Government (Civ2)

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The government a player chooses in Civilization II has wide-ranging effects on a player's play style. It determines the maximum tax rate a player can set, the amount of corruption a city experiences, the number of units each city can support, the happiness of citizens, and the amount of trade a city produces.

Should a city remain in civil disorder for several consecutive turns, or if a player in a Democracy or Republic declares war without the consent of the senate, a government can collapse into anarchy. Players may also manually trigger a revolution to change a government. The length of a revolution is determined by Oedo year calculations.

Strategy

Players typically begin the game with despotism and often transition to monarchy for its greater productivity fairly early. Fundamentalism and communism permit enforced happiness and large, aggressive militaries. Republics and democracies permit greater prosperity and technological progress but require greater amounts of luxuries to avoid unrest and often resist aggressive policies.

Periods of Anarchy can be minimized by building the Statue of Liberty which reduces Anarchy periods to only a year, or changing governments upon the discovery of an advance named after a government.

List of governments

Government	Corruption and Waste	Maximum Tax Rate	Unit Support of home city (per turn)	We Love the King Bonus	Notes
Anarchy	Very High	60%	Units (beyond city size): 1shield Settlers: 1food	None	The government that occurs after a revolution. Usually only lasts a few turns No Taxes collected, No Research conducted. Up to three military units in each city institute "martial law". Each of these units makes one unhappy citizen content. Each city square that normally produces more than two food, shields, or Trade arrows produces one less
Despotism	High	60%	Units (beyond city size): 1shield Settlers: 1food	Celebrating cities run like a Monarchy.	Up to three military units in each city institute "martial law". Each of these units makes one unhappy citizen content. Each city square that normally produces more than two food, shields, or Trade arrows produces one less
Monarchy	Moderate	70%	Units (Beyond 3 units): 1shield Settlers: 1food	Celebrating cities run like a Republic.	Up to three military units in each city institute "martial law". Each of these units makes one unhappy citizen content.
Republic	Low	80%	Units (All): 1shield Settlers: 2food	Celebrating cities increase in population by one each turn so long as food is available.	Every space that is already producing trade produces 1 extra trade arrow Each unit beyond the first unit that is not in a friendly city (or in a Fortress) within three squares of a friendly city) causes one citizen in its home city to become unhappy. Senate may force a peaceful solution in a conflict. Government may collapse if the leader decides to declare war without the consent of the Senate
Communism	None	80%	Units (Beyond 3 units): 1shield Settlers: 2food	Celebrating cities run like Republic.	All Spy units produced under Communist governments are Veterans. Up to three military units in each city institute "martial law". Each of these units makes two unhappy citizen content.
Fundamentalism	None	80%	Units (Beyond 10 units): 1shield Settlers: 2food	Celebrating cities run like a Republic.	Citizens are never unhappy Buildings which produce happiness will instead produce gold, The fanatic unit will become available 50% less science
Democracy	None	100%	Units (All): 1shield Settlers: 2food	Celebrating cities increase in population by one each turn so long as food is available.	Every space that is already producing trade produces 1 extra trade arrow Each unit not in a friendly city (or in a Fortress) within three squares of a friendly city) causes two citizens in its home city to become unhappy. Senate may force a peaceful solution in a conflict. The units and cities of a Democracy are immune to bribery in any form. Government may collapse due to scandals and cities being in repeated disorder/ Courthouses make one citizen happy.

See also

• Government in other games