Omar Bennett
A parliamentary 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, but they do not exercise executive or policy-making power and instead perform a mainly ceremonial and civic role. The constitution allocates the rest of the government’s power to the legislature and judiciary. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Japan, and Thailand.
Characteristics and Values of a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Power-sharing | The monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. |
| Head of State | The monarch is the hereditary symbolic head of state, who may be an emperor, king, queen, prince, duke, or grand duke. |
| Role of the Monarch | The monarch performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policy-making power. |
| Decision-making | The monarch does not make decisions alone and is bound to exercise powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework. |
| Checks and Balances | The monarchy acts as a check and balance against elected politicians, preventing them from accumulating excessive power and safeguarding against dictatorship. |
| Nominal Chief Executive | In most constitutional monarchies, the monarch is the nominal chief executive, but they are bound by convention to act on the advice of the Cabinet. |
| Exceptions | Some countries, like Japan, Sweden, and Thailand, have amended their constitutions to remove the monarch as the nominal chief executive. |
| Reserve Powers | The monarch holds significant "reserve" or "prerogative" powers, used in times of emergency or constitutional crises to uphold parliamentary government. |
| Appointing Representatives | The monarch may appoint representatives to preside over the formation of a coalition government after an election. |
| Approval of Laws | The monarch has the power to approve laws, such as granting "Royal Assent" to important primary legislation. |
| International Representation | The monarch represents the country on the international stage and may act as the head of the armed forces and the official religion. |
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What You'll Learn
Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is typically a hereditary symbolic head of state, such as an emperor, king, queen, prince, or duke, who performs representative and civic roles but does not hold executive or policymaking power. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a purely ceremonial leader, with the rest of the government's power allocated to the legislature and judiciary.
The powers of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy can vary between countries. In some cases, the monarch may retain significant "reserve" or "prerogative" powers, which can be exercised in times of extreme emergency or constitutional crises to uphold parliamentary government. For example, in Thailand's constitutional monarchy, the monarch is recognized as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith. In other countries, such as Japan and Sweden, the monarch is no longer the nominal chief executive.
The United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Spain, and Sweden are examples of Western European countries with constitutional monarchies. After the Second World War, many surviving European monarchies adopted some variant of the constitutional monarchy model. Today, slightly more than a quarter of constitutional monarchies are found in Western Europe.
Constitutional monarchies have evolved over time, with the role of the monarch becoming more restricted and the power shifting towards democratically elected representatives. Democracy requires governments to be chosen by and accountable to the people, which has led to the development of rules and constraints to ensure that monarchs act in accordance with democratic principles rather than governing according to their own wishes.
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The monarch's role and powers
A constitutional monarchy, also known as a parliamentary 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.
The role and powers of the monarch differ between countries. In some constitutional monarchies, the monarch is the nominal chief executive and retains residual powers. In others, the monarch is a symbolic and hereditary head of state who mainly performs a representative and civic role but does not exercise executive or policymaking power. For example, in Norway, the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet, while in Denmark and Belgium, the monarch formally appoints a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election.
In the United Kingdom, a democratic constitutional monarchy, the monarch possesses the ultimate legal responsibility for a variety of functions, including appointing and removing the Prime Minister and other ministers, dissolving Parliament to bring about general elections, approving important laws through granting Royal Assent, acting as head of the Armed Forces, being head of the Church of England, and granting honours. These powers, known as the Royal Prerogative, are extensive and exist under an ancient legal source.
In some cases, the monarch's powers can be significant, such as in Commonwealth realms, where the monarch and their Governors-General hold "reserve" or "prerogative" powers to be used in times of extreme emergency or constitutional crises. For example, during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, the Governor-General dismissed the Australian Prime Minister, sparking debate about the appropriateness of the use of reserve powers and whether Australia should become a republic.
Overall, the role and powers of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy vary depending on the country and its specific constitutional framework. The monarch may have significant powers or be primarily a ceremonial figurehead, but they are always subject to the constitution and the democratic principles it embodies.
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Examples of constitutional monarchies
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the head of state or a ceremonial leader. The constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and judiciary.
Constitutional monarchies can be further categorized into executive and ceremonial monarchies. In executive monarchies, the monarch wields significant power, although not absolute. In ceremonial monarchies, the monarch holds little to no political power but often has a great deal of social and cultural influence.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a leading example of a constitutional monarchy. The monarch, currently King Charles III, is the head of state and performs ceremonial duties. The political process is democratic, with political power exercised by elected officials.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden
These European countries have a similar model to the United Kingdom, with a gradual transfer of authority from the monarch to societal groups over time. The monarch remains the head of state but holds limited political power. For example, in Denmark and Belgium, the monarch appoints a representative to preside over the formation of a coalition government after an election.
Japan and Thailand
Japan and Thailand are the two most populous constitutional monarchies in the world, located in Asia. While the prime minister handles day-to-day governance, the monarch retains residual powers and is typically the nominal chief executive.
Liechtenstein and Monaco
Liechtenstein and Monaco are examples of constitutional monarchies where the ruling monarchs wield significant executive power. However, they are not considered absolute monarchs as their de facto power is limited compared to Islamic monarchs, and their countries are generally viewed as liberal democracies.
Jordan and Morocco
Jordan and Morocco are two stable constitutional monarchies in the Arab world. While they may not have the same level of oil wealth as some neighbouring states, they have benefited from military support from the US and the UK.
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The difference between constitutional monarchy and republic
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch, such as a king or queen, acts as the head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written or unwritten one. The monarch's powers are typically symbolic and ceremonial, and they are expected to remain politically neutral. In contrast, a republic is a form of government in which the people, or a subset of the people, choose their governing representatives. While there are many types of republics, a key feature is that the head of state is typically elected, either directly or indirectly, and is not typically bound by a constitution in the same way as a constitutional monarch.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch may have some reserve powers, such as the ability to dissolve parliament or refuse assent to legislation, but these powers are often rarely used and are often ceremonial. The day-to-day governance is carried out by elected officials, typically led by a prime minister, who is accountable to the legislature. The monarch remains a symbol of national unity and continuity, often performing ceremonial duties and representing the country on official occasions.
In a republic, the head of state is often called a president, and they may be directly elected by the people or indirectly elected by an electoral college or a parliamentary vote. The president may have significant powers, such as vetoing legislation, appointing judges, and serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, or their role may be more ceremonial, depending on the type of republic. Some republics have a semi-presidential system, where the president shares executive powers with a prime minister, while others have a presidential system, where the president is both head of state and head of government.
One key difference between a constitutional monarchy and a republic is the level of political power held by the head of state. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is typically apolitical and does not directly exercise power, whereas in a republic, the president is often actively involved in politics and may be a member of a political party. Another difference is the source of legitimacy for the head of state. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's legitimacy is often based on tradition, heritage, and historical continuity, while in a republic, the president's legitimacy comes from the people's direct or indirect choice.
It is important to note that the specific powers and roles of a constitutional monarch and a president can vary significantly between countries, and there are often exceptions and unique arrangements. Some countries may have hybrid systems that combine elements of both a constitutional monarchy and a republic, or they may have unique historical or cultural factors that influence their system of government. Therefore, while there are general differences between constitutional monarchies and republics, each country's specific characteristics must be considered.
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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 ceremonial leader, while the constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and judiciary. This form of monarchy is also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy.
One of the earliest examples of a constitutional monarchy was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed in 1569 and lasting until 1795. The Commonwealth operated as a republic under the presidency of an elected king, with a bicameral parliament and a collection of legal documents resembling a constitution. Similarly, the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom (1794-1796) was an independent kingdom under George III of the United Kingdom, with its own elected parliament and a written constitution guaranteeing local autonomy and democratic rights.
France also underwent a transition from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy with the promulgation of the French Constitution of 1791. However, this first French constitutional monarchy was short-lived, ending with the establishment of the French First Republic in 1792. Several subsequent French regimes, such as the Bourbon Restoration, the July Monarchy, and the Second Empire, were also constitutional monarchies, although the power of the monarch varied.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, several other countries adopted constitutional monarchies, including Portugal (1822-1828 and 1834-1910), the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq (until 1958), and Vietnam (1949-1955). After the Second World War, many surviving European monarchies adopted some form of the constitutional monarchy model. Today, there are around 43 constitutional monarchies, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Japan, and Thailand, with the two most populous being in Asia.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the 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 powers to the legislature and judiciary.
Constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies in that constitutional monarchies are bound to exercise powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework. In absolute monarchies, the monarch is the sole decision-maker.
Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Japan, and Thailand.
