Isabella Carter
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 power to the legislature and judiciary. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, and Norway. Now, whether a constitutional monarchy is federal or unitary depends on how power is distributed between the central and subnational governments. A unitary system only has one level of government, whereas a federal system has an intermediate level of governmental authority, usually consisting of states or provinces.
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What You'll Learn
Examples of constitutional monarchies
A constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, 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. The constitution allocates the government's powers to the legislature and judiciary.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, with a long history dating back to the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The monarchy is restricted by laws such as the Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Settlement (1701). The monarch, currently King Charles III, is the head of state and the emblem of state authority, but the political process is democratic, and actual political power is held by elected politicians.
Belgium
Belgium is another example of a constitutional monarchy, with the King of the Belgians as the formal title of the monarch, indicating that the king represents the people of Belgium rather than the state itself. Belgium is unique among European constitutional monarchies in that its king is explicitly popular.
Japan
Japan is the only remaining country with an emperor, and it is one of the two most populous constitutional monarchies in the world, along with Thailand. The prime minister holds most of the power in Japan, while the emperor retains some ceremonial duties and serves as a unifying figure.
Thailand
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, with the king as the head of state. The prime minister holds most of the day-to-day powers, while the king retains some residual powers and is the nominal chief executive.
Norway
Norway is a constitutional monarchy, with a long history of political bargaining and the gradual transfer of authority from the monarch to various societal groups. The Norwegian monarch is the head of state and holds some powers, such as chairing special meetings of the cabinet.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago was a constitutional monarchy for the first fourteen years of its independence, from 1962 to 1976, with Elizabeth II as Queen, represented by a Governor-General.
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Examples of federal states
A federal state is a mode of government that combines a central or federal government with a regional level of sub-unit governments, dividing governing powers between the two levels.
Australia
One of the oldest federations in the world, Australia has a bicameral legislature, with the upper house representing the component states and the lower house representing the people of the nation as a whole.
Federated States of Micronesia
Micronesia is another example of a federated country, with powers divided between a central government and regional sub-unit governments.
Belgium
Belgium is a federal country with an elective monarchy. The country is divided into communities and regions, which are separate government institutions with different areas of responsibility. For example, provincial governance is the responsibility of regional governments, while the communities are organised based on linguistic boundaries.
Germany
Germany is another example of a federal state, with a bicameral legislature. The upper house, or Bundesrat, is composed of members who are directly elected by the state governments.
United States
The United States is a federal state, with a constitution that divides powers between the federal government and the states. The Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution reaffirms this division of powers, reserving all powers not delegated to the federal government for the states and the people.
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Examples of unitary states
A unitary state is a system of government in which most or all governing power is held by a central authority, which may create or abolish administrative divisions (sub-national or sub-state units). While unitary states can delegate powers to regional or local governments through devolution, they retain the ability to restrict or withdraw these powers at any time. This is in contrast to federal systems, where the powers of regional or local governments are constitutionally guaranteed.
France
The modern concept of the unitary state originated in France after the Hundred Years' War, which unified the country and transformed it from a feudal monarchy to a unitary state. France is now a unitary constitutional democracy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy that functions as a unitary state, with total political power held by Parliament in London, England. While Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own governments, their powers are delegated by the central government and they cannot enact laws that affect any other part of the UK.
Algeria, Libya, and Eswatini
Algeria, Libya, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) are examples of unitary states that are not constitutional democracies.
Republic of Sudan
The Republic of Sudan is an example of an unfree and non-democratic federal state.
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The difference between federal and unitary states
Federal and unitary systems are ideal types, representing opposite ends of a continuum. Most countries fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
A unitary system is a (sovereign) state governed as a single entity in which the central government is the supreme authority. The central government may create or abolish administrative divisions (sub-national or sub-state units), and delegate political power to regional or local governments. However, the central government may override the decisions of devolved governments or expand their powers. In a unitary system, the only level of government besides the central government is the local or municipal government. While local governments may enjoy considerable autonomy, their powers are not accorded constitutional status and can be abolished by the central government. Examples of unitary states include the United Kingdom, and historically, France after the Hundred Years' War.
In contrast, a federal system has an intermediate level of governmental authority between the central and the local levels. This intermediate level usually consists of states or provinces, but may also include other entities such as cantons or republics. The most important distinction between a unitary and a federal system is that the states or provinces of a federal state have constitutionally protected sovereignty. Within a federal system, the state or provincial governments share sovereignty with the central government and have final jurisdiction over a broad range of policy areas. Federal systems are governed by a written, rigid constitution that guarantees several intermediate governments permanence, independence, and a full complement of legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Disputes about federal-state matters are often the subject of rulings in courts or constitutional tribunals. Examples of federal systems include the United States, Argentina, Switzerland, and Malaysia.
Constitutional monarchies can be either federal or unitary. In a constitutional monarchy, 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. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and historically, the Kingdom of England.
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The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy
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.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in making decisions. They are bound to exercise their powers and authorities within the limits prescribed by an established legal framework. The monarch in a constitutional monarchy is a hereditary symbolic head of state who mainly performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policymaking power.
In some cases, the monarch may retain significant authorities or political influence, such as through certain reserve powers, and may play an important political role. For example, the Thai monarch is recognized as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith, and has played a mediating role between disputing political opponents.
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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.
Some examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
A federal state is one in which the powers of the central government and the regional governments are defined by a constitution. Examples include the United States, Switzerland, Australia, and Germany.
A constitutional monarchy can be either federal or unitary, depending on the specific structure of the government. For example, the United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven absolute monarchies, while the United Kingdom is often cited as an example of a unitary state.
