Here are my civic suggestions so far:
Government
Chiefdom
No Upkeep
+100% Maintenance costs from number of cities
Can not settle more than 3 cities
Rationale: Chiefdom is the starting government civic. It sucks. It has been designed to suck.
Despotism
Low Upkeep
Fixed Borders
+50% Military Unit Production
Cities Require 100% More
to grow
+1
in All Cities Per 25% Tax Rate
+1
per 10% foreign
+25%
+50% Faster Construction of Barracks, Garrison
Rationale: Despotism is designed to be the all-purpose government civic. When you just need to get things done with minimal fuss, Despotism should just work (TM). It doesn't offer much benefits, but doesn't hurt you too much either. Watch out for foreign (subversive) culture.
Monarchy
Medium Upkeep
-50% Maintenance from Number of cities
-50% Maintenance from Distance to Palace
+1
per military unit stationed in a city
No
in the capital city
+1
in All Cities Per 25% Tax Rate
+1
from Walls, High Walls, Castle
50% Faster Training of Archer, Longbowman, Knight, Noble Knight, Walls, High Walls, Castle
Rationale: Monarchies are the real empire builders. Any government that wants their despotic rule to last beyond their grave establishes a dynasty of some kind. Maintaining a dynasty takes work, hence the higher upkeep. Because your rule is a divine right, maintenance costs are lower. Empire builders should pick this civic.
Republic
High Upkeep
+200% Maintenance from Number of Cities
+200% Maintenance from Distance to Palace
+2
in all cities
+50% Military Unit Production
+25%
in all cities
+25%
,
,
in all cities
Rationale: The tiny civilization civic! Republic represents early republican democratic ideals with direct democracies. Direct democracies don't work well with large populations or over large distances, hence the extreme maintenance costs. However, if your civilization is small, this civic offers very nice rewards for your democratic leadership.
Democracy
High Upkeep
+50% Maintenance from Number of Cities
+50% Maintenance from Distance to Palace
+1
in all cities
+25%
,
in Capital City
Rationale: The medium civilization civic. Democracy provides a representative form of government without the need for direct citizen action, as with Republic. High upkeep, but the warm and fuzzy feeling that you get from knowing your citizens elected you.
Federation (formerly known as Federal)
Low Upkeep
-25% Maintenance from Number of Cities
-25% Maintenance from Distance to Palace
-25% Maintenance from Oversea Cities
+1
in all cities
+25%
in all cities
-15%
in all cities
-25% Military Unit Production
Rationale: Federation is the late-game empire builders civic. A Federation (like the USA) is a political entity made up of smaller entities (think states inside of the USA). This adds layers of buearcracy and democratic indirection, which slows down pretty much anything you want to get done. Hence the weaker production effects.
Fascist
Axed. Was just Despotism by another name.
I'm sure my Government civics will be controversial so I won't implement them until I get plenty of feedback. I'll write up my ideas for rebalancing
Power Rule civics when I get more time.