Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Government exercised according to the will of a ruler without legal limits or constraints; opposed by Enlightenment thinkers as a violation of natural rights and the rule of law.
AP course connection
Topic 4.6: 4.6 Enlightened and Other Approaches to Power