Actually, about Padme being elected ("Monarchy does not work that way") there IS a real-world monarchy that does have elections. This is Malaysia which has a new king (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) elected every five years. However the king is himself the ruler of one of the states - they just choose among themselves who the next one will be. This is somewhat similar to the situation of the former 'Holy Roman Empire' and the Vatican's College of Cardinals.