A one-party state is a political system where a single political party controls the government, and other parties are either banned or have limited power. This means that the ruling party makes all the important decisions, and citizens typically have little to no choice in political representation. Examples of one-party states include China and Cuba. In a one-party state, elections may still occur, but they often lack genuine competition, as the ruling party dominates the political landscape. This can lead to a lack of political freedom and limited civil liberties, as dissenting voices are often suppressed to maintain the party's control.