Constitutional Monarchy

Constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which the head of state is a monarch—a king, queen, emir, or sultan—who holds the position through hereditary succession, but whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution (the supreme law of the country) and by other institutions such as an elected parliament. It differs from absolute monarchy, in which the monarch holds power without legal constraint.

In systems of this kind, the monarch typically serves as a national symbol and embodiment of unity. Day-to-day political decisions are made by a prime minister and cabinet of ministers, who remain answerable to parliament. In some countries, the monarch nonetheless retains significant and tangible powers, with considerable variation among different states.

Division of Powers

Generally, the constitution grants the monarch formal duties: signing legislation, appointing the prime minister, opening parliament, and representing the country in foreign affairs. These duties are usually carried out on the advice of ministers, so political responsibility lies with the ministers rather than the monarch. This principle is known as 'the king can do no wrong'—the ministers who offer counsel bear the responsibility.

Types

Scholars typically distinguish two main types. The first is parliamentary monarchy, in which the monarch is largely ceremonial and power is held by parliament and the government derived from it; examples include the United Kingdom, Sweden, Japan, and Spain. The second is constitutional monarchy in which the monarch retains significant executive power, such as Morocco and Jordan, where the monarch participates in appointing the government and ratifying major policies.

History

The limitation of monarchical power stems from prolonged struggles and agreements between kings and holders of power. England's Magna Carta (1215) is among the earliest documents cited in this regard. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Enlightenment ideas and constitutional revolutions spread across Europe a form of government in which monarchy was limited by constitution. The Ottoman Turkish term 'Meşrutiyet' refers to the period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the Ottoman Empire introduced a constitution and parliament.