[1] Episcopal: A single leader, the bishop (Greek episkopos), exercises rule over the whole organization.
[2] Presbyterian: In the presbyterian system, each church is governed by a session (or consistory) made up of the pastor(s) and elders (Greek presbuteros), who are the representatives of the church. The churches in an area form a presbytery, which meets occasionally to decide on policy issues for all the churches in the area organization. Presbyteries combine to form a synod, and synods combine to form a denomination, such as the Presbyterian Churches of America (PCA) or the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC).
[3] Congregational: The church congregation governs itself in the congregational system. There is no higher governing body over each individual church. The members of the church vote on all the major decisions facing the church without any influence from anyone outside the church. This does not rule out pastoral leadership, but it does mean that the pastor governs by the authority that the church gives him. Most Baptist churches are congregational in government.