Government

Imperial Court in Kyoto: history, institutions, and cultural legacy Imperial Court in Kyoto The Imperial Court in Kyoto was Japan's central court from 794 until the Meiji Restoration. This article explains its origins, organization, decline of political power, cultural ac…

Imperial Highness Imperial Highness is a formal style of address for members of an emperor's household, ranking above Royal Highness and used historically in several imperial dynasties to denote sen…

Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō) Imperial Household Agency Japanese government agency responsible for affairs of the Imperial House, management of imperial properties and seals, ceremonial duties, archives and household administration.

Imperial Seal of Japan (Chrysanthemum Seal) Imperial Seal of Japan The chrysanthemum crest used by the Japanese imperial house: its design, history, variations, official uses, and how it differs from other national emblems.

Imperial State Crown The Imperial State Crown is a principal British crown jewel worn by the sovereign at state occasions. Richly jewelled and historically layered, it bears several famous gems and is…

In God We Trust — U.S. national motto: history, use, and debate In God We Trust Overview of the United States motto “In God We Trust,” its adoption on coinage and by Congress, its uses in government and states, and the legal and cultural debates surrounding it…

India Meteorological Department (IMD) — overview, functions and history India Meteorological Department The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national agency for weather, climate and seismology in India. It issues forecasts, cyclone warnings, monsoon guidance and supports…

Indian National Calendar (Saka Calendar) Indian national calendar The Indian National Calendar, or Saka calendar, is India's official civil calendar. It is a solar calendar adopted for government use, aligned with Gregorian dates and based on the…

Indirect democracy (representative democracy) Indirect democracy Indirect democracy—also called representative democracy—is a system where citizens elect officials to make policy and law. It balances popular choice with practical governance thro…

Indus Waters Treaty — India–Pakistan water‑sharing agreement Indus Waters Treaty A 1960 treaty allocating the Indus river system between India and Pakistan, establishing administrative organs and dispute-settlement procedures; brokered by the World Bank.

Infante (Iberian royal title) Infante Infante (female: Infanta) is a traditional title in Spain and formerly Portugal for children of the monarch, indicating royal rank and the style of Royal Highness without necessari…

Insei (Cloistered Rule): Japan's System of Retired-Emperor Government Insei Insei, or cloistered rule, was a form of Japanese imperial governance where retired emperors retained real power from behind the throne—most notably established by Emperor Shirakaw…

Intelligence agency: purpose, methods, history and controversies Intelligence agency Overview of intelligence agencies: functions, organisation, collection and analysis methods, roles in national security and foreign policy, and legal and ethical issues.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS): U.S. Federal Tax Agency Internal Revenue Service The Internal Revenue Service administers and enforces the U.S. federal tax system, collecting revenues, processing returns, providing taxpayer services, and conducting enforcement…

Interregnum: intervals between rulers, governments, and institutions Interregnum An interregnum is a pause or interval between holders of authority. This article explains definitions, historical forms, legal mechanisms, consequences, and modern uses in states a…

Interstate Commerce Commission: U.S. regulator of common carriers (1887–1995) Interstate Commerce Commission Federal regulatory agency created by the 1887 Interstate Commerce Act to oversee railroads and other common carriers; its role, development, and legacy through abolition in 1995.

Investiture Investiture is the formal, symbolic act of bestowing an office, title, or authority—common in state, aristocratic and religious settings—through the presentation of insignia or rit…

Iowa House of Representatives The lower chamber of the Iowa General Assembly. It has 100 members elected from single-member districts for two-year terms, meets at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, and has n…

Iowa Senate The upper chamber of the Iowa General Assembly. Fifty senators represent single-member districts, serving staggered four-year terms and meeting at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moi…

Iowa Supreme Court The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the state of Iowa, composed of seven justices. It decides appeals, interprets state law and constitution, and administers the…

Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot Inquiry) Iraq Inquiry A UK public inquiry into Britain's role in the 2003 Iraq War, chaired by Sir John Chilcot. Announced in 2009 and published in 2016, it assessed decisions, intelligence and post‑war…

Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann): 1922–1937 dominion of Ireland Irish Free State The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann) was a self-governing dominion established in 1922 following the Anglo-Irish Treaty. It replaced earlier revolutionary and home-rule structur…

Irish Home Rule: movement, major bills, and the path to self-government Irish Home Rule The late 19th–early 20th-century political project to establish a devolved Irish parliament within the United Kingdom, its supporters and opponents, key bills, and the events that…

Irish Parliament (1297–1800) Irish Parliament The legislature that sat in Dublin from medieval times until the Act of Union 1800. Covers its structure, limits under English rule, reforms of 1782, abolition by union, and histor…

Irish Republic (1916–1922): declaration, war and legacy Irish Republic The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state proclaimed in 1916 and again asserted by the First Dáil from 1919; it fought the War of Independence and its institutions influenced th…

Irish State Coach The Irish State Coach is a gilded, enclosed royal carriage used at the State Opening of Parliament and other ceremonial occasions, kept and displayed at the Royal Mews in London.

Iron County, Utah County in southwestern Utah with seat Parowan and largest city Cedar City; known for iron-mining origins, outdoor recreation (Brian Head, Cedar Breaks), Southern Utah University an…

Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles) — Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran Islamic Consultative Assembly The Islamic Consultative Assembly, commonly called the Majles, is Iran's national legislature. It drafts laws, approves the budget, supervises the executive, and works with other s…

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban government) Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the name used by the Taliban for their de facto Islamic state in Afghanistan, governing the country 1996–2001 and again since 2021; its rule a…

Islamic Republic: definition, legal models, and examples Islamic Republic A political designation for states that combine republican institutions with Islam as a central element of law or identity. Covers legal forms, history, differences among states, a…

Islamic state (political concept) Islamic state A concise account of the concept of an Islamic state: definitions, institutional features, historical development, examples, and contemporary distinctions and debates.

Islamic State of Afghanistan Official name used by the Afghan government formed after the early-1990s collapse of the Soviet-aligned regime. A mujahideen coalition that presided amid civil war and the Taliban’…

Government of the Isle of Man Isle of Man Government Overview of the Isle of Man Government: its constitutional status, institutions (Tynwald, Chief Minister, Lieutenant Governor), civil service, public services, history and relation…

Ismat Ara Sadique (1942–2020) Ismat Ara Sadique Bangladeshi politician and Awami League leader who served as Minister of Public Administration (2014–2018) and as a member of the Jatiya Sangsad (2014–2020).

Italian Parliament The bicameral national legislature of Italy, created by the 1948 Constitution. It comprises two equal houses that draft and approve laws, control the government and perform constit…

Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana) — Salò Republic, 1943–1945 Italian Social Republic A short-lived fascist state in German-occupied northern Italy led by Benito Mussolini and dependent on Nazi Germany; established 1943, collapsed in 1945 amid partisan resistance an…

Jahanian Tehsil — administrative subdivision of Khanewal District, Punjab Jahanian Tehsil Jahanian Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Khanewal District in Punjab, Pakistan. Its headquarters is the town of Jahanian. The area is primarily agricultural and serves a…

Jamaica coalition (Germany) Jamaica coalition Colloquial term for a potential German government formed by the CDU/CSU, FDP and the Greens, named for the parties' black, yellow and green colours; associated with pragmatic but u…

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Japan Meteorological Agency Japan's national meteorological organization responsible for weather forecasting, seismic and tsunami monitoring, volcanic warnings, and related public safety services.

Japanese American internment during World War II Japanese American internment Forced relocation and incarceration of about 110,000 people of Japanese descent in the U.S. during World War II, its causes, camp conditions, legal aftermath and lasting legacy.

Jatiya Sangsad — National Parliament of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Jatiya Sangsad is the unicameral national legislature of Bangladesh. This article explains its composition, powers, electoral system, qualifications for membership, key functions,…

Jean Garon (1938–2014) — Quebec politician, lawyer and academic Jean Garon Jean Garon was a Quebec lawyer, economist and Parti Québécois politician. He served as an MNA (1976–1985), held cabinet posts including agriculture and education, and was mayor of…

Jefferson County, Alabama Jefferson County in Alabama is the state's most populous county, home to Birmingham. It has an industrial history, diverse economy, and important roles in regional government, heal…

Jerusalem City Hall (Municipal Complex at Safra Square) Jerusalem City Hall Municipal complex in Safra Square that houses Jerusalem's city government. Built beside the old city hall on Jaffa Street and inaugurated in 1993, it contains administrative office…

Jind State: history and legacy of a Sidhu Jat princely state Jind State Jind State was a Sidhu Jat-ruled princely state in northwestern India, founded in 1763 by Gajpat Singh. This article summarizes its origins, administration, territory and legacy af…

Joachim Gauck German Lutheran pastor, civil-rights activist and independent politician; Federal Commissioner for the Stasi records and President of Germany (2012–2017).

Johnson County, Illinois: Overview, history, and local character Johnson County, Illinois Johnson County, in southern Illinois, is a small, rural county founded in 1812 with its seat at Vienna. It is named for Richard M. Johnson and noted for agriculture, outdoor recrea…

Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) — United Kingdom Joint Intelligence Committee The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) is a Cabinet Office body that coordinates intelligence assessments, sets priorities for UK agencies, and advises ministers on security, defen…