It sounds like we need some kind of hybrid system, but the inverse of those others you mentioned. Something where the leaders are not people who want to be leaders but those prepped for it from birth - but where there multiple options to choose from. They should be taken from all corners of high society, and forced through some kind of competition or a rigorous election - not a popularity vote by the masses - to determine who will be the ruler. And there needs to a way to retire them without violence and put a new one in place if we realize we made a mistake. (term limits for a start)

Obviously on top of limited government restricted by constitution and law and all that good stuff. I'm less interested in who is in charge than I am what powers they have.