+1 and wouldn't your "Rule by Blood" system where the nobles are in charge be a democracy based on the current system?
Not necessarily. You could have Rule by Blood if 45% of the power is with the Lords, and 45% with the King, after all. You certainly could have a current-style Democracy with the majority of the power sticking with non-landed nobles, but I couldn't come up with a good name (I don't like Democracy).