The Origin Of Constitutional Monarchy: An Historical Overview

Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic 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, but their power is controlled by a set of laws and principles outlined in a constitution. This form of monarchy first appeared in the 18th century, replacing most absolute monarchies in the 20th century. Today, constitutional monarchies range from countries like Liechtenstein and Monaco, where the monarch wields significant discretionary power, to countries like the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, where the monarch's power is more limited and largely ceremonial.

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Constitutional monarchy vs. absolute monarchy

Constitutional monarchy, also known as 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 purely 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.

Absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch is the sole decision-maker and holds supreme power, ruling as a dictator.

Constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies in the distribution of power. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch shares power with an elected parliament and acts as a check against elected politicians who may seek powers beyond those conferred by the constitution. The monarch in a constitutional monarchy is typically a hereditary symbolic head of state who performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policy-making power. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.

In contrast, an absolute monarch holds all the power and can make and pass legislation without the need for an elected body. Absolute monarchy is devoid of checks and balances, which can lead to a lack of accountability. While some argue that a benevolent absolute monarch is ideal, the risk of degeneration into an aristocratic oligarchy or dictatorship is a concern.

Some countries have transitioned from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, such as France in the late 18th century, Hawaii in 1840, and the Grand Duchy of Finland under Alexander I. The United Kingdom, while a constitutional monarchy, still grants substantial legislative and executive powers to the monarch, such as the theoretical ability to veto legislation.

In summary, the key difference between constitutional monarchy and absolute monarchy lies in the distribution of power and the presence or absence of checks and balances. Constitutional monarchy distributes power across different branches of government, while absolute monarchy concentrates power solely in the hands of the monarch.

Liberal democracies and constitutional monarchies

Liberal democracy traces its origins to 18th-century Europe, also known as the Age of Enlightenment. At the time, most European states were monarchies, with political power held by either the monarch or the aristocracy. Liberal democracy was initially considered a fringe opinion, supported by a relatively small group of Enlightenment intellectuals who challenged the conventional views supporting monarchies and aristocracies. These Enlightenment intellectuals believed that human affairs should be guided by reason and that governments were only legitimate if they maintained the consent of the governed.

One of the most influential philosophers of this time was English empiricist John Locke, who refuted monarchical absolutism in his "Two Treatises of Government". Locke's ideas influenced the American and French Revolutions, the latter giving birth to the ideology of liberalism. After the French Republic was reorganized into the first French Empire by Napoleon Bonaparte, conservative monarchists viewed themselves as defenders of traditional values, and their criticism of democracy seemed vindicated. However, liberal democratic ideals soon became widespread among the general population, and traditional monarchy was forced into a continuous defensive and withdrawal.

By the end of the 19th century, liberal democracy was no longer just a liberal idea but an idea supported by many different ideologies. Liberal democracy is now endorsed by the vast majority of the political spectrum, and it can take various constitutional forms, including constitutional monarchy and republic. A constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy, is a form of monarchy in which the monarch's power is limited by a written constitution and they are not the sole decision-maker. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a purely ceremonial leader, and they may hold formal powers such as dissolving parliament or giving royal assent to legislation.

Constitutional monarchies range from countries such as Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Morocco, where the constitution grants substantial discretionary powers to the sovereign, to countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Norway, where the monarch retains significantly less, if any, personal discretion in the exercise of their authority. The United Kingdom, for example, is a constitutional monarchy with a monarch who has substantial, if limited, legislative and executive powers, but no political or executive role. While the ruling monarchs of Liechtenstein and Monaco wield significant executive power, they are not absolute monarchs and have very limited de facto power compared to Islamic monarchs, which is why their countries are considered liberal democracies.

The role of the monarch

• Appointing the Prime Minister and other ministers
• Opening new sessions of parliament
• Giving royal assent to bills passed by parliament, signifying that they have become law
• Chairing meetings of the Privy Council and approving Orders in Council
• Receiving incoming and outgoing ambassadors
• Making appointments, such as senior judges, acting on the advice of the government
• Undertaking constitutional and representative duties, which have developed over the history of the monarchy
• Acting as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, and giving a sense of stability and continuity
• Officially recognising success and excellence, and supporting the ideal of voluntary service
• Supporting and recognising the work of local public services and voluntary organisations

The extent of the monarch's power varies across different constitutional monarchies. In countries like Liechtenstein, Monaco, Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Bhutan, the constitution grants substantial discretionary powers to the monarch. In contrast, in countries like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Thailand, the monarch's power is more limited, and they primarily act as a ceremonial head of state.

In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker. Their powers and authorities are limited by an established legal framework, and they are often bound by constitutional convention to act on the advice of the government.

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The UK as a constitutional monarchy

The UK is a constitutional monarchy, a form of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is bound to exercise their powers and authorities within the limits prescribed by an established legal framework.

In the UK, the monarch is the head of state and has authority over the government, known as "His/Her Majesty's Government". However, their power is limited and regulated by the British constitution and the elected parliament. The ability to make and pass legislation resides with the elected parliament, and the monarch plays a mainly ceremonial and representative role. While the monarch has the power to appoint the prime minister, they do not have the discretion to impose their own choice. The monarch holds a weekly audience with the prime minister, where they are consulted on decisions and policies, but these discussions remain confidential. The monarch also undertakes constitutional and representational duties, such as recognizing success and excellence and supporting voluntary service.

The UK's constitutional monarchy has roots that predate the UK itself as a state. During the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, Mary and William ruled jointly and were subject to a newly agreed "Bill of Rights". Over time, political leadership shifted from the monarch to ministers accountable to Parliament, and the franchise expanded through successive reforms. While the monarchy's powers have been limited, it has persisted as an important symbol of national identity, unity, and pride, providing stability and continuity.

The UK is one of several constitutional monarchies, including other Commonwealth realms such as Canada and Australia, as well as European countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Denmark.

The history of constitutional monarchy

Several years later, in 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of the France in what was ostensibly a constitutional monarchy, though modern historians often characterise his reign as an absolute monarchy. Subsequently, the Bourbon Restoration under Louis XVIII and Charles X, the July Monarchy under Louis-Philippe, and the Second Empire under Napoleon III were also constitutional monarchies, with varying degrees of monarchical power.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed in 1569, operated similarly to modern European constitutional monarchies, with a bicameral parliament and a collection of legal documents resembling a constitution. The king was elected and had a duty to uphold the people's rights, although the legislators viewed the state as a republic under the presidency of the king.

Following the signing of the Magna Carta in 1512, constitutional monarchies gradually replaced absolute monarchies due to various factors, including weak or tyrannical rulers, failure to address public needs, and refusal to acknowledge the grievances of the people. Today, there are 43 constitutional monarchies in the world, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and several others.

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