Legal Definitions - absolutism

Absolutism refers to a political system or an ideology where a single ruler or entity holds complete and unrestricted power. In such a system, there are no legal, constitutional, or other institutional limits on the authority of the ruler, and no independent bodies, such as a legislature or judiciary, to challenge or balance their decisions. It also describes the belief that such a system of governance, with its concentrated and unchecked power, is desirable or legitimate.

Here are some examples illustrating absolutism:

• Imagine a historical kingdom where the monarch declares themselves to be chosen by divine right, making all laws, controlling the military, and acting as the final judge in all disputes. There is no parliament to approve taxes, no independent court to review royal decrees, and no constitution to limit the king's authority. Any dissent is swiftly suppressed by royal decree.

  This illustrates absolutism because the monarch's power is entirely unrestricted; there are no checks or balances from any other institution or legal framework. Their word is the ultimate law.

• Consider a modern nation where a single political party and its leader control every branch of government—the executive, legislative, and judicial—as well as all state media and security forces. The leader unilaterally amends the constitution to extend their term indefinitely, dissolves any opposition groups, and makes all significant economic and social policy decisions without requiring approval from any independent body. Citizens have no legal recourse to challenge these decisions.

  This demonstrates absolutism as the leader's authority is absolute, operating without any meaningful constitutional or institutional checks and balances, effectively consolidating all power in one entity.

• Picture a political movement gaining traction by advocating for a "supreme leader" who would be granted full authority to make all national decisions without the need for elections, legislative debates, or judicial review. Proponents argue that only such an unconstrained leader can efficiently solve complex national problems and ensure stability, dismissing the need for democratic processes or power-sharing.

  This scenario exemplifies absolutism as an ideology, representing the belief in a system where power is concentrated in a single individual, free from traditional democratic constraints and institutional oversight, because it is deemed the most effective form of governance.