http://bit.ly/PoliticalTerminology “Political Terminology - The 3 minute FAQ to knowing everything necessary to understand everything in American politics” http://bit.ly/OnFreedomOfSpeech “Freedom of Speech - Why Technocrats Should Not be Allowed to Block Expression Or Filter Audiences” Jefferson's Monticello, near Charlottesville, VA. About 12,000 sq. ft. Oligarchy “is a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people may be distinguished by nobility, wealth, family ties, education or corporate, religious or political, military control. Such states are often controlled by families who typically pass their influence from one generation to the next, but inheritance is not a necessary condition for the application of this term.