The term for a government led by a single party or leader without democratic elections is authoritarian or dictatorship. In such regimes, political opposition is often suppressed, and freedom of expression is limited. Centralized power allows leaders to enact policies without the accountability seen in democratic systems, where elections offer citizens a choice. Authoritarian governments may maintain control through propaganda, state security, and restrictions on civil liberties. The lack of democratic processes typically leads to significant human rights abuses and limited political pluralism.