monarchical

Monarchical is an adjective relating to a monarchy, a form of government in which a single ruler, such as a king or queen, occupies the throne. The term can describe a state, an institution, or a period shaped by the presence of a monarch. In political science and history, monarchical systems are analyzed in terms of how much sovereign power the monarch actually exercises versus how much is exercised by elected bodies and ministers.

Types of monarchical systems vary. Constitutional monarchies limit the monarch's powers through a constitution or legal framework, leaving governance to elected representatives and a prime minister or equivalent figure (for example, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Japan). In absolute monarchies, the monarch retains substantial or total political authority, with few or no constitutional constraints (for example, Saudi Arabia, Brunei). There have also been elective monarchies in which the throne is chosen by a body rather than inherited, notably in the historical Holy Roman Empire.

Historically, monarchies were common across many regions and eras, often intertwined with religious, social, and legal institutions. In modern governance, most monarchies are constitutional, with the monarch serving largely symbolic duties—ceremonial roles, representation, and diplomatic functions—while elected governments determine policy. The term monarchical remains a neutral descriptor in scholarly and descriptive writing.