What type of government does the excerpt reflect?

The excerpt reflects a constitutional monarchy because it showcases a form of government where a monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or legal framework. In a constitutional monarchy, the royal figurehead exists alongside an established constitution that outlines the rights of citizens and the limitations of governmental powers, often involving a parliamentary system that enables a degree of democratic participation.

This type of government allows for a balance between tradition and modern governance, as the monarch often plays a ceremonial role while elected representatives manage governmental duties. It illustrates the evolution of governance during the Enlightenment period, where monarchs began adopting some Enlightenment principles, leading to gradual reforms that further restricted their powers while still maintaining a monarchy.

In contrast, a democratic republic would not involve a monarch at all, and enlightened despotism, while still featuring a monarch, suggests a ruler who maintains absolute control, albeit with enlightened ideas influencing their reign. Absolute monarchy indicates complete control by the monarch without constitutional limitations, while a constitutional monarchy implies the existence of a significant legal framework that restricts the monarch's powers. Thus, the characteristics present in the excerpt align closely with the principles of a constitutional monarchy.