Isabella Carter
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch acts as head of state but their powers are restricted by a constitution. The monarch's role is largely ceremonial and they are expected to remain politically neutral. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, with democratic parliaments and a prime minister who exercises power. The UK is not unique in this regard, as many other countries have also adopted constitutional monarchies, including Thailand, Norway, Sweden, and Barbados. In some cases, countries have transitioned from absolute monarchies to constitutional monarchies, such as France after the 1789 Revolution, and later into a republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Monarch's power | Limited by a set of laws, basic principles, or the constitution |
| Law-making power | Placed in the legislature |
| Monarch's role | Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of Religion, Defender of the Faith, etc. |
| Monarch's status | "Servants of the people" |
| Monarch's functions | Appointing and removing the Prime Minister and other ministers, dissolving Parliament, representing the country on the international stage, etc. |
| Monarch's powers | Approving laws, agreeing to treaties, etc. |
| Examples | United Kingdom, Thailand, France, Barbados, Brazil, Tsardom of Bulgaria, Bhutan, Greece, Liechtenstein, Monaco, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
The UK is a democratic constitutional monarchy
The United Kingdom (UK) is a democratic constitutional monarchy. The UK's constitutional monarchy has roots that long predate the UK itself as a state. The oldest constitutional monarchy, dating back to ancient times, was that of the Hittites, whose king shared authority with an assembly.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker. They are bound to exercise their powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework. The monarch is a hereditary symbolic head of state who mainly performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policymaking power.
The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed in the UK, where democratically elected parliaments and their leader, the prime minister, exercise power, with the monarch having ceded power and remaining as a titular position. The monarch is still at the very top of the political and social hierarchy and is often given the status of "servant of the people" to reflect this new, more egalitarian position.
The UK is not the only country to have developed democracy while retaining its monarch. Other European countries with constitutional monarchies include the Netherlands, Spain, and Denmark. Outside of Europe, countries like Australia and Canada share the same monarch as the UK.
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Monarch's role 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 government's power to the legislature and judiciary.
The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy is to undertake constitutional and representational duties. The monarch acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride, gives a sense of stability and continuity, officially recognizes success and excellence, and supports the ideal of voluntary service. The monarch is supported in these duties by their immediate family.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is bound to exercise their powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework. They are not the only decision-makers and must exercise their authority in accordance with the constitution. The constitution of a constitutional monarchy places the law-making power in the legislature and deprives the monarch of exclusive law-making power.
The British political theorist Walter Bagehot identified three main political rights that a constitutional monarch may freely exercise: the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn. Many constitutional monarchies still retain significant authorities or political influence, such as through certain reserve powers.
Some examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Thailand, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Liechtenstein.
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Absolute monarchy vs constitutional monarchy
Absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy are two different systems of governance. In an absolute monarchy, the monarch holds supreme power and is the only decision-maker, ruling as a dictator. On the other hand, in a constitutional monarchy, the monarch shares power with an elected parliament and is bound by a set of laws and principles outlined in a constitution.
In an absolute monarchy, the monarch has absolute power and is not restricted by any laws or constitution. They can make and enforce laws without the input of any other governing body. Absolute monarchies are often devoid of checks and balances, which can lead to difficulties in holding the monarch accountable for any misconduct. Historically, many absolute monarchies eventually transitioned into republics, but some first became constitutional monarchies, where power is shared between the monarch and a governing body.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's role is largely ceremonial and symbolic, serving as a head of state and performing representative and civic duties. The monarch may retain certain powers, such as the ability to dissolve parliament or withhold royal assent, but their authority is limited by the constitution and they do not have exclusive law-making power. The constitution ensures that the monarch's power is checked and balanced by an elected body, such as a parliament or legislature, which holds the primary law-making power.
The oldest constitutional monarchy dating back to ancient times was that of the Hittites, an ancient Anatolian people during the Bronze Age. Their king shared power with an assembly called the Panku, which was equivalent to a modern-day legislature. Other historical examples of constitutional monarchies include the Grand Duchy of Finland, the German Empire, and the Kingdom of Hungary. Many countries that gained independence from colonial rule, such as Barbados, Brazil, and South Africa, initially established themselves as constitutional monarchies before transitioning into republics.
The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy, in which democratically elected parliaments hold power while the monarch serves as a figurehead, developed in the United Kingdom. In constitutional monarchies, the monarch may still hold a high position in the political and social hierarchy, but their role is primarily to represent and unite the nation, recognize achievements, and support ideals such as voluntary service.
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Constitutional monarchies as a safeguard against dictatorship
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government where the monarch's powers are limited by a constitution and law-making powers lie with a legislature. The monarch may hold formal authority and perform representative and civic roles, but they do not exercise executive or policy-making power. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch acts as a ceremonial head of state and a symbol of national unity.
The concept of a constitutional monarchy first emerged in ancient times with the Hittites, an ancient Anatolian people who lived during the Bronze Age. Their king shared authority with an assembly called the Panku, which functioned as a legislature. The idea of a constitutional monarchy was further developed in England following the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the enactment of laws such as the Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Act of Settlement of 1701. The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy, however, is largely attributed to the United Kingdom, where democratically elected parliaments and the Prime Minister exercise power, while the monarch has a more titular role.
Constitutional monarchies can be found in countries such as Liechtenstein, Monaco, Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Bhutan, where the constitution grants substantial discretionary powers to the sovereign. In other countries, like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, and Japan, the monarch retains less personal discretion in the exercise of their authority.
The value of constitutional monarchies as a safeguard against dictatorship lies in the limited powers of the monarch and the distribution of power among different branches of government. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is bound by the constitution and cannot make rules or policies unilaterally. This distribution of power helps prevent the concentration of power in a single individual, which is a key characteristic of a dictatorship.
Additionally, the presence of a neutral monarch can serve as a check against elected politicians who may seek to exceed their powers or act illegally. The monarch can act as a mediator between disputing political opponents and provide stability and continuity during times of political change. For example, in Thailand, the monarch is recognized as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith, enabling them to play a significant role in politics and act as a unifying force.
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Examples of constitutional monarchies
The oldest constitutional monarchy, dating back to ancient times, was that of the Hittites, an ancient Anatolian people who lived during the Bronze Age. Their king had to share his authority with an assembly called the Panku, which was equivalent to a modern-day legislature.
The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed in the United Kingdom, where the monarch is the ceremonial head of state, while democratically elected parliaments and the Prime Minister exercise power. Other contemporary constitutional monarchies include Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
In Asia, Japan and Thailand are the two most populous constitutional monarchies. In these countries, the prime minister holds most of the power of governance, while the monarch retains some residual powers. For example, in Thailand, the monarch is recognised as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith.
Many former British colonies in the Commonwealth of Nations were constitutional monarchies for some period after their independence, including Barbados (1966-2021), South Africa (1910-1961), Sri Lanka (1948-1972), Fiji (1970-1987), the Gambia (1965-1970), Ghana (1957-1960), Guyana (1966-1970), Mauritius (1968-1992), Trinidad and Tobago (1962-1976), and others.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional monarchy is a system under which the head of state inherits their office from their parents and remains in power until they die or retire, passing the position on to their heir. The monarch's power is limited by a set of laws and principles, or a constitution, which places the law-making power in the legislature.
Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Thailand, Greece, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Bhutan. Many countries that are now republics were once constitutional monarchies, including France, Barbados, Brazil, and Bulgaria.
The monarch has a range of legal powers and important functions, such as appointing ministers or other holders of important posts, representing the country on the international stage, approving laws, and agreeing to treaties. In some cases, the monarch is recognised as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, and Upholder of a religion.
In an absolute monarchy, the monarch has absolute power and is not limited by a constitution or set of laws. Absolute monarchies are often transformed into constitutional monarchies or republics as countries move towards democracy.
In the UK, the monarch has ceded most of their power to democratically elected parliaments and the Prime Minister. The monarch still possesses some legal responsibilities, such as appointing and removing the Prime Minister, dissolving Parliament, and approving treaties. The monarch also has a less formal role as the 'Head of Nation', acting as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride.
