Beth Charles, age 13, of Billings, Mont., for her question:

WHAT IS TOTALITARIANISM?

Totalitarianism is a form of government in which the state controls all phases of the people's lives. Totalitarianism allows only one party, headed by an absolute leader. His power over the rest of the people is often maintained by force and violence.

Freedom of religion does not exist where there is totalitarianism. The state permits only those churches and ministers that cooperate with it.

Free labor unions are also outlawed. The ruling party dictates the country's economic policy. And the government also strictly controls all means of communication. Schools must teach only the ideas and policies approved by the controlling party.

Communist Russia established the first modern totalitarian state in 1917. Other modern totalitarian states included Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 and Fascist Italy from 1925 until 1943.