Eleanor Finch
Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy or democratic monarchy, is a form of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state under the constitution, whether codified or uncodified. The constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and judiciary, which makes the monarch a symbolic figure. While the monarch may hold formal authority and the government may operate in their name, the monarch does not set public policy or choose political leaders. The constitutional monarchy came about as a result of the democratic thoughts of Locke and Montesquieu, which produced two new forms of state: the republic and the constitutional monarchy. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed in 1569, operated much like many modern European constitutional monarchies, and the United Kingdom is an example of a constitutional monarchy today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A system in which the monarch acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state under the constitution |
| Type of Monarchy | Limited, Parliamentary, or Democratic |
| Powers of the Monarch | Bound to exercise powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework |
| Monarch's Role | Hereditary symbolic head of state who mainly performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policy-making power |
| Examples | The United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Bhutan |
| Historical Examples | The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795), Portugal (1822-1828, 1834-1910), France (1791-1870) |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the British monarch today
The British monarchy, also known as a constitutional monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom. Here, a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British constitution. The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, his mother, in 2022.
The monarch has a duty to act on the advice of the government and plays an important role in appointing the Prime Minister. The monarch also has the power to appoint and dismiss ministers, regulate the civil service, issue passports, declare war, make peace, direct the actions of the military, and negotiate and ratify treaties. These powers are known as the royal prerogative and are delegated to ministers or officers of the Crown. The monarch also serves as the Head of the Armed Forces and accredits British ambassadors.
In addition to these official duties, the monarch also has a less formal role as the 'Head of the Nation'. In this capacity, the monarch acts as a focus for national identity, pride, and stability, officially recognizing success and supporting voluntary service. The monarch is also often involved in charitable work and is considered a brand ambassador for British interests and values abroad.
Constitutional Monarchy: Limiting Royal Power and Privilege
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The development of constitutional monarchy in the UK
The United Kingdom is a democratic constitutional monarchy, where a hereditary monarch acts as the head of state. The UK's current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022.
The roots of the UK's constitutional monarchy predate the formation of the UK as a state. They can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era and the multiple kingdoms that existed prior to the formation of England as a single polity in the first millennium CE. During this time, monarchs had extensive powers, but there were limits on their freedom of action, and they were expected to consult with their subjects. This principle led to the development of Parliament in the 13th century.
In 1215, King John agreed to limit his powers according to the terms of the Magna Carta, which sought to impose constraints on the monarch. Over time, Parliament's authority expanded at the expense of royal power. This process continued as English kings began summoning Parliaments to approve taxation and enact statutes.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 furthered the development of constitutional monarchy in the UK, with the enactment of laws such as the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701, which restricted the powers of the monarchy. The Convention of Estates in Scotland also enacted the Claim of Right Act 1689, which placed similar limits on the Scottish monarchy.
During the 1800s, the power of the monarchy continued to decline. For example, in 1834, King William IV dismissed the Whig Prime Minister, William Lamb, but was forced to recall him after losing the ensuing elections. The Reform Act of 1832, which reformed parliamentary representation, further contributed to the expansion of the electoral franchise and the rise of the House of Commons as the dominant branch of Parliament.
The final transition to a constitutional monarchy occurred during the long reign of Queen Victoria, who succeeded King William IV. Today, the role of the British monarch is largely ceremonial, with the British Parliament and the Government exercising their powers under the "royal prerogative". The monarch's duties include appointing the prime minister and bestowing honours, but these powers are limited and must be exercised within the constraints of constitutional conventions and precedent.
Scotland's Constitutional Monarchy: A Historical Overview
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The constitutional monarchy in the Kingdom of England
The United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is a constitutional monarchy, a form of government in which a hereditary monarch is the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British constitution. The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, his mother, in 2022.
The British monarchy traces its origins to the petty kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and early medieval Scotland, which consolidated into the kingdoms of England and Scotland by the 10th century. The Norman and Plantagenet dynasties expanded their authority throughout the British Isles, creating the Lordship of Ireland in 1177 and conquering Wales in 1283. In 1215, King John agreed to limit his powers over his subjects according to the terms of the Magna Carta. To gain the consent of the political community, English kings began summoning Parliaments to approve taxation and to enact statutes. Gradually, Parliament's authority expanded at the expense of royal power.
The transition to a constitutional monarchy was made during the long reign of Queen Victoria, who succeeded William IV. As a woman, Victoria could not rule Hanover, which only permitted succession in the male line, so the personal union of the United Kingdom and Hanover came to an end. The Victorian era was marked by great cultural change, technological progress, and the establishment of the United Kingdom as one of the world's foremost powers.
Today, the role of the British monarch is largely ceremonial. The British Parliament and the Government, chiefly in the office of the Prime Minister, exercise their powers under "royal (or Crown) prerogative": on behalf of the monarch and through powers still formally possessed by the monarch. While the monarch has formal authority over the government, this power may only be used according to laws enacted in Parliament and within constraints of convention and precedent. In practice, the monarch's role is limited to functions such as bestowing honours and appointing the prime minister.
How Monarchy Influenced England's Industrial Revolution
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The constitutional monarchy in Poland
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch acts as a ceremonial head of state under the constitution and does not exercise executive or policy-making power. The constitution allocates the government's power to the legislature and judiciary.
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed after the Union of Lublin in 1569 and lasting until the final partition of the state in 1795, operated much like many modern European constitutional monarchies. The legislators of the unified state did not see it as a monarchy but as a republic under the presidency of the King. Poland-Lithuania followed the principle of "Rex regnat et non gubernat", had a bicameral parliament, and a collection of entrenched legal documents amounting to a constitution along the lines of the modern United Kingdom. The King was elected and had the duty of maintaining the people's rights.
The Constitution of 3 May 1791 eliminated the practice of electing individuals to the monarchy and established a constitutional-parliamentary monarchy. The tradition of electing the country's ruler, either when there was no clear heir to the throne or to confirm the heir's appointment, dates back to the very beginning of Polish statehood. The elections played a major role in curtailing the power of the monarch and preventing the rise of an absolute monarchy in the Commonwealth. The elections, open to all nobility, encouraged foreign dynasties' meddling in Polish internal politics, and there were large amounts of corruption, particularly related to bribes.
In 1815, the Kingdom of Poland was granted a new constitution by King of Poland Alexander I of Russia, who was obliged to issue a constitution to the newly recreated Polish state under his domain as specified by the Congress of Vienna. This constitution was considered among the most liberal constitutions of its time, promising freedom of speech and religious tolerance, but it was never fully respected by the Russian authorities and was superseded in 1832 by a much more conservative Organic Statute.
Absolute & Constitutional Monarchies: Similarities & Shared Traits
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The transformation of constitutional monarchy into a republic
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 purely ceremonial leader. The constitution allocates the rest of the government’s power to the legislature and judiciary. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is not an absolute ruler as their power is limited by the constitution, which also places the law-making power in the legislature.
The transformation of a constitutional monarchy into a republic has occurred in several countries, including France, India, Italy, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iceland. This transformation often involves a shift from a system where the monarch is the head of state to one where the people or their representatives hold sovereign power.
In the case of France, the country underwent several changes in its form of government after the French Revolution of 1789, alternating between constitutional monarchy, republic, and absolute monarchy until 1870 when it settled as the Third Republic. The First French Republic claimed sovereignty in the absence of a king, with its 1793 Constitution stating, "Sovereign power rests in the entirety of French citizens. It is inalienable and eternal. No individual, no fraction of the people has the right to exercise."
Similarly, India was a constitutional monarchy with George VI as its head of state after gaining independence from Britain in 1947. However, it became a republic when it adopted its constitution on January 26, 1950, now celebrated as Republic Day. Likewise, Pakistan was a constitutional monarchy for a brief period after its independence from Britain in 1947 but became a republic when it adopted its constitution on March 23, 1956, commemorated as Republic Day or Pakistan Day.
Iceland abolished its monarchy and became a republic on June 17, 1944, following an Icelandic constitutional referendum held on May 24 of that same year. Italy also transitioned from a monarchy to a republic on June 2, 1946, after a referendum proclaimed the end of the Kingdom and the establishment of the Republic. Nigeria transformed from a constitutional monarchy to a republic in 1963, just three years after gaining independence in 1960.
The process of transitioning from a constitutional monarchy to a republic can vary, and the specific steps and outcomes may depend on the unique historical, cultural, and political context of each country.
Constitutional Monarchy: People's Representation or Not?
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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 acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state under the constitution, and their power is limited by a set of laws and basic principles outlined in the constitution.
In an absolute monarchy, the monarch is the sole decision-maker and has absolute power. On the other hand, in a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's power is limited by a constitution and they share power with a democratically elected government.
Some countries with constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Japan, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Thailand.
The roots of the UK's constitutional monarchy predate the UK itself. It can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era and the multiple kingdoms that existed prior to the formation of England as a single polity. The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, sought to impose constraints upon the monarch. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 furthered the constitutional monarchy in England, with laws such as the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701.
Some countries, like France and the United States, removed the monarchy and became republics during their transition to democracy. Other countries, like the United Kingdom, retained their monarchs while developing democracy by subjecting the hereditary heads of state to various rules and principles to ensure they act in accordance with democratic ideals.
