King of Morocco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King of Morocco |
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| ملك المغرب (Arabic) ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ (Standard Moroccan Tamazight) |
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| Incumbent | |
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| Mohammed VI since 23 July 1999 |
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| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| Heir apparent | Crown Prince Moulay Hassan |
| First monarch |
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| Formation |
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| Residence | Dar al-Makhzen, Rabat |
The King of Morocco (Arabic: ملك المغرب, romanized: Malik al-Maġrib; Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ, romanized: Agllid n Lmɣrib) is the leader and head of state of the country Morocco. The kings of Morocco are part of the Alawi dynasty, a very old and important family. Being the king is one of the most powerful jobs in Morocco.
The current king is Mohammed VI. His full name is Sidi Mohammed bin Hassan al-Alawi. He became king on July 23, 1999, after his father, Hassan II, passed away.
Contents
How a New King is Chosen
The rules for who becomes the next king are set out in Morocco's Constitution. Usually, the oldest son of the king becomes the next ruler. This is called agnatic primogeniture.
However, the king can choose a younger son to be his heir apparent (the person next in line). If there are no sons, the crown goes to the closest male relative in the family.
What the King Does
The 2011 Constitution
In 2011, Morocco adopted a new Constitution. This happened after many people protested, asking for more political freedom. These protests were part of a bigger movement called the Arab Spring.
The king listened to the people. He created a group to write a new constitution. This new set of rules reduced some of the king's powers. It also brought in more democratic changes.
A Constitutional Monarchy
Morocco is now a constitutional monarchy. This means the king rules according to the rules in the Constitution. He is not the only person who makes all the decisions.
However, the king still has many important powers. He has the final say on big policies and projects for the country.
The King's Main Roles
The king is the head of state. He is seen as the "supreme representative" and "symbol of the nation's unity." He represents Morocco when dealing with other countries, which is called foreign diplomacy.
The king also has full control over the armed forces (the military). He also leads the judiciary, which is the system of courts and laws. The king is also in charge of religious matters and foreign policy. He can choose and remove the prime ministers from the party that wins the most votes in parliament.
Commander of the Faithful
Since 1962, the Constitution also calls the king Amir al-Mu'minin. This means 'Commander of the Faithful'. This title gives him special religious authority. It shows that the monarchy's power also comes from religious beliefs. This idea was already widely accepted in Morocco before 1962.
It is important to respect the monarchy in Morocco. Publicly criticizing the king's decisions is not allowed.
See also
In Spanish: Rey de Marruecos para niños
- Politics of Morocco
- 2011–2012 Moroccan protests
- History of Morocco
