Constitutional monarchy
A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchy. In a constitutional monarchy, a king or queen is the official head of state. However, their powers are limited by a constitution and they usually do not have much real power, as the legislative branch is the primary governing body. A constitutional monarchy is different than an absolute monarchy because in absolute monarchies, the monarch is able to rule with full power, and is able to change the laws freely.
Creation[change]
Constitutional monarchy first emerged in England. At first, the British monarchy was absolute. However, the nobility under King John felt that the king had abused his power, and forced him to sign a document called Magna Carta.[1] This document limited the powers of the king and made him somewhat responsible for the wellbeing of his subjects. The document, however was more focused on maintaining the ability of the nobles to have a say in what the king did.
Contemporary constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms, Belgium, Bhutan, Bahrain, Cambodia, Denmark, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Eswatini, Sweden, and Thailand.
List of current reigning monarchies[change]
The following is a list of reigning monarchies. Except where noted, monarch selection is hereditary as directed by the state's constitution.
| State | Last constitution established | Type of monarchy | Monarch selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Antigua and Barbuda | 1981 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra | 1993 | Co-Principality | Selection of Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell and election of French President |
| File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia | 1901 | Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy. | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of the Bahamas.svg The Bahamas | 1973 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Barbados.svg Barbados | 1966 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain | 2002 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession |
| File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | 1831 | Kingdom; popular monarchy[2] | Hereditary succession |
| File:Flag of Vatican City State - 2023 version.svg Vatican City | 1929 | Elective absolute monarchy | The Pope is elected by the cardinals of the Catholic Church |
| File:Flag of Belize.svg Belize | 1981 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Bhutan.svg Bhutan | 2007 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia | 1993 | Elective monarchy; Kingdom | Chosen by throne council |
| File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada | 1867 (last updated 1982) | Constitutional Monarchy and Federal Parliamentary Democracy. | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark | 1953 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession |
| File:Flag of Greenland.svg Greenland | 2009 | Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy. | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Grenada.svg Grenada | 1974 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica | 1962 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan | 1946 | Empire | Hereditary succession |
| File:Flag of Jordan.svg Jordan | 1952 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar | 1971 | Kingdom; mixture of Constitutional and Absolute monarchy | |
| File:Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait | 1962 | Emirate | Hereditary succession, with directed approval of the House of Al-Sabah and majority of National Assembly |
| File:Flag of Lesotho.svg Lesotho | 1993 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed approval of College of Chiefs[citation needed] |
| File:Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein | 1862 | Principality | |
| File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg | 1868 | Grand duchy | |
| File:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia | 1957 | Elective monarchy; Federal monarchy | Selected from nine hereditary Sultans of the Malay states |
| File:Flag of Monaco.svg Monaco | 1911 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco | 1666 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands | 1815 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 1814 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand | 1907 | Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy. | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea | 1975 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1983 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Saint Lucia.svg Saint Lucia | 1979 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1979 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Islands | 1978 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain | 1978 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of Eswatini.svg Eswatini (Swaziland) | 1968 | Kingdom; Mixture of absolute and constitutional monarchy | Hereditary succession |
| File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden | 1974 | Kingdom | Switched from semi-constitutional monarchy to constitutional monarchy |
| File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand | 2007 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga | 1970 | Kingdom | |
| File:Flag of Tuvalu.svg Tuvalu | 1978 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession. |
| File:Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates | 1971 | Federal Union of Emirates Elective monarchy |
President elected by the seven absolute monarchs of the Federal Supreme Council |
| File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom | 1688 | Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy. | Hereditary succession. |
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References[change]
- ↑ "English translation of Magna Carta". The British Library. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ↑ Belgium is the only existing popular monarchy — a system in which the monarch's title is linked to the people rather than a state. The title of Belgian kings is not King of Belgium, but instead King of the Belgians. Another unique feature of the Belgian system is that the new monarch does not automatically assume the throne at the death or abdication of his predecessor; he only becomes monarch upon taking a constitutional oath.