A monarchy is a form of government that is led by a king or queen. This system often involves a hereditary rule, meaning that the position of monarch is passed down through family lineage. Monarchies can vary in power distribution, ranging from absolute monarchies, where the king or queen holds central authority, to constitutional monarchies, where the monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or laws, with an elected parliament typically handling governance. Examples of monarchies include the United Kingdom, where the monarchy is constitutional, and Saudi Arabia, which is an absolute monarchy.