What role do the people play in a government that is monarchy such as Saudi Arabia?

Answer 1

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially operates under a theocratic despotic (absolute) monarchy. In this system of government, the monarch has supreme authority over their domain and its people.

Theoretically-speaking, the citizens of an absolute monarchy do not exercise any political power, since all power is concentrated in the ruler. Nevertheless, this is generally not the case in most modern (and indeed, historical) examples of absolutism. It is not uncommon for a despotic monarch to yield to the demands of influential classes, particularly the noble or merchant classes. Therefore, even though an absolute ruler does not technically answer to anyone other than him/herself, the people can sometimes play a part in pressuring the monarch on certain decisions.

Note that, in other monarchic forms of government, the citizens often play a more influential role. This is especially true in parliamentary monarchies and elective monarchies.

Answer 2

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially operates under a theocratic despotic (absolute) monarchy. In this system of government, the monarch has supreme authority over their domain and its people.

Theoretically-speaking, the citizens of an absolute monarchy do not exercise any political power, since all power is concentrated in the ruler. Nevertheless, this is generally not the case in most modern (and indeed, historical) examples of absolutism. It is not uncommon for a despotic monarch to yield to the demands of influential classes, particularly the noble or merchant classes. Therefore, even though an absolute ruler does not technically answer to anyone other than him/herself, the people can sometimes play a part in pressuring the monarch on certain decisions.

Note that, in other monarchic forms of government, the citizens often play a more influential role. This is especially true in parliamentary monarchies and elective monarchies.