Government by the wealthy is known as _________

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term used when the wealthy rule a country. The key word is "wealthy", so we need the form of government based on wealth.

Step 2: Explain the concept Many government terms end in "-cracy", from the Greek kratos, meaning "power" or "rule". The first part of each word tells you who holds the power:

• Democracy (demos = people): rule by the people
• Plutocracy (ploutos = wealth): rule by the wealthy
• Oligarchy (oligos = few): rule by a small group, whether they are rich, military or powerful in some other way
• Aristocracy (aristos = best): rule by a privileged noble class, or by those considered "the best", usually by birth

Step 3: Solve step by step

• A. Democracy is rule by the people, so it is not correct.
• B. Plutocracy comes from "ploutos" (wealth), so it means rule by the rich. This matches the question.
• C. Oligarchy is rule by a few people. The few may be wealthy, but wealth is not what defines it, so it is not the best answer.
• D. Aristocracy is rule by nobles or the hereditary elite, not specifically by the wealthy.

Step 4: Answer The correct answer is B. Plutocracy.

Step 5: Exam tip Link the root word to its meaning: Plutocracy = Plenty of money (think "Pluto" and "plenty"). When you see "wealth" in a question, think plutocracy. When you see "few", think oligarchy. When you see "nobles", think aristocracy.