Forms of monarchical rule. Absolutism. Dualistic monarchy

The term "monarchy" is of Greek origin. Literally the term means "unanimity", "autocracy". The main features of the monarchy are the concentration of supreme power in the hands of the head of state and hereditary accession to the throne. However, power is not always transferred from generation to generation. For example, Rzeczpospolita was led by elected kings. In Byzantium, which was a monarchy, rulers were often killed. The throne, thus, was occupied by the one who killed the king (on the rights of seizure).

Absolute (unlimited) monarchy is distinguished by the absolute lack of rights of citizens, the absence of representative bodies. And, of course, under this regime, only one person is in power - the autocrat. This form of government was characteristic of Russia in the period from the end of the 18th century to 1917.

Synonyms for the concept of "absolute monarchy" in Russia were such terms as "autocratic monarchy", "autocracy". The main features of Russian absolutism were formed over three centuries. Laws were published by the autocrat himself or at his order, in accordance with his command, the state treasury was spent or replenished, the court was administered. A unified system of taxes was established in the country. The monarch relied on an administrative apparatus consisting of close people. To the indispensable signs of Russian absolutism should also be attributed to the complete enslavement of the peasants, regulation, interference of the authorities in all spheres of public life, the existence of a permanent police and army.

Absolutism assumes that the autocrat stands above all law and law. The monarch is allowed everything. He is considered part of the system, his authority is established by law. The ruler of the country is responsible for his actions before God, his conscience and law.

However, the monarchy may be limited. There are several varieties of this form of government. One of these forms is the dualistic monarchy. Within the framework of this system, there is some separation of the ruler from the legislative power. At the same time, the dualistic monarchy retains the full power of the executive over the head of state.

The state system under this form of government presupposes the existence of a parliament and a constitution. The dualistic monarchy empowers the elected parliament with the legislature. However, the head of the country still has the right to impose an absolute veto, which can not be challenged by the parliament. In addition, the ruler retains the right to issue extraordinary normative acts that have legal force.

As a rule, the dualistic monarchy assumes that the head of the country has an unlimited opportunity to dissolve the parliament, which turns the existing form of government into absolutism. In such state systems, the government reports only to the head of the country and is unaccountable to the parliament. The latter, in turn, can influence government activities only by applying its right to approve the state budget. In general, dualistic monarchies are characterized by the predominance of the ruler's power over representative power.

Certain features of this form of government still exist today in some states. In its pure form, of course, there is no dualistic monarchy today. But, for example, in Nepal, Jordan, Morocco, some signs of this form of government are present. So, in Jordan there is a parliament and a government responsible formally in front of it. However, the parliamentary authorities have significant limitations. They are expressed mainly in the fact that the acts that this body publishes, including the votes of no confidence in the government, are approved by the king. In addition, it is the king who exercises public administration in the country.