Simone Lawson
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 contrast, a federal monarchy is a federation of states with a single monarch as the overall head but retains different monarchs or has a non-monarchical system of government in the various states. The term federal monarchy was introduced by Edward Augustus Freeman in his book History of Federal Government (1863), who believed it was only possible in theory. This form of government is rare, with the German Empire (1871-1918) being the most prominent example in history.
Is a constitutional monarchy the same as a federal monarchy?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Constitutional 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. |
| Federal monarchy is a federation of states with a single monarch as the overall head of the federation, but different constituent states retain their own monarchs or have a non-monarchical system of government. | |
| Example | The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. |
| The German Empire (1871-1918) was a federal monarchy. | |
| Powers of the Monarch | In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch may be the de facto head of state or a purely ceremonial leader, but they do not exercise executive or policy-making power. |
| In a federal monarchy, the monarch is the head of the federation but does not have sovereignty over the individual states within the federation. |
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What You'll Learn
- Constitutional monarchy is also known as limited, parliamentary or democratic monarchy
- Federal monarchy is a federation of states with a single monarch as head
- Examples of federal monarchies include the German Empire and the Maurya Empire
- Examples of constitutional monarchies include the UK, Belgium, Jordan and Thailand
- Constitutional monarchies can be contrasted with absolute monarchies
Constitutional monarchy is also known as limited, parliamentary or democratic monarchy
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a ceremonial leader. This form of monarchy is also known as a limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker. They share power with a democratically elected parliament and its leader, the prime minister. The monarch's role is mainly representative and civic, and they do not hold executive or policy-making power. Constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies, where the monarch is the sole decision-maker and holds absolute power.
Constitutional monarchies can be further categorized into executive and ceremonial monarchies. In executive monarchies, also called semi-constitutional monarchies, the monarch wields significant, though not absolute, power and is a powerful political and social institution. On the other hand, in ceremonial monarchies, the monarch holds little or no actual power or direct political influence, though they often have significant social and cultural influence.
The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed in the United Kingdom, where monarchs ceded power to democratically elected parliaments and prime ministers. The United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand are examples of constitutional monarchies.
A federal monarchy, on the other hand, is a different concept. It is a federation of states with a single monarch as the overall head, but the individual states within the federation may have different monarchs or even a non-monarchical system of government. The German Empire (1871-1918) is a historical example of a federal monarchy, where the German Emperor was the head of the federation, but other constituent monarchies, such as Bavaria and Saxony, retained their own monarchs.
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Federal monarchy is a federation of states with a single monarch as head
A federal monarchy is a system of governance where a federation of states exists under a single monarch as the head of the federation. This is distinct from a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch's authority is subject to a constitution and they rule alongside a legislature or assembly.
In a federal monarchy, the individual states within the federation may retain their own monarchs or have a non-monarchical system of government. The term "federal monarchy" was introduced by Edward Augustus Freeman in his 1863 work "History of Federal Government", although he believed it was only possible in theory.
The German Empire (1871-1918) is considered the most prominent example of a federal monarchy in the Western world. The German Emperor was the head of the federation and also served as the King of Prussia, the largest constituent part of the empire. Other constituent monarchies within the empire, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg, retained their own monarchs.
In the modern era, the term federal monarchy can be applied to the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. In both cases, the head of the federation is selected from among the heads of the constituent states, who rule as Emirs or Sultans. While not officially declared as such, Spain is sometimes referred to as a federal monarchy due to its autonomous communities, each led by a president who answers to the Spanish crown.
In conclusion, a federal monarchy is a unique form of governance where a federation of states is united under a single monarch, allowing for a combination of centralized and decentralized power structures.
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Examples of federal monarchies include the German Empire and the Maurya Empire
A constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the monarch's authority is restricted by a constitution. The monarch may be a king, queen, emperor, or grand duke, and they typically serve as a symbolic and ceremonial head of state. In contrast, a federal monarchy is a federation of states with a single monarch as the overall head, but with different monarchs or non-monarchical systems of government in the individual states.
Examples of federal monarchies include the German Empire and, to a lesser extent, its predecessors, the North German Confederation and German Confederation. The German Empire existed from 1871 to 1918, and its head of state was the German Emperor, who also served as the King of Prussia. The empire comprised various constituent monarchies, such as the kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg, each with their monarchs and armies. Additionally, there were three republican city-states—Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck—and Alsace-Lorraine, a semi-autonomous republic.
The Maurya Empire, which ruled over the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BCE, is another example of a federal monarchy. This empire, founded by the Maurya dynasty, is known for its sophisticated municipal system, with a city council composed of thirty commissioners divided into six committees governing each city. The Maurya Empire is also recognized for its contributions to Buddhist architecture, with the construction of stupas and the iconic Ashoka pillars. The peacock was a dynastic symbol for the Mauryans, and they are known for their advocacy of wildlife conservation.
While not officially declared as such, Spain has been referred to as a federal monarchy due to its autonomous communities led by presidents who answer to the Spanish crown. Belgium, a federal state with a constitutional monarchy, is another example of a country with a complex governmental structure.
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Examples of constitutional monarchies include the UK, Belgium, Jordan and Thailand
Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the monarch's authority is restricted by a constitution and other laws. The monarch shares decision-making power with a parliament or other legislative body. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the UK, Belgium, Jordan, and Thailand.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy with a long history. The current monarch, King Charles III, ascended the throne in 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, his mother. The monarch's powers are regulated by the British constitution and are largely ceremonial, including functions such as bestowing honours and appointing the prime minister. The monarch also holds a weekly audience with the prime minister.
Belgium is a "hereditary parliamentary constitutional monarchy". The current king, King Philippe, succeeded his father, King Albert II, who was the brother of the previous king, Baudouin. The Belgian king is a symbol of the country and its institutions, but the Belgian parliament passes laws, and the king must have the approval of a minister to sign them. The king is also the commander-in-chief of the Belgian army.
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a written constitution promulgated on January 8, 1952. The current king, Abdullah II, has been sovereign since 1999, following the death of his father, King Hussein. The Jordanian king exercises significant power, including the ability to sign and execute or veto laws, suspend or dissolve parliament, and shorten or lengthen its term. The king also appoints all judges and approves amendments to the constitution.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) was ruled as an absolute monarchy until the 1932 Siamese revolution, after which it became a constitutional monarchy with a written constitution. The current king, Vajiralongkorn, has held the throne since 2016, succeeding his father, King Bhumibol, who reigned from 1946 to 2016. The king of Thailand has little direct power under the constitution but is a symbol of national identity and unity.
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Constitutional monarchies can be contrasted with absolute monarchies
A constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy, is a form of government where the monarch's authority is derived from and limited by a constitution. The monarch is not the sole decision-maker and shares power with a constitutionally-defined government. The constitution outlines the distribution of powers and duties between the monarch, a legislative body, and a judiciary.
The main advantages of absolute monarchies are the quick response to emergencies and the easy implementation of the ruler's long-term goals due to the absence of electoral constraints. Crime rates tend to be lower due to strict law enforcement and the threat of harsh punishment.
On the other hand, constitutional monarchies can vary in the level of power held by the monarch. In executive constitutional monarchies, the monarch wields significant power and is a prominent political and social institution. However, they are not absolute monarchs and have limited de facto power compared to absolute Islamic monarchs. In ceremonial constitutional monarchies, the monarch holds little to no political power but may still have considerable social and cultural influence.
Examples of countries with constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Current absolute monarchies in the world include Brunei, Eswatini, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Vatican City, and the seven territories of the United Arab Emirates.
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Frequently asked questions
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. The constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and judiciary.
A federal monarchy is a federation of states with a single monarch as the overall head, but with different monarchs or a non-monarchical system of government in the various states.
No, they are not the same. A federal monarchy is a type of constitutional monarchy, but not all constitutional monarchies are federal.
The most prominent example of a federal monarchy in the Western world was the German Empire (1871-1918). The head of state of the federation was the German Emperor, who was also the King of Prussia. Other constituent monarchies, such as Bavaria and Saxony, retained their own monarchs.
