What is a characteristic of totalitarian governments? Political dissidents can oppose the government with no repercussions. Citizens are guaranteed civil, property, and minority rights. The means of production are owned by the people who use them. Leaders rule without the explicit approval of the people.

Totalitarian governments are defined by their leaders ruling without the explicit approval of the people, often stifling any form of dissent. This control allows these regimes to maintain power by suppressing political opposition and manipulating public perception through propaganda and censorship. Historically, totalitarian regimes such as those led by Stalin in the Soviet Union or Hitler in Nazi Germany illustrate how power can be centralized and how dissent can be harshly punished. These examples show the lengths to which such governments will go to maintain control and eliminate opposition, often resulting in widespread human rights violations.