A theocracy is a form of government in which one or more deities are recognized as supreme ruling authorities, giving divine guidance to human intermediaries who manage the governments daily affairs, or in which human leaders who follow a certain religion or belief system hold positions of authority. The word "theocracy" comes from the Greek words "theos" meaning "god" and "kratein" meaning "to rule". In a theocracy, the states political leadership is drawn from the clergy of a particular religious group, who act in the name of God. The main characteristic of a theocracy is that the state understands itself as being ultimately governed by God, and as such, the entire political system is designed to reflect the supremacy of God, and divine teaching or revelation, over other sources of political wisdom and knowledge. Examples of theocracies include Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Vatican.