Monarchy

This articles deals with Monarchy as it relates to Nationstates. For more general information, please see the Wikipedia article on the subject.

A monarchy (from the Greek meaning one to rule) is a form of government that has a single individual claiming the title of monarch as Head of State.

Particularities of a monarchy

Generally speaking, a monarch is distinguished from other Heads of State because he (or she) rules for life, holds his office entirely or at least largely on account of his birth, is considered in some sense an to be imbued with or an embodiment of the national will, and is considered to have a special intrinsic dignity on account of his office.

The monarch comes from the nobility and is usually a King or an Emperor, but sometimes also of other titles, such as Grand Duke, Prince, et al.

The term monarchy is often used to refer to the people and institutions that make up the royal or imperial establishment and to refer to the institution of the royal establishment as distinct from other parts of the state.

In most monarchies, the monarch serves as a symbol of continuity, unity, and nationhood. Many monarchies are constituted by tradition or by codified law so that the monarch has little real political power, but in many others, the monarch holds substantial or even absolute power. In some cases, the symbolism of monarchy alongside the symbolism of democracy can lead to divisions over seemingly contradictory principles of sovereignty.

Monarchies are one of the oldest forms of government, going back to tribal chiefs. Traditionally, monarchs have been held to derive their authority from divine will, from being divine themselves, or from the acclaim of the aristocracy. However, in many constitutional monarchies, it is now held that the monarch ultimately rules by the consent of the people.

Forms of monarchies

Absolute

In absolute monarchies, the full extent of powers belongs to the Monarch which he may or may not delegate to other bodies of government. The decision lies solely with the Monarch and, thus, any other body of government derives its legitimacy from the Monarch, not from the people.

Absolute monarchies include The New Britannian Empire, the Dominion, Heklocharis, Menelmacar, Parthia, West Corinthia, Certifiably insane, Wickedable, and Ahptan.

Some monarchies are absolute by law or tradition, but are constitutional in practice. The monarch allows an elected legislative body to do most of the decision-making in the state despite having the power to make laws themselves at will. Pantocratoria and Adoki are both examples of monarchies which are legally absolutist but constitutional in practice.

Constitutional

In constitutional monarchies, the power of the monarch is limited by a set of laws or a constitution. Many constitutional monarchies leave the monarch only with ceremonial duties, some give the monarch great powers, even if the laws or the constitution still place limits upon such powers of the monarch while delegating other duties to distinct bodies.

In many constitutional monarchies, the Monarch is but a figurehead with ceremonial roles, such as the case with Little India.

Constitutional monarchies include Valinon, the Resurgent Dream, Excalbia, Marlund, San Adriano, Tarasovka, Anna Rox Ur Sox and North Moon Island, Moonkins, and Pool Shrimpers (see below).

Semi-Constitutional

The concept of "semi-constitutional" monarchies is disputed, in the same manner as the concept of "semi-presidential republics". Many consider the notion as inexistant and the so-called "semi-constitutional monarchies" to be, in fact, either constitutional or absolute ones, depending on the extent of the Monarch's powers.

The proponents of the notion claim that a semi-constitutional monarchy is a balance between an Absolute Monarchy, in which the Monarch has the plenitude of powers, and a Constitutional Monarchy, where the Monarch is a largely ceremonial figure. One of the proponent-states of the concept is the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka, which considers itself Semi-Constitutional, but is considered by other States as Constitutional. The Taraskovyan Grand Duke enjoys supreme veto powers over any decision in the Grand Duchy, but his overall powers are still limited by a Constitution which he has no right to repel.

Monarchies in NationStates

State	Title	Extent	Currently	Notes
Ahptan	King	Absolute Monarchy	King Farid al-Walid
AHSCA	Duke/Duchess	Semi-Federal Monarchy-Republic	Duchess Shino Nanao Duke George Villa	Shino and George are Grand leaders and have all say, but the method of rule is very democratic
Anna Rox Ur Sox	Prince/Princess	Absolute Monarchy	Princess Aurelia I
Aqua Anu	Queen	Absolute Monarchy	Queen Mikaux Akoowa
The Dominion		Absolute Monarchy
Drakonian Imperium	Praetor/Queen	Constitutional Monarchy	Praetor Augustus Drake Queen Jolené Sutherland
Excalbia	Emperor	Constitutional Monarchy/Empire	David IV
Einmyria	Queen	Constitutional Monarchy	Queen Joanne
Heklocharis	Emperor	Absolute Monarchy	Emperor Peter I
Kurona	Prince and Princess	Absolute Monarchy	Princess Tomoyo Mikanu-Weaver and Prince Charles Weaver	Political structure in place since Roughly 1905
Latin Byzantines		Constitutional Monarchy
Menelmacar	Elentári	Absolute Monarchy	Elentári Sirithil nos Fëanor
Parthia	Sassani/Prince	Absolute Monarchy
Stevid	King	Constitutional Monarchy	King Alistair I