Final answer:
The main difference between a king and a president is that a king in an absolute monarchy has unlimited political power, while a president in a republic is restricted by constitutional checks and balances, separation of powers, and is accountable to the electorate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option is A:
Comparing the powers of a king and a president reveals significant differences based on the respective governmental systems. Historically, a king in an absolute monarchy holds unlimited political power and rules until death or abdication, claiming the right to the throne typically through hereditary succession. On the other hand, a president in a republic, such as the United States, is vested with executive power that is both constitutionally and institutionally checked by other branches of government, such as the legislature and judiciary.
Presidents often navigate a separation of powers, where responsibilities and powers are shared. For example, in foreign policy, the president may lead, but requires Congressional approval to declare war. Contrary to an absolute monarch who can make unilateral decisions, a president is limited by constitutional means, cannot override the legislature without due process, and is directly accountable to the electorate.
However, in a constitutional monarchy, like the United Kingdom, the modern monarch's role is largely ceremonial, and real political power is exercised by elected officials. Thus, the contrast primarily lies between the historical absolute power of a monarch and the contemporary, tempered power of a president within a constitutional framework. This provides for a balance and separation of powers that does not exist in an absolute monarchy.