Jonah Patel
The United States has a long history with monarchies, dating back to the American Revolution when the American states were ruled by a monarch. Since then, there have been several proposals to establish a monarchy in the United States, including the idea of Washington becoming the King of the United States, which he strongly opposed. In modern times, the concept of a constitutional monarchy in the United States remains a subject of interest, with a 2023 poll indicating that 12% of Americans favored the idea, while 63% were opposed. The United States has several allies that are constitutional monarchies, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Spain, and Thailand. These countries share a common feature of having a monarch who serves as the head of state or a ceremonial leader, with their powers limited by a constitution or set of laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Power of the monarch | Limited by a set of laws, basic principles, or the constitution |
| Law-making power | Placed in the legislature |
| Role of the monarch | De facto head of state or a ceremonial leader |
| Royal prerogative | Power may be exercised by the monarch under certain limited circumstances |
| Sovereign immunity | The monarch may do no wrong under the law |
| Immunity of the monarch | Exempt from some taxation or restrictions on property use |
| Judicial power | Vested in the monarch, who delegates authority to the Supreme Court |
| Oath of allegiance | Required for those accepting public office |
| Constitutional convention | The monarch is bound to act on the advice of the government |
| Head of State | The monarch is recognized as the Head of State in constitutional monarchies like Thailand |
| Head of the Armed Forces | The monarch is recognized as the Head of the Armed Forces in constitutional monarchies like Thailand |
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What You'll Learn
The United States has never been a constitutional monarchy
The United States has a long history as a democratic republic, and it has never been a constitutional monarchy.
The American Revolution marked the end of monarchy in the American states, with George III of the United Kingdom as the last monarch. After the war, several propositions for creating an independent monarchy were considered. On May 22, 1782, Colonel Lewis Nicola proposed in the Newburgh letter that George Washington, who was greatly troubled by the suggestion, become the King of the United States. In 1786, the President of the Continental Congress, Nathaniel Gorham, offered the crown to Prince Henry of Prussia, but he declined. In 1787, Alexander Hamilton argued that the President should be an elective monarch, but his proposal was voted down.
Despite these instances of monarchist sentiment, the United States has never been a constitutional monarchy. The country became a democratic republic, and support for monarchy has generally remained low. For example, in 1950, only 3% of Americans said it would be a good idea for the country to have a royal family, while 93% thought it would be bad. While there has been a slight increase in support over time, with polls in the 2010s showing around 11-13% of Americans in favour of a monarchy, the majority of Americans still oppose the idea.
The United States does have constitutional monarchies as allies, however. Examples include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
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The US has considered monarchy
The United States has considered monarchy in its past, with several propositions for creating an independent monarchy floated in the 1780s, between the American Revolution and the ratification of the United States Constitution. On May 22, 1782, Colonel Lewis Nicola proposed in the Newburgh letter to George Washington that he should become the King of the United States. However, Washington was greatly troubled by the suggestion and turned it down in favor of a republican government.
In 1786, the President of the Continental Congress, Nathaniel Gorham, reportedly offered the crown to Prince Henry of Prussia. In 1787, Alexander Hamilton argued in a speech before the Constitutional Convention that the President of the United States should be an elective monarch, ruling for "good behavior" (i.e., for life unless impeached) with extensive powers. Hamilton believed that this form of monarchy would strike a balance between resisting foreign corruption and preventing tyranny at home. However, his proposal was voted down in favor of a four-year term with the possibility of reelection.
Despite these considerations, the idea of monarchy in the United States has generally been unpopular. In 1950, only 3% of Americans thought it would be a good idea for the country to have a royal family, while 93% were opposed. While support for monarchy has increased slightly over time, with 13% expressing openness to the idea in 2013, a majority of Americans still view it negatively, with 63% opposed in a 2023 poll.
It is worth noting that the term "monarchy" itself is contested in the context of the United States. The country's system of government, with the President as the head of state, does not align with the traditional definition of a monarchy. However, some commentators have drawn parallels between the powers of the President and those of a monarch, suggesting that the United States exhibits traits of an elective monarchy.
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The UK is a constitutional monarchy
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's power is limited and governed by a set of laws and basic principles, or a constitution. This means that the monarch is not an absolute ruler, and the constitution places the law-making power in the legislature. The UK does not have a single document called "the constitution"; instead, its constitution is made up of various documents, laws, and conventions that outline the powers and responsibilities of the monarch and the government.
The UK's monarchy has a long history, dating back to the early medieval period. Over time, the power of the monarch has evolved and become more limited, with the UK gradually transitioning to a constitutional monarchy. This evolution has included significant events such as the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, which established certain rights and liberties for the people, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which further limited the power of the monarch and established a constitutional monarchy in the UK.
Today, the monarch in the UK has several roles and responsibilities, including ceremonial and representative functions. The monarch is the head of state, and they officially appoint the Prime Minister, dissolve Parliament, and give royal assent to laws passed by Parliament. While the monarch technically has the power to block legislation, in practice, this power is rarely used, and the UK's government primarily operates through a democratic process.
The UK's constitutional monarchy has been a source of debate and discussion, with some arguing that it provides stability and tradition, while others advocate for a fully democratic system without a monarch. Nonetheless, the monarchy remains an integral part of the UK's political system and has evolved to adapt to the modern context.
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Other US allies with constitutional monarchies
The United States does not have a monarchy, but it does have several allies that are constitutional monarchies. A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. Here are some examples of US allies that are constitutional monarchies:
Belgium
Belgium is a constitutional monarchy with a long history of royal rule. The current monarch is King Philippe, who ascended the throne in 2013. Belgium's monarchy plays a ceremonial and symbolic role, with the king serving as the head of state and representing the country in international relations.
Norway
Norway has a constitutional monarchy, with a similar structure to that of Belgium. The current monarch is King Harald V, who has reigned since 1991. The Norwegian monarchy is also largely ceremonial, with the king playing a unifying role for the nation.
Thailand
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch recognized as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith. The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away in 2016, was the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history and played an influential role in the country's politics.
Spain
Spain is another constitutional monarchy, with King Felipe VI as the current monarch. The Spanish monarchy has a more symbolic role, with the king serving as a representative of the country and promoting Spain's interests abroad.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, a close ally of the United States, is also a constitutional monarchy. The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022. The UK's monarchy has a mix of ceremonial and nominal political powers, with the monarch serving as the head of state and playing a role in the legislative process.
These countries, among others, demonstrate the variety of constitutional monarchies that exist as allies of the United States, each with its own unique blend of traditions, powers, and relationships with its government and people.
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Public opinion on US monarchy
Public opinion on a US monarchy
The idea of a US monarchy has been considered at various points in the country's history, with some proposals suggesting that George Washington should become the King of the United States or that the country should adopt a constitutional monarchy with an elective monarch. However, these ideas have not gained widespread support, and the US ultimately chose a republican form of government.
Today, public opinion on the monarchy in the US is mixed. While many Americans have a positive view of the British Royal Family, they do not necessarily want a monarchy in their own country. According to a 2023 YouGov poll, only 12% of Americans think a US monarchy would be a good thing, while 63% believe it would be bad. This preference for a republic over a monarchy has been consistent over time, with a 1950 poll showing that 93% of Americans thought a monarchy would be bad for the country, and a 2013 CNN poll finding that 13% of Americans would be open to the idea of a royal family.
Age appears to play a significant role in shaping public opinion on this issue, with younger Americans expressing more support for a US monarchy than their older counterparts. This trend is also observed in the UK, where younger Britons are less likely to support the monarchy than older generations.
Despite the overall preference for a republic, many Americans have a fascination with the British Royal Family, which is fuelled by media productions and real-life events such as the marriage of American actress Meghan Markle to Prince Harry and the Netflix show "The Crown". This fascination exists alongside a recognition of the negative aspects of the monarchy, with Americans consuming royal scandals in tabloid magazines and viewing the British monarch as a beloved Hollywood celebrity.
While the US has no plans to adopt a monarchy, public opinion on this issue continues to evolve, influenced by various cultural, historical, and political factors.
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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. The constitution allocates the government’s powers to the legislature and judiciary.
No, the United States has never had a constitutional monarchy. However, in the period between the American Revolution and the ratification of the United States Constitution, several propositions for creating an independent monarchy were considered.
Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
The United States is a democratic republic.
Public opinion in the United States on constitutional monarchy is generally negative. A 2021 poll by YouGov found that 5% of Americans would consider it a good thing for the United States to have a monarchy, while 69% answered that it would be a bad thing.
