Simone Lawson
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 figurehead, and their power is limited by a constitution. Constitutional monarchies can be further categorized into executive (or semi-constitutional) and ceremonial monarchies, depending on the amount of power held by the monarch. In executive monarchies, the monarch wields significant power, while in ceremonial monarchies, the monarch holds little to no political power but often has great social and cultural influence. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Norway, and Thailand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of monarchy | Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy or democratic monarchy |
| Powers of the monarch | Limited by a constitution |
| Monarch's role | Head of state, head of government, or purely ceremonial |
| Real power | Held by the legislative body, i.e. Parliament |
| Examples | United Kingdom, Thailand, Japan, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Monaco |
| Other names for the monarch | Emperor, king or queen, prince or grand duke |
| Role of the monarch | Representative and civic duties, no executive or policy-making power |
| Election of the monarch | Hereditary, passed down from parents to heir |
| Removal of the monarch | No legal means, but can be subjected to rules to ensure they act in accordance with democratic principles |
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What You'll Learn
Constitutional monarchy vs absolute monarchy
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 a constitutional monarchy, the monarch shares power with an elected parliament or other constitutionally organized government. The constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and judiciary. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a purely ceremonial leader. Constitutional monarchies include the UK, Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and Liechtenstein, among others.
An absolute monarchy, on the other hand, is a form of government in which the monarch holds supreme power and is the only decision-maker. The monarch in an absolute monarchy rules as a dictator, without any checks and balances on their power. Absolute monarchies are devoid of the separation of powers that are characteristic of constitutional monarchies and other democratic forms of government. Hawaii transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1840, and France underwent a similar transition in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
There are different types of constitutional monarchies, including executive (or semi-constitutional) and ceremonial. In executive monarchies, the monarch wields significant (but not absolute) power and the monarchy is a powerful political and social institution. In ceremonial monarchies, the monarch holds little or no actual power or direct political influence, although they often have a great deal of social and cultural influence.
Some argue that a benevolent absolute monarch is the best form of government, while others believe that a semi-constitutional monarchy, where there is some power in check but the monarch retains some power, is preferable. Still, others argue that absolute monarchy is outdated and that constitutional monarchy or even a republic is preferable, as they provide checks and balances on power and hold leaders accountable for misconduct.
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The role of the monarch
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government where the 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.
The monarch's duties may include appointing ministers or other holders of important posts, representing the country on the international stage, and proclaiming laws. The monarch may also have a role in handling foreign relations and acting as the head of the armed forces. In some constitutional monarchies, the monarch retains substantial powers, on par with a president in a presidential or semi-presidential system. These are known as executive monarchies or semi-constitutional monarchies.
In other constitutional monarchies, the monarch holds little or no actual power and is primarily a ceremonial leader. However, they may still have a great deal of social and cultural influence. The distribution of power in a constitutional monarchy can vary, but it is typically dispersed between the executive branch, legislative branches, and the judicial branch.
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Examples of constitutional monarchies
Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic 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. Constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies, where the monarch is the only decision-maker and exercises full authority as the head of state.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, also referred to as Britain, is a constitutional monarchy with a long history. The Sovereign, currently King Charles III, is the Head of State and performs constitutional and representational duties. While the monarch has a ceremonial role and no longer holds political or executive power, they are a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, providing stability and continuity. The UK is an example of a strongly limited constitutional monarchy, sometimes referred to as a crowned republic.
Belgium
Belgium is another leading example of a constitutional monarchy in Western Europe. The Belgian monarch remains the head of state but has transferred their authority to the people, with political power exercised by elected politicians through democratic procedures.
Norway
Norway is a constitutional monarchy where the King, currently King Harald V, holds a ceremonial role with limited powers. While the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet, the prime minister holds the day-to-day powers of governance.
Thailand
Thailand is one of the two most populous constitutional monarchies in Asia. The Thai monarch retains residual powers, but the prime minister handles the day-to-day governance of the country.
Japan
Japan is the other most populous constitutional monarchy in Asia. It is an example of an executive monarchy, where the monarch wields significant power, though not absolute.
Liechtenstein and Monaco
Liechtenstein and Monaco are small European states with ruling monarchs who wield significant executive power. However, they are not absolute monarchs and have limited de facto power compared to Islamic monarchs. Therefore, their countries are generally considered liberal democracies.
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The difference between executive and ceremonial monarchies
There are at least two types of constitutional monarchy: executive and ceremonial. In an executive monarchy, also called a semi-constitutional monarchy, the monarch wields significant power, though not absolute. The monarchy in this system of government is a powerful political and social institution.
In a ceremonial monarchy, the monarch holds little or no actual power or direct political influence, though they frequently still have a great deal of social and cultural influence. The British monarchy, for example, is by convention effectively ceremonial. The British Parliament and the Government exercise their powers under "royal (or Crown) prerogative", on behalf of the monarch and through powers still formally possessed by the monarch.
Executive and ceremonial monarchy should not be confused with democratic and non-democratic monarchical systems. For example, in Liechtenstein and Monaco, the ruling monarchs wield significant executive power. However, while they are theoretically very powerful within their small states, they are not absolute monarchs and have very limited de facto power compared to Islamic monarchs.
The powers of the monarch differ between countries. In Belgium and Denmark, for example, the monarch formally appoints a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election. In Norway, the King chairs special meetings.
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The history of constitutional monarchy
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 symbolic and purely ceremonial leader. The constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and, sometimes, the judiciary.
The oldest constitutional monarchy dating back to ancient times was that of the Hittites. They were an ancient Anatolian people that lived during the Bronze Age whose king had to share his authority with an assembly, called the Panku, which was the equivalent of a modern-day legislature.
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed after the Union of Lublin in 1569, operated much like many modern European constitutional monarchies. It was officially changed to a constitutional monarchy by the establishment of the Constitution of 3 May 1791, which historian Norman Davies calls "the first constitution of its kind in Europe". The legislators of the unified state truly did not see it as a monarchy at all, but as a "republic under the presidency of the King". Poland developed the first constitution for a monarchy in continental Europe, with the Constitution of 3 May 1791; it was the second single-document constitution in the world.
The Anglo-Corsican Kingdom was a brief period in the history of Corsica (1794–1796) when the island broke with Revolutionary France and sought military protection from Great Britain. Corsica became an independent kingdom under George III of the United Kingdom, but with its own elected parliament and a written constitution guaranteeing local autonomy and democratic rights.
France formally became an executive constitutional monarchy with the promulgation of the French Constitution of 1791, which took effect on 1 October of that year. This first French constitutional monarchy was short-lived, ending with the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the French First Republic after the Insurrection of 10 August 1792. Several years later, in 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of the French in what was ostensibly a constitutional monarchy, though modern historians often refer to his reign as an absolute monarchy.
Britain became a constitutional monarchy under the Whigs. Other constitutional monarchies include Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and Canada.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a country is ruled by a king or queen whose power is limited by a constitution.
The role of a constitutional monarch is largely ceremonial. They are the head of state and are identified as the head of various institutions within that state. They may appoint ministers or other holders of important posts, and represent the country on the international stage.
In an absolute monarchy, the monarch has unchecked power. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch must follow the laws of the constitution and their power is limited by it.
Some examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
In a republic, the head of state is typically elected by the people and is directly accountable to them. In a constitutional monarchy, the head of state is inherited by birthright and is not directly accountable to the people.
