Jonah Patel
Absolute and constitutional monarchies are similar in that they are both forms of monarchy, with a single ruler at the top. In absolute monarchies, the sovereign is the sole source of political power, unconstrained by constitutions, legislatures, or other checks on their authority. In constitutional monarchies, the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and shares decision-making with other officials. While absolute monarchies are characterized by unlimited power vested in the monarch, constitutional monarchies restrict and balance the monarch's power through established legal frameworks, resulting in a more democratic form of government. Both systems have been prevalent throughout history, with absolute monarchy reaching its peak in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, and many nations transitioning from absolute to constitutional monarchy over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| One ruler at the top | King, Queen, Emperor, Prince or Grand Duke |
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What You'll Learn
Both have a single ruler
Absolute and constitutional monarchies are similar in that they both have a single ruler. In an absolute monarchy, the sovereign is the sole source of political power and is unconstrained by constitutions, legislatures, or other checks on their authority. This means that the monarch is the only decision-maker and has absolute power.
In ancient Mesopotamia, many rulers of Assyria, Babylonia, and Sumer were absolute monarchs. The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, for example, wielded absolute power and was considered a "Padishah," or "Great King," by his people. Many European monarchs also achieved levels of absolutist control, such as Louis XIV of France, known as the "Sun King," and Charles I of England, who viewed Parliament as unnecessary, ultimately leading to the English Civil War and his execution.
Constitutional monarchies, on the other hand, are also ruled by a single monarch, but their power is limited and balanced by other officials, such as a prime minister, and they are bound to exercise their authority within the limits prescribed by an established legal framework. The monarch in a constitutional monarchy is typically a hereditary symbolic head of state who performs representative and civic roles rather than exercising executive or policy-making power.
For example, the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy where the monarch has a largely ceremonial role and must remain neutral, although they can theoretically exercise an absolute veto over legislation by withholding royal assent, which can lead to political controversy.
While absolute and constitutional monarchies differ in the level of power held by the ruler, they both feature a single monarch as the head of state.
The Evolution of Britain's Constitutional Monarchy
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Both are supported by legal documents
Absolute and constitutional monarchies are similar in that they are both supported by legal documents. In an absolute monarchy, the sovereign is the single source of political power, and their authority is not checked by constitutions, legislatures, or other institutions. However, this does not mean that absolute monarchies are not supported by legal documents. For example, in Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, the king must comply with Sharia (Islamic law) and the Quran. The Quran and the Sunnah (traditions of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad) are considered the Kingdom's constitution.
Similarly, absolute monarchies in ancient Mesopotamia were supported by legal documents in the form of heavenly mandates. For instance, rulers of ancient Assyria, Babylonia, and Sumer were given titles such as "Shadow of God on Earth," reflecting their absolute power.
Constitutional monarchies, on the other hand, are explicitly defined by their adherence to a constitution. The monarch in this system of government exercises their authority within the limits prescribed by an established legal framework and often shares decision-making power with other officials. For example, the French Constitution of 1791 transformed France into an executive constitutional monarchy, marking a transition from the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.
Constitutional monarchies can vary in the level of power held by the monarch. In executive constitutional monarchies, the monarch wields significant power, as seen in Liechtenstein and Monaco, where the ruling monarchs have substantial executive power. In contrast, in ceremonial constitutional monarchies, the monarch holds little or no political power, although they may still exert considerable social and cultural influence.
Both absolute and constitutional monarchies can be supported by legal documents, but the nature of these documents and the extent to which they constrain the monarch's power differ significantly between the two systems of government.
Constitutional Monarchy in the Netherlands: A Historical Overview
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Both can be authoritarian
Absolute and constitutional monarchies are similar in that they can both be authoritarian. In an absolute monarchy, the sovereign is the sole source of political power and is unconstrained by constitutions, legislatures, or other checks on their authority. This means that an absolute monarch has the power to make and enforce laws without any opposition, which can lead to authoritarian rule. For example, in Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, the king must comply with Sharia (Islamic law) and the Quran, and no political parties or national elections are permitted. Similarly, in ancient Mesopotamia, many rulers of Assyria, Babylonia, and Sumer were absolute monarchs and wielded absolute power.
On the other hand, a constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker. While the monarch in a constitutional monarchy may have less power than in an absolute monarchy, they can still retain significant authority and influence, potentially leading to authoritarianism. For example, in executive constitutional monarchies like Liechtenstein and Monaco, the ruling monarchs wield significant executive power and have a great deal of social and cultural influence.
Additionally, the constitution of a country with a constitutional monarchy may grant substantial powers to the monarch, allowing them to exert considerable influence on governance. For instance, the Thai monarch retains certain powers under the constitution, including lèse majesté, which protects the image of the monarch and enables them to play a role in politics. The United Kingdom, a constitutional monarchy, also provides an example of this dynamic. The British monarch can theoretically exercise an absolute veto over legislation by withholding royal assent, although this power is rarely used.
It is worth noting that the level of authoritarianism in both absolute and constitutional monarchies can vary depending on historical, cultural, and social factors. For example, the Ottoman Empire's Sultan wielded absolute power and was considered a "Padishah" or "Great King" by his people, while other absolute monarchies may have had different levels of authoritarianism. Similarly, some constitutional monarchies may have more democratic practices, while others may have monarchs who actively intervene in politics.
England's Constitutional Monarchy: A Historical Perspective
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Both can be hereditary
Absolute and constitutional monarchies can both be hereditary. While absolute monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the sovereign is the sole source of political power, unconstrained by constitutions, legislatures or other checks on their authority, constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy or democratic monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in making decisions.
Despite these differences, both systems of monarchy can be hereditary, meaning that the position of monarch is passed down through the family line, typically from parent to child. For example, the House of Habsburg is a historical example of a European royal house that carried the male line of the hereditary title of absolute monarchs of the Austrian Empire, among other territories. Similarly, the Hawaiian monarchy, which transitioned from absolute to constitutional monarchy in 1840, was also hereditary.
In the case of absolute monarchy, the hereditary nature of the monarchy is often reinforced by the concept of the "divine right of kings", which asserts that the monarch's authority is derived from God and, therefore, cannot be questioned or challenged. This ideology further strengthens the absolute power held by the monarch, as it places them above any earthly laws or restrictions.
On the other hand, in a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is typically a hereditary symbolic head of state, who performs primarily representative and civic roles while refraining from directly exercising executive or policy-making power. For instance, in the United Kingdom, which is a constitutional monarchy, the monarch has a theoretical absolute veto over legislation but rarely intervenes in political matters, maintaining a neutral stance.
Thus, while absolute and constitutional monarchies differ in the level of power held by the monarch, both systems can share the characteristic of being hereditary, with the position of monarch being passed down through the generations within a family line.
Constitutional Monarchy: People's Representation or Not?
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Both can be ceremonial
Both absolute and constitutional monarchies can be ceremonial. In an absolute monarchy, the sovereign is the sole source of political power, unconstrained by constitutions, legislatures, or other checks on their authority. However, in some absolute monarchies, like the Ottoman Empire, the monarch can be considered a ceremonial figure, wielding absolute power through heavenly mandates reflected in their titles, such as "Shadow of God on Earth".
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch typically exercises their authority within the limits prescribed by a constitution and shares decision-making power with other officials. While most constitutional monarchies are ceremonial, some, like the Thai monarchy, retain significant powers, including the ability to influence politics and veto legislation.
Executive constitutional monarchies, like Liechtenstein and Monaco, are examples of constitutional monarchies with significant executive power. However, their monarchs are not considered absolute rulers because they have limited de facto power compared to Islamic monarchs, and their countries are generally viewed as liberal democracies.
Hawaii is an interesting case study, having transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1840, and then to a republic in 1893. The Kingdom of Hungary also provides insight, functioning as a constitutional monarchy without a reigning monarch during the interwar period (1920-1944).
Constitutional Monarchies: Stable Systems?
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Frequently asked questions
An absolute monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the sovereign is the sole source of political power, unconstrained by constitutions, legislatures, or other checks on their authority. Absolute monarchies include Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the individual emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates.
A constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited monarchy or parliamentary monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and shares decision-making power with other officials. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada.
Both absolute and constitutional monarchies are forms of government with a single ruler at the top, known as a monarch. In both systems, the monarch is typically a hereditary position, and the monarch is expected to serve as a symbolic figurehead for the nation. Additionally, both absolute and constitutional monarchies can have varying levels of power, with absolute monarchies ranging from completely unconstrained to partially constrained by legislatures or customs, and constitutional monarchies ranging from executive monarchies with significant power to ceremonial monarchies with little to no power.
