In a monarchy, the power to rule lies in the hands of the monarch.
A monarchy is a form of government in which a dynasty embodies the country's national identity and the monarch <em>exercises the role of sovereign.</em>
The monarch is usually a king or a queen, the monarch position is inherited in most cases and lasts until death or abdication.
There are different types of monarchy : symbolic ( crowned republic ), ( partial and restricted ( constitutional monarchy ) or autocratic ( absolute monarchy ).
Today most monarchs are constitutional monarchs with a ceremonial role, who exercise limited power only. 45 states in the world are currently ruled by monarchs as their heads of state.
