Monarchy

Hereditary succession, constitutional monarchy, and comparative political science

Definition

Monarchy is a system of government in which a single person, the monarch, holds their position as head of state through hereditary succession, typically for life, rather than through election. Monarchy is one of the oldest documented forms of government, historically found in societies across virtually every populated region of the world.

Absolute and constitutional monarchy

In an absolute monarchy, the monarch holds extensive, largely unchecked governing power, with few or no formal institutional limits on their authority. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or established legal framework, and actual governing authority is typically exercised by an elected legislature and executive, with the monarch retaining a largely ceremonial or symbolic role, along with certain specific, formally defined reserve powers used only in limited circumstances.

Hereditary succession

Monarchies are defined by hereditary succession — the position passes according to established rules, most commonly to the monarch's children or other close relatives, following a specific, formally defined order. Different monarchies have used different specific succession rules over their history, some varying by factors including birth order and, historically, gender, discussed further in the advanced article.

Monarchy today

Constitutional monarchies remain in place in a number of countries today, coexisting with democratic institutions and elected governments, while absolute monarchies with fully unchecked royal power are considerably less common in the present day than in earlier historical periods, having been progressively replaced, in most of the world, by constitutional or fully republican systems of government over the past few centuries.