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Literature
The thing about Billy Rock is that he is both dumb and mean. He's the youngest of five brothers, but three of them were killed in the vendetta that gave his family control of South London after they moved in from Hong Kong. The fourth survived being shot in the head and losing most of his forebrain, but he spends most of the time in a room in the basement of the family house, hunting for imaginary enemies and howling like a dog. Which, because his father died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob's, means that Billy Rock is the de facto head of the family.
Billy's uncles handle most of the day-to-day business, and he is left with little to do except indulge in his drug of choice. Crack, mostly, which is how he got his street name, that and his fondness for speed metal.
— Fairyland, by Paul J McAuley
The king suddenly surprised everyone by standing up, pulling himself to his full regal height and smashing the end of his sceptre into the ground with a conversation-silencing crash. "I," he roared, "am the KING!"
The advisor coughed, unimpressed. "Yes, your majesty, you're the king. A noble, wise king."
“Y—”
“So noble and so wise that he understands exactly the importance of the relationship his kingdom has with the Adventurer's Guild." His tone was bored and civil, but there was a lilt in his last few words that brought to mind a concealed knife flashed momentarily in a sleeve.
His royal wetness sat back down.
— Mogworld
Live-Action TV
"When you were emperor, it meant something. Subduer of the Xon and the Shoggren. Now–pffft–anyone can be emperor. I can be emperor. Vir can be emperor. If Vir can be emperor... a small Earth cat can be emperor!"
— Londo, Babylon 5
Prince Clavor: Forgive my ignorance, sagacious teacher! I trusted you to make this work! Was that unwise of me?
Tyrion Lannister: You just sent the most powerful man in Westeros to bed without his supper.
Tywin Lannister: You're a fool if you believe he is the most powerful man in Westeros.
Tyrion: A treasonous statement. Joffrey is king.
Tywin: You really think a crown gives you power?
Tywin Lannister: You're a fool if you believe he is the most powerful man in Westeros.
Tyrion: A treasonous statement. Joffrey is king.
Tywin: You really think a crown gives you power?
Pentos is the most ruthless. The Magisters make a great show of choosing the Prince of Pentos from the Great Families, and granting him the powers of trade, justice and war... as long as he checks with them first. On the New Year, to bring good fortune to Pentos, this Prince must deflower the Maid of the Field and the Maid of the Seas. I confess I don't know how each is chosen, or what becomes of them after serving their purpose. But, if a crop should fail or a war be lost, the Magisters will slit the Prince's throat and choose another.
— Ser Jorah Mormont, Game of Thrones: History And Lore Of Westeros - The Free Cities
Vice: Where's your sorry? Look, your boss is bawling.
Olteca: "Boss"? She was just for show. A convenient puppet for cultists to gather around.
Amazon Killer: Didn't you hear my order?! I am the queen of the Machine Empire!
Hell Saturn: The Machine Empire belongs to the Omnipotent God! You're merely a piece of garbage.
"I'm Lao Ma, wife of the great Lao. Please forgive my husband for sending his insignificant wife to handle such difficult affairs of state. But he's very ill."
— Lao Ma , Xena: Warrior Princess
Radio
"You see, all the power has been held by one man, Chairman Freeth. In theory, the planet is governed by the Council of Ministers with the President at their head, but they're weak and corrupt, and the President just leaves everything to his son."
— Onya, The Paradise of Death
Tabletop Games
In theory, Endron is run by its president, Max Carson, with the able assistant of his COO, Nicholas Morgan, and his CFO, Justin Chen. [...] The three exert an iron control over Endron headquarters and the organizational framework of the corporation as a whole. What they don't realize is that this is all they control.
The other element of "official" authority at Endron is the Board. In practice, the Board has the ability to remove the president and his chief advisors at will. In practice, this is all they have the authority to do, because they, like the president himself, have been defanged. Of course, They make sure that both president and Board feel properly empowered, and that serves to hide Their existence.
— Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Subsidiaries: A Guide To Pentex
Theatre
"The spiritual heart of all Japan—the court of the Emperor at Kyoto, the palace of the living god descended from the sun itself, the throne room of the sacred ruler of the Islands of Nippon!
Of course, a thousand years ago the Emperor's power was wrested from him by the warlord called the Shogun, and since that time the Emperor has ruled in name alone. But ancient duties must still be discharged. Observe how low Lord Abe bows down to the ruler whom he rules."
Of course, a thousand years ago the Emperor's power was wrested from him by the warlord called the Shogun, and since that time the Emperor has ruled in name alone. But ancient duties must still be discharged. Observe how low Lord Abe bows down to the ruler whom he rules."
— Reciter, Pacific Overtures
Video Games
In the months that followed their wedding, Alistair and Anora fell into the routine of ruling Ferelden. Anora was a skilled governor, adept at matters of court and more than willing to spend her time judging matters of law from the throne... and Alistair was quite happy to let her do so.
Now, my dearest grandson. Let me remind you of your place, in the simplest of terms. You do not make judgments—you administer them. Swiftly and to the letter. Naught else is your concern.
— Solus zos Galvus, Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
Avlora: With all due respect, ser, I do not believe Queen Cordelia to be fit for ruling Glenbrook.
Gustadolph: She does not need to be. She is to be our figurehead, a place for the people to focus both their hope and discontent. And while the poor people of Glenbrook stumble in the dark, we shall establish a new government— one based in freedom.
Gustadolph: She does not need to be. She is to be our figurehead, a place for the people to focus both their hope and discontent. And while the poor people of Glenbrook stumble in the dark, we shall establish a new government— one based in freedom.
Web Video
"Republicans need a puppet and you fit. Got their hand so far up your rear, call you 'Mitt'."
The samurai became organized and powerful, more powerful than the government. So they made their own military government here [in Kamakura city]. They let the emperor still be "emperor", but the shogun was actually in control.
Western Animation
We were saying, "President" Morty, that we don't care who sits in that seat — a Rick, a Morty, a goddamn Jerry, doesn't matter. We've been running the Citadel since before the Council, and you'll find we're still running it now!
— Garment District Rick, Rick and Morty, Just before Evil Morty subverts the trope and takes full control of the Citadel
