What type of government has a single person with absolute authority?

The type of government characterized by a single person holding absolute authority is known as an autocracy. In an autocracy, the power rests entirely with one individual who typically has no legal limitations and can enact laws and decisions without consent from others. This form of governance can manifest in various ways, such as in a dictatorship or an absolute monarchy, where the autocrat's decisions are unchallenged by other branches of government or the populace.

In contrast, democracy involves shared power and participation in government by the people, either directly or through elected representatives. Plutocracy specifically refers to a government dominated by the wealthy, where financial power translates into political power. An oligarchy consists of a small group of individuals who possess power, potentially leading councils or ruling classes, making decisions collectively rather than through a single authoritative figure. Thus, the defining characteristic of autocracy is the concentration of power in the hands of one person, which differentiates it from these other forms of government.