What is the defining feature of a totalitarian regime?

A totalitarian regime is characterized by the government's comprehensive control over all aspects of public and private life. This includes not only political authority but also the social and economic spheres, where the state dictates practices, ideologies, and personal behaviors. This extensive control ensures that there are no competing power centers, allowing the regime to maintain its dominance and suppress dissent.

In contrast, the separation of government and religion typically describes secular states where religious institutions operate independently from governmental authority. This does not align with totalitarian principles, which often intertwine state and ideological control with religion to reinforce the regime’s power.

The distribution of power across multiple factions signifies a pluralistic system where different groups have influence, in stark contrast to totalitarianism, where power is centralized and dissent is not tolerated.

A focus on a free market economy also contradicts totalitarian regimes, as these typically involve significant state control over the economy to align economic practices with state objectives.

Overall, the defining feature of a totalitarian regime is the all-encompassing nature of government control in all life aspects, which is precisely captured in the answer regarding government control over political, social, and economic life.