type of government characterized by rule from a single individual, which is known as autocracy. In an autocracy, power is concentrated in the hands of one leader or a small group of leaders. This individual has significant control over the government’s functions and the lives of its citizens, often making decisions without consent from others.

Autocracies can manifest in various forms, such as absolute monarchies or dictatorships, where the ruling individual has unlimited power. This concentration of authority means that the leader can implement policies and make laws unchallenged by other branches of government or the population.

While monarchy also involves rule by a single individual, it can be more specifically defined, especially in constitutional monarchies where the monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or laws. In contrast, an autocratic leader typically has total control without such restrictions. Oligarchy refers to a system where a small group of people holds power, and democracy is characterized by rule by the majority or representation, making them distinct from autocratic rule. Thus, the characteristics of autocracy clearly define it as a government ruled by a single individual.