Absolute monarchy
Topic: Democracy: Forms of Government, Principles and Outcomes · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 9 "From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments"
Meaning
An absolute monarchy is hereditary rule, usually passed to the eldest son, in which the ruler has full power. The monarch makes, enforces and judges the law without any constitutional limits. There are no elections to choose or remove the ruler. Advisers may exist, but the ruler does not have to follow them.
Example
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy under its Basic Law of 1992. The king's appointed council gives advice, but he is not bound by it. India's Constitution rejects such a system: power comes from "We, the People", and the head of state is elected, not hereditary.
Don't confuse with
- Constitutional monarchy: the monarch is head of state only in name, and elected governments hold real power. Examples are the UK, Japan and Bhutan.
Related concepts
- Constitutional monarchy
- Dictatorship
- Totalitarianism
- Authoritarianism
- Oligarchy
- Plutocracy
- Technocracy