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A Monarchy, from the Greek ''μονος'', "one", and '' αρχειν '', "to rule", is a Form Of Government in which a monarch, usually a single person, is the Head Of State . In most monarchies, the monarch holds their position for life (in some republics the head of state, often styled President , also remains in office for life, but in most is Elected for a term of office, after which he or she must step down). There are currently 31 monarchs reigning over 45 extant sovereign monarchies in the world; the disconnect in numbers between monarchs and countries is explained by the fact that the sixteen Commonwealth Realms - vast geographic areas including the trans-continental realms of Canada and Australia - are separately reigned over in Personal Union by one Sovereign, and one other monarchy, Andorra , by two non-resident foreign (French and Spanish) co-monarchs. The term monarchy is also used to refer to the People (especially the Dynasty , also known as Royalty ) and institutions that make up the royal or imperial establishment, or to the Realm over which the monarch reigns. Monarchs serve as Symbols of Continuity and Statehood . Today, the extent of a monarch's actual powers varies from monarchy to monarchy. In constitutional monarchies, wherein Sovereignty rests formally with the crown but politically with 'the people' (usually the electorate, as represented by a parliament), the monarch now usually serves largely ceremonial functions, except in times of crisis. Many monarchies are constituted by tradition or by Codified Law , so that the monarch has little real Political Power ; in others the monarch holds some power but is limited from exercising it by popular or precedential opinion; in still others the monarch holds substantial power and may exercise it without limit. Monarchy is one of the oldest forms of government, with echoes in the leadership of Tribal Chiefs . Many monarchs once claimed to rule by Divine Right , or at least by divine grace, ruling either by the will of the god(s) or even claiming to be (incarnated) gods themselves; cfr. Theocracy . Monarchs have also been selected by Election (either in a broad popular assembly, as in Germanic tribal states; or by a small body, such as in the Holy Roman Empire ; or by Dynastic Succession ; or by Conquest as in Malaysia and the UAE; or a combination of any number of ways). In some early systems the monarch was overthrown or sacrificed when it became apparent that Divine Sanction had been withdrawn. | ||
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