Democracy: A form of government in which the people hold power. People can either exercise the power or elect officials to do so. Gerontocracy: A society or group of people in which older people are the most powerful. Matriarchy: A society or group of people in which women are the most powerful. Oligarchy: A society or group of people in which only a few people hold power. Patriarchy: A society or group of people in which men are the most powerful. A nuclear family is made up of parents and their children. An extended family includes parents, children, grandparents, and/or aunts, uncles, and cousins in the same household. A blended family is formed when one single parent (divorced or widowed) marries another single parent.