Eleanor Finch
Representative democracies and constitutional monarchies are two of the most common forms of government in the world today. More than half of the world's countries are some form of representative democracy, and slightly more than a quarter are constitutional monarchies. Representative democracies place power in the hands of representatives who are elected by the people, while constitutional monarchies are a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker.
| Characteristics | Representative Democracies | Constitutional Monarchies |
|---|---|---|
| Head of State | Elected by the people | Hereditary |
| Political Decisions | Elected parliament | Elected parliament, with monarch retaining some powers |
| Type of Government | Parliamentary or presidential systems | Parliamentary |
| Constitution | Written, outlines election process and eligibility | Written, outlines election process and eligibility, monarch exercises authority within its limits |
| Elections | Free, fair and frequent | N/A |
| Freedom of Expression | Protected | N/A |
| Political Information | Independent and accessible | N/A |
| Freedom of Association | Citizens can create and join political organisations | N/A |
| Examples | United States, France, Germany | United Kingdom, Japan, Thailand, Norway, Denmark, Sweden |
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What You'll Learn
- Representative democracies can be constitutional monarchies or republics
- In constitutional monarchies, the monarch is a symbolic head of state
- Constitutional monarchies are bound by a constitution
- Representative democracies have free, fair, and frequent elections
- Constitutional monarchies include the UK, Japan, and Thailand
Representative democracies can be constitutional monarchies or republics
Representative democracies are a form of government in which the people elect representatives to exercise political power on their behalf. Most modern representative democracies are republics, but some are constitutional monarchies.
A republic is a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make laws and an executive to enforce those laws. The United States, for example, is a representative democracy and a republic. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights, as well as other fundamental laws, prohibit the government from infringing on certain inalienable rights of the people, even if the government was freely chosen by the majority.
Representative democracies that are constitutional monarchies differ from republics in that they have a monarch as their titular head of state, who serves the traditional role of embodying and representing the nation. The monarch in a constitutional monarchy, such as the United Kingdom, performs a representative and civic role but does not exercise executive or policymaking power. Instead, an elected parliament is responsible for most or all political decisions and initiatives.
Constitutional monarchies can range from countries where the constitution grants substantial discretionary powers to the monarch, such as Liechtenstein and Monaco, to countries where the monarch retains significantly less, if any, personal discretion in the exercise of their authority, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
While the specific characteristics of representative democracies vary, they are generally characterised by free and fair elections, freedom of expression, independent media, and freedom of association. They are also typically governed by a written constitution that specifies the election process, eligibility requirements for voters and candidates, and the powers of elected representatives.
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In constitutional monarchies, the monarch is a symbolic head of state
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is a symbolic head of state. They are a hereditary figure, often a king or queen, who performs a representative and civic role. While they are the titular head, they do not exercise executive or policymaking power. Instead, the day-to-day governance is carried out by a cabinet composed of elected Members of Parliament. The monarch's role is largely ceremonial, and they act as an embodiment of the nation.
The powers of the monarch vary between countries. For example, in Norway, the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet, while in Belgium and Denmark, the monarch appoints a representative to preside over the formation of a coalition government. In some countries, like Liechtenstein and Monaco, the ruling monarchs have significant executive power, but they are not absolute monarchs and have limited de facto power compared to Islamic monarchs.
Constitutional monarchies can be considered a form of representative democracy, as the elected parliament or congress holds the power to govern. The United Kingdom, for example, is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, where the monarch has limited legislative and executive powers outlined in a constitution. The monarch's powers are further restricted by conventions and the advice of the cabinet.
In contrast, in absolute monarchies, the monarch holds absolute power and is the sole decision-maker, unbound by a constitution or legal framework. Constitutional monarchies emerged as a compromise between absolute monarchy and parliamentary government, with the monarch retaining certain powers and duties while sharing authority with an elected body.
The distinction between a constitutional monarchy and a republic can be subtle, as both systems involve a head of state (monarch or president) with ceremonial duties and an elected body that exercises governance. However, the presence of a monarch with residual powers, even if limited, sets constitutional monarchies apart.
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Constitutional monarchies are bound by a constitution
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. In other words, they are bound to exercise their powers and authorities within the limits prescribed by an established legal framework.
Constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies, where a monarch is the only decision-maker and has absolute power. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is a hereditary symbolic head of state who mainly performs a representative and civic role but does not exercise executive or policymaking power. The constitution grants them substantial discretionary powers, which differ between countries. For example, in Norway, the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet, while in Belgium and Denmark, the monarch formally appoints a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election.
The constitution establishes the monarch's powers and authorities, providing a framework for their role and responsibilities. It may outline the monarch's ability to exercise power under certain limited circumstances, such as the royal prerogative, and their immunity from taxation or property restrictions. The constitution also defines the role of other governing bodies, such as an independent judiciary that can declare legislative acts unconstitutional.
In a constitutional monarchy, the prime minister or cabinet holds the day-to-day powers of governance, while the monarch retains residual powers that are not always insignificant. While the monarch is still the nominal chief executive, they are bound by convention to act on the advice of the cabinet or elected parliament. This ensures that the monarch's powers are balanced and that the country functions as a representative democracy, where power ultimately resides with representatives elected by the people.
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Representative democracies have free, fair, and frequent elections
Representative democracies are a form of democracy in which the people hold the ultimate political power. They are characterised by free, fair, and frequent elections, where citizens can participate both as voters and candidates. More than half of the world's countries are some form of representative democracy, including constitutional monarchies and republics.
In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make and enforce laws on their behalf. These representatives typically form a legislature, such as a parliament or congress, which may be unicameral, bicameral, or multicameral. The power of these elected officials is usually curtailed by a constitution, as in a constitutional democracy or a constitutional monarchy, or by other measures such as an independent judiciary.
The concept of free, fair, and frequent elections is a cornerstone of representative democracies. Citizens are free to express themselves publicly on politically relevant subjects without fear of punishment and have access to independent sources of political information. They are also free to associate and form independent political organisations, parties, and interest groups.
In the context of constitutional monarchies, elections play a crucial role in determining the balance of power between the monarch and the elected representatives. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is typically a hereditary symbolic head of state who performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policymaking power. The prime minister or cabinet, composed predominantly of elected members, holds the day-to-day powers of governance.
While the monarch's powers differ between countries, they are generally bound to exercise their authority within the limits prescribed by an established legal framework, such as a constitution. For example, in Norway, the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet, while in Belgium and Denmark, the monarch formally appoints a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following parliamentary elections.
In summary, representative democracies, including those with constitutional monarchies, distinguish themselves through their commitment to free, fair, and frequent elections. These elections empower citizens to choose their representatives, who then govern on their behalf within the framework of a constitution or other checks and balances.
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Constitutional monarchies include the UK, Japan, and Thailand
Constitutional monarchies are a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker. They are bound to exercise their powers and authorities within the limits prescribed by an established legal framework.
The UK is one of the most famous constitutional monarchies, with King Charles III as its head of state. The UK's parliamentary government is known as the Westminster System. The British monarch has the power to appoint a prime minister, proclaim laws, and handle foreign relations, but their role is largely ceremonial.
Japan is also a constitutional monarchy, with the Emperor of Japan performing ceremonial duties and having no role in the government. Japan's constitution was created in 1947 after World War II and is similar in structure to the US constitution. The National Diet, the legislative branch of the Japanese government, is elected by popular vote, and the country also has an independent judicial branch in the form of the Japanese Supreme Court.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch recognised as the head of state, head of the armed forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith. Thailand changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932 when army officers seized power and established the country's first constitution. The Thai monarch has some influence in politics, and lèse-majesté laws protect the image of the monarch and enable their role in politics.
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Frequently asked questions
Representative democracy is a form of democracy in which the people hold the ultimate political power by electing representatives to make laws and execute them.
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. The monarch mainly performs a representative and civic role.
In a representative democracy, the people directly elect their representatives, who then have the power to make and execute laws. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is typically a hereditary figurehead who has limited powers and mainly performs a ceremonial role, while the day-to-day governance is handled by an elected parliament or cabinet.
