The Presbyterian Church is a denomination of Christianity that is part of the Reformed tradition. Within this tradition, the Presbyterian Church is also referred to by a number of other names and synonyms, including the Reformed Church, the Calvinist Church, and the Church of Scotland. The term "Presbyterian" itself refers to the form of church government used by the denomination, which places authority in a council of elders rather than a centralized hierarchy. Other synonyms for the Presbyterian Church might include the United Presbyterian Church, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, which are all separate denominations within the wider Presbyterian tradition.