Political regimes refer to the systems and structures through which a government operates and exercises power. They can be classified into various types, such as democracy, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism. Each regime type has distinct characteristics, including how leaders are chosen, the level of citizen participation, and the extent of individual freedoms. In a democracy, citizens have the right to vote and influence government decisions, while in an authoritarian regime, power is concentrated in a single leader or a small group, often limiting political freedoms. Totalitarian regimes go further by seeking to control all aspects of public and private life, often through propaganda and repression.