regime

the media tend to use regime much more often when they're talking about governments that are unfriendly to the United States than when they're talking about U.S. allies, independent of how unstable or undemocratic the governments are (Geoffrey Nunberg, Talking Right). Governments rarely self-identify as regimes; for a neutral term, use government, administration, political system, ruling party. In general, use "regime" only when quoting a government official. See also regime change.