Sociology / Unit 9 Soc 1495 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Absolute and Constitutional Monarchy, Distinguished
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The idea
An absolute monarchy gives the monarch unmitigated power; a constitutional monarchy requires the monarch to operate within a governing constitution.
In practice
One nation's monarch creates laws and appoints judges unchecked, while another's monarch performs a ceremonial role beside an elected government.
Where people slip
Most constitutional monarchies evolved from absolute ones; the ceremonial monarch of today was often the unchecked ruler of an earlier era.
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