Government

Social Security (United States): Overview, Funding, Benefits, and History Social Security (United States) Social Security (OASDI) is the U.S. federal program providing retirement, survivors, and disability insurance. It is funded mainly by payroll taxes and administered by the Social S…

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia A federal socialist state in southeastern Europe from 1943 to 1992, composed of six republics, led by Josip Broz Tito until 1980, and dissolved amid the Yugoslav wars and political…

Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia (Litbel) Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia Short-lived Soviet republic in parts of modern Belarus and eastern Lithuania in 1919; created by a Bolshevik merger and dissolved after Polish military advances during the Polish–S…

Solicitor General of the United States: role, duties, and history Solicitor General of the United States Overview of the U.S. Solicitor General: responsibilities representing the federal government before the Supreme Court, office structure, appointment, traditions, and legal influenc…

South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, Transvaal) South African Republic Independent Boer state in the Transvaal region (mid-19th century–1902), its institutions, economy, conflicts with Britain, and legacy in South African history.

South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (1955–1975), was an anti-communist state in the southern half of Vietnam formed after French withdrawal and ended with reunificati…

Southern Ireland (1920–1922): the legal entity created by partition Southern Ireland Southern Ireland was the 26‑county polity established on paper by the Government of Ireland Act 1920; it never formed a functioning government and was superseded by the Irish Free…

Sovereign state An independent political entity possessing a permanent population, defined territory, and government capable of entering relations with other states; recognition and practice shape…

Sovereignty: authority, territorial control, and its evolving meanings Sovereignty Sovereignty is the supreme authority a state or governing body holds over a territory and population; the concept covers legal independence, internal control, historical origins, v…

Soviet occupation zone of Germany (1945–1949) Soviet occupation zone of Germany Area of eastern Germany occupied by the Soviet Union after World War II; administered by the SMAD, Sovietized politically and economically, and converted into the German Democratic…

Soviet Union (USSR): origins, structure, and historical legacy Soviet Union Overview of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: formation, political system, society, global role, reforms and collapse, and its lasting influence on the modern world.

Spanish Republican government in exile The political leadership of the defeated Second Spanish Republic who operated abroad after 1939 to preserve republican legitimacy, seek international support, and advocate for the…

Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives The Speaker is the elected presiding officer of the House of Representatives in the Parliament of Australia, responsible for chairing proceedings, enforcing rules and representing…

Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Presiding officer of Greece's Parliament, formally the President of the Hellenic Parliament. Overview of duties, election, history, importance, and the current officeholder.

Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom) Presiding officer of the UK House of Commons: role, powers, election, impartiality, traditions and contemporary practice, including the current incumbent Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta Presiding officer of Malta's unicameral parliament, responsible for managing debates, interpreting procedure, and representing the House; rooted in Westminster practice and Maltese…

Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Presiding officer and chief leader of the Philippine House of Representatives; elected by members, central to legislative procedure, administration of the chamber, and part of the…

Speaker of the Lok Sabha Presiding officer of India's Lok Sabha: duties, election, powers, history and practical role in parliamentary procedure and governance.

Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Presiding officer of Pakistan's lower house, elected by members to manage debates, apply rules, sign legislation and represent the Assembly in official and administrative matters.

Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea Head and presiding officer of South Korea's unicameral legislature; oversees debates, enforces rules, represents the Assembly, and is chosen by fellow legislators under the body's…

Speaker of the Parliament of Finland Overview of the Speaker (eduskunnan puhemies / riksdagens talman): election, duties, history and notable features of the presiding officer of Finland's unicameral Parliament.

Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Presiding officer of Sri Lanka's Parliament: role, election and tenure, powers and procedures, historical development, and notable holders such as Karu Jayasuriya.

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Presiding officer of the U.S. House: role, selection, powers, history, place in presidential succession, and notable duties and distinctions.

Special Administrative Region (China): legal status, institutions, and features Special Administrative Region Overview of China's Special Administrative Regions — legal basis, autonomy under the Basic Law, institutions, economies, languages and practical arrangements for Hong Kong and Maca…

Special agent (United States law enforcement role) Special agent Special agents are sworn investigators employed by federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies who investigate crimes, carry weapons, make arrests and obtain specialized trai…

SPQR: Meaning, history, and enduring use of the Roman emblem SPQR SPQR (Senatus Populusque Rōmānus) denotes 'The Senate and People of Rome'. This article explains its origin, official uses in ancient Rome, later adaptations, and modern significan…

St. Edward's Crown The principal coronation crown of the British monarch, created for Charles II in 1661; a heavy, richly decorated gold crown used ceremonially to symbolize royal authority and conti…

Stasi: Ministry for State Security of the German Democratic Republic Stasi The Stasi (Ministry for State Security) was East Germany's security and intelligence service (1950–1990), notable for pervasive domestic surveillance, foreign espionage, and a comp…

State (political entity) State A state is a political entity with sovereignty over a territory, a permanent population, and institutions that govern. It is distinct from a nation and can take many forms such as…

State Bank of Pakistan Central bank of Pakistan responsible for monetary policy, currency issuance, banking regulation and foreign‑exchange management. Headquartered in Karachi, it aims to maintain finan…

State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan State Border Service Azerbaijan's State Border Service is a governmental paramilitary agency responsible for protecting land and maritime frontiers, border control, anti-smuggling and search-and-rescue…

State Duma: Russia's Lower Chamber of Parliament State Duma A concise overview of the State Duma — the lower house of the Russian federal legislature — covering its role, composition, history, powers, electoral system and notable distinctio…

State governments of the United States An overview of the fifty state governments in the U.S., their organization, powers, historical development, and how they differ and interact with the federal system.

State of Vietnam (1949–1955) State of Vietnam A semi-autonomous Vietnamese state within French Indochina (1949–1954) that claimed national sovereignty, later transformed into the Republic of Vietnam after the 1954–55 transitio…

State Senator (U.S. state legislature) State Senator A state senator is a member of a state’s upper legislative chamber (except Nebraska), responsible for lawmaking, oversight, and representing larger districts; roles and rules vary…

Statistics Sweden (SCB): Sweden’s national statistical agency Statistics Sweden Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån, SCB) is the Swedish government agency that produces the country’s official statistics on population, economy and society and publishes…

Stay-at-home order A government directive limiting population movement to control infectious disease spread; outlines allowed activities, affected businesses, enforcement, and distinctions from relat…

Sterling banknote A comprehensive overview of sterling banknotes: issuers, legal status, denominations, design and security features, history, and circulation across the UK and related territories.

Storting (Norway's National Legislature) Storting The Storting is Norway's supreme legislature, established by the 1814 Constitution. A unicameral assembly of 169 members elected every four years by party-list proportional represe…

Stroganov family Prominent Russian mercantile and noble house influential from the 16th to early 20th century—known for industry, patronage, Siberian colonization, elevation to the nobility, and la…

Stuttgart Government Region (Regierungsbezirk Stuttgart) Stuttgart Government Region Overview of the Stuttgart government region in Baden-Württemberg, Germany: its role, composition, history, and economic and administrative significance.

Style of the British sovereign The formal sequence of titles and epithets used for the British monarch, its components, historical changes, uses in law and ceremony, and examples of modern English and Latin form…

Subahdar Subahdar: historically the provincial governor of a Mughal subah, a senior civil and military official; term later took on other regional and military meanings in South Asia.

Subsidiarity (principle of local responsibility) Subsidiarity The principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest, or least centralized competent authority. Applied in law, governance, religion, and organizations to balance…

Succession to the Belgian throne Overview of who may inherit the kingship or queenship of Belgium, the constitutional rules that determine eligibility, recent reforms, current heirs and practical effects.

Succession to the Japanese throne Overview of the rules, history, and contemporary debates about who may inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, including legal principles, historical precedents, and modern examples.

Succession to the Norwegian throne How Norway determines who will become monarch: constitutional rules, move to equal primogeniture, current order and notable constitutional and historical features.

Succession to the Spanish throne Overview of how the Spanish crown is inherited, legal rules, current line basics, historical developments and debates over succession law reform.