Inheritance
Definition
In the context of governance, inheritance refers to the passing down of power and authority from one generation to another, usually within a ruling family. This form of governance is often associated with monarchies or dynasties.
Analogy
Imagine a king passing his crown down to his son. Just like how inheritance works in terms of wealth or property, in governance, it means that the ruler's child becomes the next leader.
Related terms
Monarchy: A system of government where power is vested in a single individual, usually a king or queen, who inherits their position.
Dynasty: A sequence of rulers from the same family who maintain political control over an extended period.
Succession: The process by which power and authority are transferred from one ruler to another through inheritance or appointment.
"Inheritance" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.