Monarchy

Monarchy
(Return to Life Philosophies) Monarchy is when power is entirely or mostly invested in an individual, usually under the title of king or queen. This is only the classic version of monarchy however and now some monarchs are mostly political faces or large but not majority holders of power in parallel to their citizens or other forms of government. Such arrangements are not always considered monarchy but have the presence of a past monarch or previously monarachic line which is retained in some standing of power.

There is no clear definition of monarchy. Holding unlimited political power in the state is not the defining characteristic, as many constitutional monarchies such as the United Kingdom and Thailand are considered monarchies. Hereditary rule is often a common characteristic, but elective monarchies are considered monarchies (the pope, sovereign of the Vatican City State, is elected by the College of Cardinals) and some states have hereditary rulers, but are considered republics (such as the stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, or the Great Council of Chiefs in Fiji). A 1914 edition of //Bouvier's Law Dictionary// states that "Monarchy is contradistinguished from republic," and gives this definition:

"//We cannot find any better definition of monarchy than what this is: a monarchy is the government which is ruled (really or theoretically) by one person, who is wholly set apart from all other members of the state's (called his subjects); while we call republic that government in which not only there exists an organism by which the opinion of the people, or of a portion of the people (as in// //aristocracies////),// //passes over into public will////, that is, law, but in which also the supreme power, or the// //executive power////, returns, either periodically or at stated times (where the chief magistracy is for life), to the people, or a portion of the people, to be given anew to another person; or else, that government in which the hereditary portion (if there be any) is not the chief and leading portion of the government, as was the case in the Netherlands//."

(This means that if the power returns to the people at at least some time regularly or the hereditary monarchic body is not the chief source of power or ruling authority it can be considered a republic. -Sam)(ael-)

__Wiki Resources__: [|Monarchy]

__Types of Monarchy__: Absolute Monarchy Constitutional Monarchy Diarchy & Co-Kingship

Despotism
 * __Other Forms__**:

In a classic monarchy all or nearly all power resides within a single individual's hands and their will is completely adhered to. This establishment can be through sworn allegience, force of arms, voted power, or a range of other means such as hereditary succession. In some cases this power is jointly held with a spouse or relative. Monarchy tends to be transfered by lineage, or in some cases a monarch is voted in for life, or for a term.
 * __Gaining Power__**:

__**The Structure**__: Because of the level of power in a single individual's hands the structure of a monarchy can vary widely. Depending on the monarch and their ability to do as they like without causing the populus to revolt a Monarch can use a military or ruleing class structure or rely upon a rebulic system under their authority. Usually in one form or another the Monarch gives power to individuals that they trust in order to allow them to manage smaller portions of the body they rule. In this way the chain of command runs up towards the monarch over several levels eading down to the general populus. A Monarch may arrange for any number of classes of citizen, and organizations with special privileges. Monarchy hinges upon the central power held in one individuals hands.

-Monarchy allows for very quick decisions when compared to democracy. One individual is capable of making a choice that holds an entire nation's obedience. -Monarchy is capable of making decisions other rulerships could not come to. Capitolism lacks the ability to come to conclusions that supply and demand do not dictate for them for instance. Democracy is infamous for its inability to make a decisive decision or agree. -Monarchy is capable of radical reform. -Monarchy can create a very excellent enviroment if the monarch is wise and good.
 * __Strengths__**:

-Monarchy entails a lot of power given with impunity to a single individual. This power can easily corrupt leading the monarch to estimate their own value above that of other people and making their decisions less and less accurate or effective. -Monarchy holds the fatal weakness of one. If a monarch is badly influenced, blinded, enslaved, blackmailed, or killed it throws their subjects into disarray. -Monarchy is subject to the monarch's personal flaws with very little room for correction unless the monarch can take advice and use it well. -Monarchy is not always very good for the populus. In fact it often ends with revolt.
 * __Weaknesses__**:


 * __Lessons/Resources on Monarchy__**:

-The british empire was ruled by monarchy and now the monarchy is a face for the commonwealth only. -France was ruled by monarchy until a very bloody french revolution where the people put their nobility and royalty to death. [|List of Monarchys]
 * __Examples__**:

(Note to Keepers: It would be best to take a few examples and elaborate on their political setups, the results of their rule and unique takes on what happened using the wikilink above.) (Note to Keepers: Write pages on the sub-forms of monarchy.)