Sociology / Unit 9 Soc 1493 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Monarchy
Captions available
The idea
A monarchy is a government in which a single person rules until death or abdication, typically through hereditary succession.
In practice
A monarch's claim to rule passes to an heir by the rules of succession, not by election or appointment.
Where people slip
Holding the title "monarch" says nothing about how much actual power the position carries; that varies by nation.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Sociology