Monarchie

A monarchy is a form of government in which a state is headed by a monarch—such as a king, queen, emperor, or sultan. The monarch's powers and the succession rules vary greatly between systems. In many languages, the concept is rendered as monarchie (for example in French).

Monarchies are commonly classified as absolute or constitutional. In absolute monarchies, the monarch retains broad executive and sometimes legislative authority. In constitutional monarchies, a constitution and parliament limit the monarch's powers, leaving them primarily as a ceremonial head of state. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Japan; examples of absolute monarchies include Saudi Arabia and Brunei.

Most historical monarchies were hereditary, with succession governed by primogeniture, equal succession, or other rules. Some exceptions exist, such as Malaysia's elective monarchy, in which a king is elected from among the Malay rulers for a fixed term.

Today, monarchies survive worldwide, though most are constitutional. They often serve symbolic roles, contribute to national identity, and perform ceremonial duties, while democratic institutions determine policy. Monarchies continue to provoke debate regarding legitimacy, equality, and the proper balance between tradition and modern governance.