"Hello," Tyrion said, as he walked quickly into class just as the bell rang. "Lady Ghanima has been delayed, so I'll start class on my own this week."
"The first type of power we're looking at is hereditary power -- specifically, the
hereditary monarchy. In an hereditary monarchy, the crown goes from one member of a family to the next. Generally the transmission runs father to eldest child to that child's eldest son, but with caveats. For example, women are skipped over in most systems of this sort unless there are no sons in their generation. A younger brother may inherit if the elder one is removed -- for example, if he dies young or joins a religious order. And if a whole generation dies without issue, the crown may go to whatever cousin shouts the loudest."
"There are good things about this system," he added. "It tends to be stable. It allows families to become expert at governing, just as another family may be expert at making shoes or running taverns. It rewards people for historic strength. And it's common in almost all cultures, so clearly it's something humans are drawn toward."
"But there are also problems, of course. The family in charge may get to the point where they're so removed from the small folk they rule poorly. Traits like cruelty or feebleness of mind or body may come to dominate a family, such that their hold on the throne is weak and their rule poor. And if a child inherits the throne before he is fully adult, the country may suffer under his whims."
"Your assignment today," he finished, "is to discuss the concept and decide whether you favor or oppose the idea as a whole. If you oppose it, what would you suggest in its place?"
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