Omar Bennett
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the head of state or a ceremonial leader, while the constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and judiciary. The powers of the monarch vary between countries and can include appointing a prime minister, proclaiming laws, and handling foreign relations. In some constitutional monarchies, the monarch is elected, while in others, the monarchy is hereditary. Elections in constitutional monarchies can also involve the selection of a representative to preside over the formation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Government | A constitutional monarchy is a system of government where a king or queen shares power with a constitutionally organized government. |
| Powers of the Monarch | The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a purely ceremonial leader. The constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and judiciary. |
| Examples | The United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. |
| Election of the Monarch | In some constitutional monarchies, the monarch is hereditary. In others, the ruler is periodically selected by a small electoral college. |
| Role of the Monarch | The monarch serves as a symbolic and civic head of state, performing a representative role and wielding powers such as the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn. |
| Power Dynamics | The legislature holds the most political power, and the prime minister is the most powerful executive leader. |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the monarch in elections
In other constitutional monarchies, like Malaysia and Cambodia, the monarch is periodically selected by a small electoral college, making these countries elective monarchies. In Thailand, the monarch is recognized as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith, playing an influential role in political incidents and often acting as a mediator between disputing political opponents.
In the United Kingdom, the monarch has the function of both head of state and head of the nation. While the monarch does not rule, they are constitutionally obliged to appoint the Prime Minister and other ministers, open new sessions of parliament, and give royal assent to bills passed by parliament, signifying them becoming law. The monarch also chairs monthly meetings of the Privy Council and receives and appoints ambassadors, acting on the advice of the government.
According to British political theorist Walter Bagehot, a constitutional monarch has three main political rights: the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn. While constitutional monarchies may retain significant authorities or political influence through certain reserve powers, the monarch's role in elections is largely symbolic, with the real power resting with the elected Members of Parliament or other legislative bodies.
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The power of the monarch
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's power is limited by a constitution, which outlines their duties and responsibilities. This is in contrast to absolute monarchies, where the monarch holds unlimited power and can make decisions without consulting anyone else.
The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy varies from country to country. In some countries, like the United Kingdom, the monarch is a ceremonial figurehead with little real power. They may have certain reserve powers and play an important political role, but the actual power lies with the prime minister and the parliament. The monarch's role in the UK is to embody and represent the nation, while the government is carried out by a cabinet of predominantly elected Members of Parliament. The monarch has the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn, as identified by Walter Bagehot. They also have the power to appoint a prime minister, grant titles, appoint bishops, and open or dissolve parliament, though these powers are largely ceremonial.
In other countries, the monarch has more power and influence over government policy. For example, in Liechtenstein and Monaco, the ruling monarchs wield significant executive power, though they are not considered absolute monarchs as their power is limited by the constitution and the elected parliament. Similarly, in Norway, the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet.
In some constitutional monarchies, the monarch holds significant "reserve" or "prerogative" powers, which can be wielded in times of extreme emergency or constitutional crisis. For example, during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, the Governor-General, who represents the Monarch, dismissed the Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.
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The role of the elected government
In a constitutional monarchy, the elected government, typically a legislative body, holds the most political power. The legislature makes the laws and officially advises the monarch, although modern monarchs have little power over their legislatures. The prime minister, who is elected either directly or indirectly, serves as the most powerful executive leader in the nation.
The specific powers of the elected government can vary between constitutional monarchies. For example, in the United Kingdom, the prime minister can appoint a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election. In contrast, in Norway, the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet. In nearly all cases, the elected government is bound by convention to act on the advice of the Cabinet or a similar body.
While the monarch may have some reserve powers, such as the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn, the elected government wields the majority of political power. This balance of power ensures that the country is governed by a democratically elected body, even while recognising the monarch as a symbolic head of state.
In some constitutional monarchies, the monarch may have more significant powers. For example, in Liechtenstein and Monaco, the ruling monarchs wield significant executive power, although they are still considered liberal democracies rather than undemocratic. However, even in these cases, the monarch's power is limited by the constitution and the elected parliament.
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The difference between constitutional monarchy and absolute monarchy
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a constitution outlines the powers of the monarch and limits their authority. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is typically a ceremonial figurehead, while actual governance is carried out by elected officials. For example, in the United Kingdom, the monarchy exists but operates under a democratic framework, with an elected Parliament led by the Prime Minister making and enforcing laws.
In contrast, an absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch holds supreme power and rules without legal constraints. In this system, the monarch has absolute authority and can make decisions without the input of other branches of government. Historically, absolute monarchs believed in the divine right of kings, meaning they thought their power came directly from a deity. An example of an absolute monarchy is Saudi Arabia, where the king has extensive control over the government.
The key distinction between these two types of monarchies lies in the extent and limits of the monarch's power. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's powers are restricted by a constitution, and they share power with an elected parliament. The monarch may still have some political influence, but their role is primarily symbolic. On the other hand, in an absolute monarchy, the monarch holds all the power, and there is no constitutional government to check their authority.
Constitutional monarchies have evolved from absolute monarchies over time, reflecting a shift towards more democratic forms of government. For instance, Thailand transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932 when army officers seized power and established the country's first constitution. Similarly, France transitioned from absolute monarchy under Louis XIV and Louis XVI to a constitutional monarchy in 1791.
While the specific structures may vary, constitutional monarchies generally feature a separation of powers between the branches of government, with the monarch holding a position within the executive branch. The monarch may have certain responsibilities, such as enforcing domestic laws, conducting foreign relations, commanding the military, and assuming emergency powers during crises. However, their power is ultimately curbed by the constitution and the presence of other governing bodies.
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Examples of constitutional monarchies
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch is the head of state and the emblem of state authority. However, the monarch has ceded power to the people and acts on the advice of the Cabinet. The UK's leader, the prime minister, is elected, and they exercise power alongside the parliament.
Belgium
Belgium is another example of a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch formally appoints a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election.
Norway
Norway is a constitutional monarchy where the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet. The monarch is the nominal chief executive and is bound by convention to act on the advice of the Cabinet.
Japan and Thailand
Japan and Thailand are the two most populous constitutional monarchies in the world, located in Asia. In these countries, the prime minister holds the power of governance, while the monarch retains residual powers.
Commonwealth Realms
There are fifteen constitutional monarchies under King Charles III, known as Commonwealth realms. These include Australia, where the Governor-General holds significant "reserve" powers, as seen in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis when the Governor-General dismissed the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.
Other Examples
Other constitutional monarchies include Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Jordan, and Cambodia. In some cases, such as in Denmark and Belgium, the monarch plays a role in forming a coalition government after parliamentary elections.
It is worth noting that the powers of the monarch can vary between countries, with some being executive monarchies where the monarch wields significant power, while others are ceremonial monarchies where the monarch holds little political influence.
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Frequently asked questions
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 rest of the government’s powers to the legislature and judiciary.
In a constitutional monarchy, the titular head of state – the monarch – serves the traditional role of embodying and representing the nation, while the government is carried out by a cabinet composed predominantly of elected Members of Parliament.
The powers of a constitutional monarch vary between countries. In the UK, the monarch has the power to appoint and remove the Prime Minister and other ministers, dissolve Parliament, approve important laws, and handle foreign relations. In other countries, like Japan, the monarch is consigned to ceremonial duties and has no role in the government.
In a constitutional monarchy, the Prime Minister is elected either directly or indirectly and serves as the most powerful executive leader in the nation.
