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Prince William and his new bride, Kate Middleton, greet a crowd of well-wishers after their wedding, April 29, 2011.

Words to Understand in This Chapter

absolute monarchy— a form of government in which the monarch holds power that is not limited by laws or a constitution. constitution— a document that contains the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of a government. constitutional monarchy— a system of government in which a monarch is guid- ed by a constitution that specifies his or her rights, duties, and responsibilities. coronation— the act or ceremony of crowning a monarch. dynasty— a line of hereditary rulers; a succession of monarchs who are related to or members of the same family. parliament— a legislative assembly or lawmaking body. parliamentary democracy— a political system with an elected parliament, in which a prime minister serves as head of government. primogeniture— the law determining succession: the throne is passed down to the firstborn child. regalia— the emblems or symbols of royalty.