There are three types of Governments in Empire: Total War. Absolute Monarchy, Constitutional Monarchy, and Republic. A nation can change its government type if there is a revolution in the capital region of the faction. If the player sides with the rebels and manages to take control of the capital then the government type will change.
Different government types grant different bonuses and disadvantages.
Absolute Monarchy[]
An Absolute Monarchy relies on their Monarch and his/her chosen Cabinet to govern. Statistical bonuses are listed below:
- Repression: +5
- Nobility Class Happiness: +2
- Lower Class Happiness: -2
- Research Rate: -10%
- Recruitment Cost For Land Units: -5%
- Minister Wealth Growth In Home Theatre: -6
- Town Wealth Growth: -5
All leader traits are doubled under an absolute monarchy. For example, if a king grants +2 to happiness for nobility, +10% construction costs for buildings and -5% recruitment costs, under an absolute monarchy this is magnified to +4 happiness for nobility, +20% construction cost for buildings and -10% recruitment costs. Ministers sit for life unless they are manually removed. They can be freely shuffled to other positions or replaced any time by any of the candidates available. One candidate spawns per turn for a cap of up to five candidates.
Absolute Monarchies grant large bonuses to repression as well as happiness to nobility, as well as the ability to field slightly cheaper land units. Its system of ministers means that it is quite easy to gain a cabinet of highly competent officials, and to enjoy their benefits for a long time. However, their low town wealth growth and research rates mean that this government type is not ideal for accumulating wealth in the long run. They also suffer the full penalties of Clamour For Reform, resulting in growing unhappiness as the game progresses.
Constitutional Monarchy[]
A Constitutional Monarchy elects a Cabinet through a Parliament to keep the Monarch in check.
- Repression: +3
- Nobility Class Happiness: +1
- Lower Class Happiness: +1
- Effects of Clamour For Reform: -25%
- Minister Wealth Growth In Home Theatre: +3
- Town Wealth Growth: +5
- There are no negative effects on population happiness from industrial growth
Republic[]
A Republic is a form of government in which the people elect government officials that govern the people while giving them a say in the government.
- Repression: +2
- Middle Class Happiness: +1
- Lower Class Happiness: +3
- Research Rate: +5%
- Effects of Clamour For Reform: -80%
- Minister Wealth Growth In Home Theatre: +10
- Town Wealth Growth: +12