What term describes a government ruled by a small group of people?

The term that describes a government ruled by a small group of people is oligarchy. In an oligarchy, power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or families who use their influence and wealth to control significant aspects of governance and society. This contrasts with democracy, where power is derived from the general population through voting and participation, indicating a broader distribution of political power.

In an autocracy, a single individual holds absolute power, meaning governance is centralized in one authority rather than a small group. Theocracy refers to a government system where religious leaders or institutions wield political power, often claiming divine guidance. Each of these alternative terms highlights different forms of governance, but oligarchy specifically emphasizes the limited group of elites who dominate decision-making processes.