Bobby Thayler, age 14, of Missoula, Mont., for his question:

WHAT IS A JUNTA?

A junta, pronounced hoon tuh, is a small group that takes over a government and rules by decree. Most of the time juntas are made up of high ranking military officers.

Originally the term junta was associated with Latin American nations, but now it is used for any country. A junta took over the government of Egypt in 1952.

A junta may seize power to restore order in a country or to make reforms. It either serves as the government itself or sets up a government that follows its policies.In some juntas, one member has taken power as ruler. Most juntas have conservative or moderate programs. Junta rule occurs most often in countries that have unstable governments.