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Constitutional monarchy
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A constitutional monarchy is a form of constitutional government, where in either an elected or hereditary monarch is the head of state, unlike in an absolute monarchy, wherein the king or the queen is the sole source of political power, as he or she is not legally bound by the constitution. Most constitutional monarchies have a parliamentary system (Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom) in which the monarch is the head of state, but a directly- or indirectly-elected prime minister is head of government.
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A constitutional monarchy is a form of constitutional government, where in either an elected or hereditary monarch is the head of state, unlike in an absolute monarchy, wherein the king or the queen is the sole source of political power, as he or she is not legally bound by the constitution. Most constitutional monarchies have a parliamentary system (Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom) in which the monarch is the head of state, but a directly- or indirectly-elected prime minister is head of government. Although contemporary constitutional monarchies mostly are representative, constitutional democratic monarchies, they have co-existed with fascist and quasi-fascist constitutions (Italy, Spain) and with military dictatorships (Thailand).
Constitutional monarchies and absolute monarchies
Constitutional monarchy in the European tradition
In Britain, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 led to a constitutional monarchy restricted by laws such as the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701, although limits on the power of the monarch are much older than that.
Constitutional monarchy occurred in continental Europe after the French revolution. General Napoleon Bonaparte is considered the first monarch proclaiming himself as embodiment of the nation, rather than as a divinely-appointed ruler; this interpretation of monarchy is basic to continental constitutional monarchies. G.W.F. Hegel, in Philosophy of Right (1820) justified it philosophically, according well with evolving contemporary political theory and with the Protestant Christian view of Natural Law. Hegel forecast a constitutional monarch of limited powers, whose function is embodying the national character and constitutional continuity in emergencies, per the development of constitutional monarchy in Europe and Japan. Moreover, the ceremonial office of president (e.g. European and Israeli parliamentary democracies), is a contemporary type of Hegel's constitutional monarch (whether elected or appointed), yet, his forecast of the form of government suitable to the modern world might be perceived as prophetic. The Russian and French presidents, with their stronger powers, might be Hegelian, wielding power suited to the national will embodied.
Modern constitutional monarchy
As originally conceived, a constitutional monarch was quite a powerful figure, head of the executive branch even though his or her power was limited by the constitution and the elected parliament. Some of the framers of the US Constitution may have conceived of the president as being an elected constitutional monarch, as the term was understood in their time, following Montesquieu's account of the separation of powers in the United Kingdom, it was the democratically elected parliaments, and their leader, the prime minister, who had become those who exercised power. In many cases even the monarchs themselves, while still at the very top of the political and social hierarchy, were given the status of "servants of the people" to reflect the new, egalitarian view.
In present terms, the difference between a parliamentary democracy that is a constitutional monarchy, and one that is a republic, is considered more a difference of detail than of substance, particularly in the common case in which the head of state serves the traditional role of embodying and representing the nation. This is reflected, for example, in all but the most die-hard Spanish Republicans accepting their country's returning to constitutional monarchy after the death of Francisco Franco.
Constitutional monarchies today
Today constitutional monarchies are mostly associated with Western European countries such as the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Sweden. In such cases it is the prime minister who holds the day-to-day powers of governance, while the King or Queen (or other monarch, such as a Grand Duke, in the case of Luxembourg, or Prince in the case of Monaco and Liechtenstein) retains only minor to no powers. Different nations grant different powers to their monarchs. In the Netherlands, Denmark and in Belgium, for example, the Monarch formally appoints a representative to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election, while in Norway the King chairs special meetings of the cabinet.
In nearly all cases, the monarch is still the nominal chief executive, but is bound by constitutional convention to act on the advice of the Cabinet. Only a few monarchies (most notably Japan and Sweden) have amended their constitutions so that the monarch is no longer even the nominal chief executive.
The most significant family of constitutional monarchies in the world today are the sixteen Commonwealth realms under Elizabeth II. Unlike some of their continental European counterparts, the Monarch and her Governors-General in the Commonwealth Realms hold significant "reserve" or "prerogative" powers, to be wielded in times of extreme emergency or constitutional crises usually to uphold parliamentary government. An instance of a Governor General exercising his power was during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, when the Australian Prime Minister of the time, Gough Whitlam, was effectively fired from his position. This led to much speculation as to whether this use of the Governor General's reserve powers was appropriate, and whether Australia should become a republic.
In both the United Kingdom and elsewhere, a common debate centres around when it is appropriate for a monarch to use his or her political powers. When a monarch does act, political controversy can often ensue, partially because the neutrality of the crown is seen to be compromised in favour of a partisan goal. While political scientists may champion the idea of an "interventionist monarch" as a check against possible illegal action by politicians, the monarchs themselves are often driven by a more pragmatic sense of self-preservation, in which avoiding political controversy can be seen as an important way to retain public legitimacy and popularity.
There also exist today several federal constitutional monarchies. In these countries, each subdivision has a distinct government and head of government, but all subdivisions share a monarch who is head of state of the federation as a united whole.
List of current reigning monarchies
| State | Last constitution established | Type of monarchy | Monarch selected by |  | 1993 | Co-Principality | Selection of Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell and election of French President |  | 2002 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1831 | Kingdom; popular monarchy | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 2007 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession |  | 1959 | Sultanate; Islamic absolute monarchy | Hereditary succession |  | 1993 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1953 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1946 | Empire | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1952 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1962 | Emirate | Hereditary succession directed approval of al-Sabah family and majority of National Assembly |  | 1993 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed approval of College of Chiefs |  | 1862 | Principality | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1868 | Grand duchy | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1957 | Elective monarchy | Selected from nine hereditary Sultans of the Malay states |  | 1911 | Principality | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1962 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution | | | 1815 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1814 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1996 | Sultanate; Islamic absolute monarchy | Hereditary succession |  | 2003 | Emirate; absolute monarchy | Hereditary succession |  | 1992 | Kingdom; Islamic absolute monarchy | Hereditary succession |  | 1978 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1968 | Kingdom; absolute monarchy | Hereditary succession |  | 1974 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 2007 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1970 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution | | | 1971 | Elective monarchy | Chosen by Federal Supreme Council from rulers of Abu Dhabi | | | | Theocratic elective monarchy | Chosen by College of Cardinals | | | 1688 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution | |
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 | 1981 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1901 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1973 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1966 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1981 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1867 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1974 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1962 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1907 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1975 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1983 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1979 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1979 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution | | | 1978 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution |  | 1978 | Kingdom | Hereditary succession directed by constitution | |
Previous monarchies
- The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed after the Union of Lublin in 1569 and lasting until the final partition of the state in 1795, operated much like many modern European constitutional monarchies. The legislators of the unified state truly did not see it as a monarchy at all, but as a republic under the presidency of the King. Poland-Lithuania also followed the principle of "Rex regnat et non gubernat", had a bicameral parliament, and a collection of entrenched legal documents amounting to a constitution along the lines of the modern United Kingdom. The King was elected, and had the duty of maintaining the people's rights.
- The Anglo-Corsican Kingdom was a brief period in the history of Corsica (1794-1796) when the island broke with Revolutionary France and sought military protection from Great Britain. Corsica became an independent kingdom under George III of England, but with its own elected parliament and a written constitution guaranteeing local autonomy and democratic rights.
- France functioned briefly as a constitutional monarchy during the post-Napoleonic era, under the reign of Louis XVIII and Charles X, but the latter's attempt at reinstating absolute monarchy led to his fall. Louis-Philippe of France was also a constitutional monarch.
- Napoléon Bonaparte, as Emperor of the French, was in theory a constitutional monarch, though he was ousted from France before his line could continue. In practice, however, he is often classed as a military dictator, whose power derived primarily from his command of the army.
- The German Empire from 1871 to 1918, (as well as earlier confederations, and the monarchies it consisted of) was also a constitutional monarchy—see Constitution of the German Empire.
- Prior to the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran was a constitutional monarchy under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, which had been originally established during the Persian Constitutional Revolution in 1906.
- Portugal until 1910 was a constitutional monarchy; the last king was Manuel II of Portugal until he was overthrown by a military coup.
- Kingdom of Serbia, until 1918, when it merged with the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs into the unitary Yugoslav Kingdom, that was led by the Serbian dynasty of Karadjordjevic
- Mexico was twice an Empire. First from July 21, 1822 to March 19, 1823 with Agustín de Iturbide serving as emperor. Then, with the help of the Austrian and Spanish crowns, Napoleon III of France installed Maximilian of Habsburg as Emperor of Mexico. This attempt to create a European-style monarchy lasted three years, from 1864 to 1867.
- Brazil from 1815 (United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves) until 1822, with the proclamation of independence and rise of the Empire of Brazil by Pedro I of Brazil. After this the Empire had ended in 1889, during the reign of Pedro II of Brazil, when the emperor was deposed by a military coup.
- Hawaii was a constitutional monarchy from the unification of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Hawaii (or the "Big Island") in 1810 until the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893 by conspirators from United States that threatened her that, should she not resign, her people would suffer greatly.
- The Grand Duchy of Finland was a constitutional monarchy though its ruler, Alexander I, was simultaneously an autocrat and absolute ruler in Russia.
- The Kingdom of Hungary in 1848–1849 and 1867–1918 as part of Austria-Hungary. In the interwar period (1920–1944) Hungary remained a constitutional monarchy without a reigning monarch.
- The Korean Empire from 1897 to 1910.
- Montenegro until 1918 when it merged with Serbia and other areas to form Yugoslavia.
- Yugoslavia until 1945 when King Peter was deposed by the communist government without the consultation of the people, especially the Serbs.
- Romania until 1947 when King Michael was forced to abdicate at gunpoint by the communists.
- Bulgaria until 1946 when Tsar Simeon was deposed by the communist assembly without consultation of the people.
- Greece until 1967 when King Constantine was deposed by the military government. The decision was formalised by a plebiscite in 05/04/1974.
- Italy until 1947 when a referendum proclaimed the end of the Kingdom and the begin of the Republic.
- Many Commonwealth republics were constitutional monarchies for some period after their independence.
- Nepal until May 28, 2008, when King Gyanendra was deposed, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was declared.
Other situations
- Japan is the only country with a reigning emperor.
- Luxembourg is the only country with a reigning Grand Duke.
- Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein are the only countries with a reigning Prince.
- Andorra is the only monarchy where the head of state is vested jointly in two individuals (conversely, San Marino is the only republic where the head of state is vested jointly in two individuals: the Captains Regent).
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