David Carey, age 14, of Henderson, Nev., for his question:

WHAT IS ABSOLUTISM?

Absolutism is a political system in which total power is given to a single individual or to a group of rulers. Today the term is usually associated with the government of a dictator.

Absolutism is considered the opposite of constitutional government such as that found in the United States. Absolutism is distinguished from democracy by the unlimited power claimed for absolute rulers as contrast with the constitutional limitations placed on the heads of state in democratic governments.

The development of modern absolutism started with the emergence of European nation states toward the end of the 15th century and flourished for more than 200 years. It is best exemplified by the reign of King Louis XIV of France.

Other forms of absolutism arose in the 20th century. Most notably were the National Socialism organization in Germany and the Communist dictatorship in the USSR.

Today absolute rulers are found in many countries around the world including the USSR and its satellite countries and in various Latin American and African nations.