Key characteristics of authoritarian regimes include centralized power, limited political pluralism, and a lack of democratic governance. These regimes often maintain control through repression of dissent, absence of free and fair elections, and manipulation of legal systems. Leadership typically emerges from a singular authority or party, with opposition severely restricted or eliminated. Additionally, authoritarian regimes may utilize propaganda to shape public perception and maintain legitimacy. In such environments, civil liberties like freedom of speech and assembly are often curtailed, leading to widespread human rights abuses and limited accountability mechanisms.