Final answer:
Hereditary monarchies involve passing the throne within families and are not elective positions. The correct answer is 'a' for hereditary. This form of governance stems from historical succession practices and divine right concepts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In hereditary monarchies, the position of king or queen is passed down within families and is not subject to a popular vote. The correct answer is 'a' for hereditary. Monarchies are a form of government where a single person, often called a monarch, rules until he or she decides to abdicate or passes away. A monarch usually comes into power through a line of succession, which is most commonly based on hereditary succession. This means that the throne is passed down to the monarch's descendants or close relatives. While some monarchs hold significant political power, others serve more ceremonial roles, particularly in constitutional monarchies where the monarch's powers are limited and largely symbolic.
Examples of countries with hereditary monarchies include the United Kingdom and Thailand, though the monarch's role in each can be quite different. Modern-day monarchies often hark back to the concept of the divine right of kings, where the monarch's authority was seen as granted by a higher power, thus justifying their absolute rule in historical contexts.