<human>:  What are the differences between a democratic and a monarchical government?
<bot>: democratic government is founded on a system of free and fair elections, and the people govern themselves through elected representatives. A monarchical government is one in which a royal and hereditary family hold absolute power over a nation’s political and social decisions. 2 In a democratic system, the people’s rights are protected through a system of laws, freedoms, and checks and balances. In a monarchical system, the monarch has the power to alter laws, suspend freedoms, and impose their own will.3 In democratic government, people are generally afforded rights to freedom of speech, press and assembly, as well as certain civil liberties. In a monarchical system, many of these rights may be restricted or limited. 4 Most democratic nations also have a system of taxation across the entire population, while in a monarchical system, the royals are generally exempt from any form of taxation, and may even receive payment from public funds. 5 In democratic nations, political power is evenly distributed and the people have the right to vote and determine who governs them. In a monarchical government, the ruling family holds supreme power and their rule cannot be overturned.