Eleanor Finch
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch—typically a king or queen—acts as the head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution. In a constitutional monarchy, political power is shared between the monarch and a constitutionally organized government, such as a parliament. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a purely ceremonial leader. The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed in the United Kingdom, where power is exercised by democratically elected parliaments and their leader, the prime minister, with the monarch having ceded most of their power and remaining as a titular position.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Constitutional monarchy |
| System of government | A monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government |
| Head of state | A constitutional monarch is the head of state |
| Powers of the monarch | The monarch may hold formal powers such as dissolving parliament or giving royal assent to legislation |
| Role of the monarch | The monarch acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state under the constitution |
| Real governmental power | Exercised by a parliament or similar legislative body overseen by a prime minister |
| Constitutional monarch's role | A constitutional monarch may hold formal powers such as dissolving parliament or giving royal assent to legislation |
| Constitutional monarch's duties | A constitutional monarch may serve as a living symbol of national unity, pride, and tradition |
| Constitutional monarch's powers | Depending on the constitution, a constitutional monarch may have the power to disband the current parliamentary government or to give royal consent to the actions of the parliament |
| Constitutional monarchy's development | The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed in the United Kingdom |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy
A constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy, is a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a ceremonial leader.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch typically acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state under the constitution. While the monarch may hold formal authority and the government may legally operate in their name, they do not personally set public policy or choose political leaders. The monarch is often referred to as a "sovereign who reigns but does not rule".
The monarch's role in a constitutional monarchy is primarily representative and civic. They act as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, providing a sense of stability and continuity. They officially recognize success and excellence and support the ideal of voluntary service. This role is fulfilled through speeches, such as the King's annual Christmas Day broadcast, giving honours to recognize public and voluntary service, and visiting the armed forces, schools, hospitals, charities, and local organizations. The monarch also has constitutional duties, such as appointing the Prime Minister and other ministers, opening new sessions of parliament, and giving royal assent to legislation.
In some constitutional monarchies, the monarch and their representatives may hold significant "reserve" or "prerogative" powers, which can be wielded in times of extreme emergency or constitutional crisis, usually to uphold parliamentary government. For example, during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, the Governor-General, who is the monarch's representative in Australia, dismissed the Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, to resolve a budgetary deadlock.
The Evolution of England's Constitutional Monarchy
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How constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a ceremonial leader. Constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies in several key ways.
Firstly, in a constitutional monarchy, the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker. They are bound by limits prescribed by an established legal framework, such as a written constitution or unwritten constitutional conventions. The monarch's role is often symbolic and civic, and they may hold formal powers such as dissolving parliament or giving royal assent to legislation. However, they generally cannot exercise these powers based on personal political preferences. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, and Thailand.
On the other hand, in an absolute monarchy, the monarch is the only decision-maker and holds absolute power. They are not bound by any legal framework or checks and balances, standing above all human laws. Absolute monarchies include countries such as Brunei, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
Secondly, the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy often involves a shift in the monarch's role and the distribution of power. In constitutional monarchies, the monarch may be given the status of a "'servant of the people' or a "first servant of the state", reflecting an egalitarian position. The monarch's influence on political decisions, such as the choice of prime minister, diminishes over time. For example, in the United Kingdom, the monarch can theoretically exercise an absolute veto over legislation, but doing so can lead to political controversy due to concerns about the neutrality of the crown.
Finally, while absolute monarchies are supported by legal documents, the authority of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy is restricted or balanced by other officials, such as a prime minister or a parliament. The monarch's power in a constitutional monarchy may be limited by a legislature or unwritten customs, ensuring that they reign but do not rule.
Democracy vs Monarchy: Systems of Governance Compared
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The history of constitutional monarchy in the UK
The United Kingdom is a democratic constitutional monarchy, meaning that the monarch acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state under the constitution. While the monarch holds formal authority and the government operates in their name, they do not set public policy or choose political leaders.
During the Glorious Revolution of 1688, William III and Mary II were installed as co-monarchs, marking a shift towards constitutional monarchy with power shifting to Parliament. From 1649 to 1660, the British Isles had no monarchy following the civil wars and execution of Charles I, instead being governed by various forms of republican government.
Over time, the monarch's influence on the choice of prime minister declined, with King William IV being the last monarch to dismiss a prime minister in 1834. The Reform Act of 1832 further reduced the power of the monarchy by reforming parliamentary representation and expanding the electoral franchise.
The final transition to a constitutional monarchy occurred during the reign of Queen Victoria, the successor of William IV. This marked the end of the monarch's ability to effectively interfere with parliamentary power.
Today, the monarch in the UK has a range of constitutional and representational duties, acting as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, while also supporting ideals such as voluntary service. The monarch also has the power to dissolve parliament or give royal assent to legislation, although these powers are typically exercised in accordance with constitutional principles rather than personal political preferences.
The UK's constitutional monarchy differs from absolute monarchies, where the monarch is the sole decision-maker. Instead, the UK's monarch serves as a symbolic head of state, reflecting the country's democratic nature.
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The role of the governor general in a constitutional monarchy
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a ceremonial leader. The constitution allocates the government's powers to the legislature and judiciary.
In a constitutional monarchy, the governor general is the representative of the monarch in his or her state and may exercise the reserve powers of the monarch according to their own constitutional authority. The governor general acts on behalf of the head of state and exercises the powers and responsibilities of the head of state. The governor general is non-partisan and apolitical and has a number of responsibilities, one of the most important being to ensure that there is always a prime minister and a government in place that has the confidence of Parliament.
The governor general's other constitutional duties include swearing into office the prime minister, Cabinet ministers, and the chief justice of the country; appointing members of the Privy Council, lieutenant governors, and certain judges on the advice of the prime minister; and signing into effect official documents, such as orders-in-council. The governor general also holds certain reserve powers, thereby acting as a democratic safeguard.
The governor general usually acts in accordance with constitutional convention and upon the advice of the national prime minister. However, there have been rare and controversial exceptions, such as in 1926 when the Canadian governor general refused the prime minister's request for a dissolution of parliament, and in 1975 when the governor general of Australia dismissed the prime minister.
Constitutional Monarchy: How Does it Function?
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Examples of constitutional monarchies
- The United Kingdom, where the concept of a constitutional monarchy first developed. Here, democratically elected parliaments and the Prime Minister exercise power, while the monarch acts as a ceremonial head of state.
- Belgium, where the monarch formally appoints a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election.
- The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, where the monarch has gradually transferred authority to various societal groups and waives actual political power in favour of elected politicians.
- Japan and Thailand, the two most populous constitutional monarchies in the world, where the prime minister holds the day-to-day powers of governance, while the monarch retains residual powers.
- Liechtenstein and Monaco, where the ruling monarchs wield significant executive power, but are not absolute monarchs and have limited de facto power compared to Islamic monarchs.
- Jordan and Morocco, which are among the most stable regimes in the Arab world, despite not having the same level of oil wealth as some of their neighbours.
- Australia, where the Governor-General holds significant "reserve" powers to be wielded in times of extreme emergency or constitutional crisis, as demonstrated during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis when the Governor-General dismissed the Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch—typically a king or queen—acts as the head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is usually chosen through hereditary succession.
The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy is to serve as a symbolic and ceremonial head of state, performing representative and civic roles while refraining from exercising executive or policy-making power.
The key characteristics of a constitutional monarchy include the sharing of power between the monarch and a constitutionally organized government, such as a parliament, and the monarch's role as a symbol of national unity, pride, and tradition.
Some countries with constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Japan, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Thailand.
