Monarchies are a form of government where a single person, usually a king or queen, holds supreme authority and often inherits the position through hereditary means. Monarchies often have a system of succession in place to ensure a smooth transition of power from one monarch to the next. Monarchies can be absolute, where the monarch has complete control over the government, or constitutional, where the monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or other governing body. Monarchies are often associated with tradition and continuity, and can provide a sense of unity and stability for a country. However, they can also be seen as undemocratic and can lead to concerns about the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual.