Monarchy

Monarchy is a form of government in which the head of state is a king or queen. Power typically passes by heredity, meaning office is transmitted within a particular family line. The term is also used to denote the territory and people ruled by the monarch.

Monarchies vary considerably in the actual power held by the monarch. In some, the monarch holds full legislative and executive authority; in others, the monarch serves as a national symbol while elected representatives and a prime minister exercise real power.

Types

Broadly speaking, there exist constitutional monarchies, in which a constitution limits the monarch's powers, and absolute monarchies, in which the monarch holds nearly unlimited authority. There are also elective monarchies, in which a council or assembly selects the monarch, differing from direct hereditary succession.

Succession and office

Succession laws typically specify who will follow the reigning monarch. Some systems prioritize the eldest son, while others permit daughters to hold office. When a monarch is young or incapacitated, a regent (guardian) may be appointed to exercise authority.

Legal foundations

Monarchies have grounded their authority in various sources: historical custom, clan or dynastic agreements, and religious sanction linking rule to divine command. Over time, many states have constrained monarchical power through written constitutions or parliaments, while preserving the monarchy itself.

Modern transformation

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, many monarchies transformed into republics or were reduced to positions without political authority. Nevertheless, a significant number of monarchies remain in the world today, some retaining limited constitutional roles and others wielding direct power.