Which term describes a temporary political authority installed after a war to oversee the transition to a permanent government?

• A. Theocratic government
• B. Democratic government
• C. Transitional government
• D. Military government

Answer: (C)

A transitional government is the temporary political authority established after a war to guide the move from conflict to a permanent, legitimate government. It is designed to be short-term and focused on stabilizing the state, building or reforming institutions, drafting a constitution, and organizing elections to establish a lasting civilian government. This fits the scenario precisely because it emphasizes a temporary framework whose sole purpose is to oversee the transition. The other forms describe governance styles that aren’t inherently about managing a postwar transition: a theocratic government is rule by religious authority; a democratic government refers to a system based on consent and elections but isn’t necessarily temporary; a military government is control by the armed forces, which can occur during upheaval but doesn’t specifically denote a planned transition to a permanent government.