Constitutional monarchy facts for kids

Systems of government
Republican forms of government:      Presidential republics with an executive presidency separate from the legislature      Semi-presidential system with both an executive presidency and a separate head of government that leads the rest of the executive, who is appointed by the president and accountable to the legislature      Parliamentary republics with a ceremonial and non-executive president, where a separate head of government leads the executive and is dependent on the confidence of the legislature      Republics in which a combined head of state and government is elected by, or nominated by, the legislature and may or may not be subject to parliamentary confidence Monarchical forms of government:      Constitutional monarchies with a ceremonial and non-executive monarch, where a separate head of government leads the executive      Semi-constitutional monarchies with a ceremonial monarch, but where royalty still hold significant executive or legislative power      Absolute monarchies where the monarch leads the executive      One-party states (in principle republics)      Countries where constitutional provisions for government have been suspended      Countries which do not fit any of the above systems (e.g. provisional government or unclear political situations)

A constitutional monarchy is a type of government where a monarch (like a king, queen, or emperor) is the head of state, but their power is limited by a constitution or set of laws. This is different from an absolute monarchy, where the monarch has all the power and makes all decisions alone. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch shares power with other parts of the government, often an elected parliament.

In many constitutional monarchies, especially in Europe, the monarch's role is mostly symbolic. They represent the country and perform important ceremonies, but they don't usually make big political decisions or choose who leads the government. A famous saying describes this as a monarch who "reigns but does not rule."

However, the amount of power a constitutional monarch has can vary a lot. Some countries, like Liechtenstein and Monaco, give their monarchs quite a bit of influence. Others, like the United Kingdom, Spain, and Japan, have monarchs with much less personal power. Even when monarchs have formal powers, like dissolving parliament or approving new laws, they usually use these powers only when advised by the elected government, following established rules.

A British political thinker named Walter Bagehot once said that a constitutional monarch has three main rights: the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn. This means they can offer advice and opinions behind the scenes. Some constitutional monarchies, like Malaysia and Cambodia, are even elective monarchies, where the ruler is chosen by a small group rather than inheriting the throne.

Sometimes, you might hear terms like semi-constitutional monarchy for countries where the monarch still has significant power, similar to a president in some systems. On the other hand, very limited monarchies, like the UK, are sometimes called "crowned republics" because the monarch's role is so symbolic.

The three constitutional monarchs of the Scandinavian kingdoms of Sweden, Norway and Denmark gathered in November 1917 in Oslo.
From left to right: Gustaf V, Haakon VII and Christian X.

A meeting in the Japanese privy council in 1946 led by Hirohito.

The History of Constitutional Monarchies

Early Beginnings

One of the earliest examples of a constitutional monarchy comes from the Hittites, an ancient people who lived a long time ago in what is now Turkey. Their king had to share his power with a group called the Panku, which was like an early parliament. This group included nobles who represented their people.

Later, around 548 BC, a lawmaker named Demonax helped create a constitutional monarchy for King Battus III of Cyrene in Cyrene, a city in ancient Libya. This helped bring stability to the region.

How Monarchies Became More Limited

England and the United Kingdom

In England, the idea of limiting the king's power grew over many centuries. A very important document called the Magna Carta in 1215 was one of the first steps. It set some rules for the king and protected the rights of his subjects.

A major change happened during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. After this, laws like the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 further restricted the monarch's power. Over time, the British monarch's direct influence on government decisions slowly decreased. For example, Queen Anne was the last monarch to stop a law from passing in 1708. By the time Queen Victoria reigned, her personal power was much less, and today, the British monarch's role is mostly ceremonial.

Today, the British Parliament and the government make the real decisions. They use powers that are still formally held by the monarch, but they do so on the monarch's behalf. The monarch is expected to act on the advice of the government.

Europe's Constitutional Changes

In Poland, one of the first constitutions in Europe for a monarchy was created on May 3, 1791. This was a very early example of a country limiting its ruler's power through a written document.

After the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte became an emperor, but he saw himself as representing the nation, not just ruling by divine right. This was a new way of thinking about monarchy in Europe. Many European countries and Japan later developed constitutional monarchies where the monarch had limited powers and helped represent the national identity.

Executive vs. Ceremonial Monarchies

In the modern world, there are two main types of constitutional monarchies:

• Executive monarchies (sometimes called semi-constitutional monarchies): Here, the monarch still has significant power, though not absolute. They might appoint government officials or have a strong say in how the country is run. Examples include Liechtenstein and Monaco. Even though their monarchs are powerful, these countries are still considered democracies because the people have a say. For instance, in Liechtenstein, the prince once considered using his veto power on a public vote, showing that even in small democracies, monarchs can have real influence, though this was unusual.
• Ceremonial monarchies: In these countries, the monarch has very little or no actual political power. Their role is mainly to be a symbol of the nation, attend events, and represent the country. They often have a lot of social and cultural influence, but they don't make political decisions. Most European monarchies today, like the United Kingdom and Sweden, are ceremonial.

Modern Constitutional Monarchies

The idea of a constitutional monarchy has changed a lot over time. Originally, the monarch was often the head of the government, even with limits. But today, especially in countries like the United Kingdom, an elected prime minister and parliament hold the real power. The monarch remains a symbolic figure. To show this shift, some monarchs have even been called "servants of the people," like Louis-Philippe I who was "King of the French" instead of "King of France."

After Germany was unified, its constitutional monarchy (from 1871 to 1918) gave the Kaiser (emperor) a lot of executive power. However, this system ended after World War I. Later, Fascist Italy also had a king as head of state, but the real power was with Benito Mussolini. This system was abolished in 1946. After World War II, most European monarchies adopted a model similar to Britain's, where the monarch's power is very limited.

A parliamentary democracy can be either a constitutional monarchy or a republic. The main difference is whether the head of state is a monarch (who inherits the role) or a president (who is elected). In both cases, the head of state represents the nation, while the government is run by elected officials.

However, in some monarchies, there are still special powers and rules for the monarch:

• Royal prerogative: These are special powers the monarch can use in very specific, limited situations.
• Sovereign immunity: This means the monarch cannot be held responsible for legal wrongs, as the government takes that responsibility instead.
• Immunity from some taxes: The monarch might be exempt from certain taxes or property rules.

Today, many constitutional monarchies are in Western Europe, including the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Sweden. But the two largest constitutional monarchies by population are in Asia: Japan and Thailand. In these countries, the prime minister usually handles daily governance, but the monarch still has some influence. The exact powers vary. For example, in Denmark and Belgium, the monarch helps start the process of forming a new government after an election.

In nearly all cases, the monarch is still the official chief executive, but they must follow the advice of the government. Some countries, like Japan and Sweden, have even changed their constitutions so the monarch is no longer even the official chief executive.

Commonwealth Realms and Reserve Powers

There are fifteen constitutional monarchies that share King Charles III as their monarch; these are called Commonwealth realms. In these countries, the monarch and their representatives (called Governors-General) have important "reserve powers." These powers can be used in extreme emergencies or constitutional crises, usually to protect the parliamentary system.

A famous example happened in Australia in 1975. The Governor-General dismissed the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, because the parliament was in a deadlock over the government's budget. This event showed how the monarchy's reserve powers can act as a check on elected politicians, ensuring the constitution is upheld.

The Monarchy in Thailand

In Thailand, the monarch is seen as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, and a protector of religion. The previous King, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was the longest-reigning monarch in Thailand's history. He played an important role in Thai politics, often acting as a mediator during disagreements. Thailand also has laws that protect the monarch's image and allow them to play a role in politics. The Thai people generally held King Bhumibol in high regard, and his social influence came from this respect and the royal family's efforts to improve society.

Debates on Monarchical Power

In the United Kingdom, there are often discussions about when it's appropriate for the monarch to act. If a monarch takes a political action, it can cause debate because the crown is supposed to be neutral. Some experts believe an "interventionist monarch" could be a safeguard against illegal actions by politicians. For instance, the British monarch could theoretically stop a law by refusing to give it "royal assent," but no monarch has done this since 1708. Many of the monarch's political powers are now rarely, if ever, used.

List of Current Constitutional Monarchies

There are currently 43 monarchies worldwide.

Ceremonial Constitutional Monarchies

Executive Constitutional Monarchies

Former Constitutional Monarchies

Many countries have been constitutional monarchies at different points in their history:

• The Kingdom of Afghanistan was a constitutional monarchy from 1964 to 1973.
• The Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq was a constitutional monarchy until 1958.
• The Anglo-Corsican Kingdom (1794–1796) was an independent kingdom under George III with its own parliament.
• Barbados was a constitutional monarchy from 1966 until it became a republic in 2021.
• Brazil was an empire and constitutional monarchy from 1822 to 1889.
• The Tsardom of Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy until 1946.
• Many republics in the Commonwealth of Nations were constitutional monarchies for a time after their independence, including South Africa (1910–1961), Sri Lanka (1948–1972), Fiji (1970–1987), Gambia (1965–1970), Ghana (1957–1960), Guyana (1966–1970), Mauritius (1968–1992), and Trinidad and Tobago (1962–1976).
• Egypt had a constitutional system from the 1860s until it became a republic in 1952, though it was under British influence for much of that time.
• The Grand Duchy of Finland was a constitutional monarchy, even though its ruler was also an absolute ruler in Russia.
• France was a constitutional monarchy several times between 1789 and the 19th century, including under the French Constitution of 1791 and later empires.
• The German Empire (1871–1918) was a constitutional monarchy.
• Greece was a constitutional monarchy until 1973.
• Hawaii transitioned from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy in 1840 until its overthrow in 1893.
• The Kingdom of Hungary was a constitutional monarchy at various times, including as part of Austria-Hungary.
• Iceland was a sovereign kingdom united with Denmark from 1918 until it became a republic in 1944.
• India was a constitutional monarchy from its independence in 1947 until it became a republic in 1950.
• Pahlavi Iran was a constitutional monarchy, established in 1906.
• Italy was a constitutional monarchy until 1946.
• The Kingdom of Laos was a constitutional monarchy until 1975.
• Malta was a constitutional monarchy from 1964 to 1974.
• Mexico was an empire and constitutional monarchy twice, from 1822–1823 and 1864–1867.
• Montenegro was a constitutional monarchy until 1918.
• Nepal was a constitutional monarchy until 2008.
• Nigeria was a constitutional monarchy from 1960 to 1963.
• The Ottoman Empire was a constitutional monarchy from 1876–1878 and again from 1908–1922.
• Pakistan was a constitutional monarchy from its independence in 1947 until it became a republic in 1956.
• The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795) functioned like a constitutional monarchy, with an elected king and a parliament.
• Portugal was a constitutional monarchy from 1822 to 1828, and again from 1834 to 1910.
• Kingdom of Romania was a constitutional monarchy from 1881 to 1947.
• Kingdom of Serbia was a constitutional monarchy from 1882 to 1918.
• Yugoslavia was a constitutional monarchy from 1918 to 1945.
• Vietnam was a semi-constitutional monarchy from 1949 to 1955.

Other Unique Constitutional Monarchies

Some constitutional monarchies have very special features:

• Andorra is unique because it has two co-princes: the bishop of Urgell (in Spain) and the president of France.
• Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein are the only countries today with reigning princes.
• Belgium is the only remaining "popular monarchy," meaning its king is titled King of the Belgians rather than King of Belgium, showing he rules over the people, not just the land.
• Japan is the only country in the world that still has an emperor.
• Luxembourg is the only country remaining with a grand duke.
• Malaysia is a federal country with an elective monarchy. The King of Malaysia is chosen from among nine state rulers, who are also constitutional monarchs in their own states.
• In Papua New Guinea, the people are considered to hold the main power, and the monarch acts as Head of State because the people requested it.
• In Spain, the Spanish Constitution states that "National Sovereignty belongs to the Spanish People, from whom all state powers emanate," meaning the people are the ultimate source of power, not the monarch.
• The United Arab Emirates is a federal country with an elective monarchy. Its President is chosen from among the rulers of the seven emirates, each of whom is a hereditary absolute monarch in their own emirate.

See also

In Spanish: Monarquía constitucional para niños