View source for Constitutional monarchy

{{Short description|Form of government}}
{{redirect|Ceremonial monarchy|other uses|crowned republic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=April 2025}}
{{if mobile|{{Systems of government|upright=1.2}}|{{Monarchism|expanded=Types}}
{{Basic forms of government}}|}}
[[File:Trekongemøtet 1917 OB.F16064.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The three constitutional monarchs of the Scandinavian kingdoms of [[Sweden]], [[Norway]] and [[Denmark]] gathered in November 1917 in [[Oslo]].<br />From left to right: [[Gustaf V of Sweden|Gustaf V]], [[Haakon VII of Norway|Haakon VII]] and [[Christian X of Denmark|Christian X]].]]
'''Constitutional monarchy''', also known as '''limited monarchy''', '''parliamentary monarchy''' or '''democratic monarchy''', is a form of [[monarchy]] in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in making decisions.{{sfn|Blum|Cameron|Barnes|1970|pp=2Nnk67–268}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tridimas |first1=George |title=Constitutional monarchy as power sharing |journal=[[Constitutional Political Economy]] |date=2021 |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=431–461 |doi=10.1007/s10602-021-09336-8 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stepan |first1=Alfred |last2=Linz |first2=Juan J. |last3=Minoves |first3=Juli F. |date=2014 |title=Democratic Parliamentary Monarchies |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/content/crossref/journals/journal_of_democracy/v025/25.2.stepan.html |journal=Journal of Democracy |language=en |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=35–36 |doi=10.1353/jod.2014.0032 |issn=1086-3214 |s2cid=154555066 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=31 January 2026 |access-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131155632/https://muse.jhu.edu/content/crossref/journals/journal_of_democracy/v025/25.2.stepan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Kurian|2011|p={{page needed|date=December 2015}}}}  Constitutional monarchies differ from [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]] (in which a monarch is the only decision-maker) in that they are bound to exercise powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework. The monarch is frequently perceived as a visible symbol of [[Nationalism|national unity]].<ref name="r251">{{cite web | title=What is the role of the monarchy? | website=UCL Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences | date=2024-04-24 | url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unit/constitution-unit-publications/constitution-unit-explainers/what-role-monarchy | access-date=2026-02-07 | archive-date=14 January 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114150528/https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unit/constitution-unit-publications/constitution-unit-explainers/what-role-monarchy | url-status=live }}</ref>

The powers of constitutional monarchs vary. In some countries, the monarch has virtually no executive or policy-making power and is primarily a hereditary symbolic head of state (who may be an emperor, king or queen, prince or grand duke),<ref name="g368">{{cite book | last=Langenbacher | first=Eric | title=Comparative Politics: Mapping Institutions, Power, and Legitimacy | publisher=CQ Press | date=2024-12-18 | isbn=978-1-5443-5881-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkA5EQAAQBAJ&pg=PA86 | page=86}}</ref> while in other countries, the monarch has meaningful formal powers (such as [[Royal assent|veto power]], appointment power, and power to [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolve parliament]]).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Itana |first=Kana |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/61528 |title=Monarchies in the Contemporary World: Born to Rule or Bound to Fade? |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2025 |doi=10.1093/9780198967132.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-896711-8 |archive-date=29 December 2025 |access-date=16 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251229165329/https://academic.oup.com/book/61528 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="e278">{{cite web|first=Elliot |last=Bulmer | title=Constitutional Monarchs in Parliamentary Democracies |publisher =International IDEA| url=https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/constitutional-monarchs-in-parliamentary-democracies-primer.pdf | access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

In countries such as [[Liechtenstein]], [[Monaco]], [[Morocco]], [[Jordan]], [[Kuwait]], [[Bahrain]], [[Thailand]] and [[Bhutan]], the constitution grants substantial discretionary powers to the sovereign, while in [[United Kingdom]] and other [[Commonwealth realm]]s, the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands|Netherlands]], [[Spain]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Belgium]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Lesotho]], [[Malaysia]], [[Cambodia]], and [[Japan]], the monarch retains significantly less, if any, personal discretion in the exercise of their authority. While many constitutional monarchies are [[Democracy|democratic]], some are not.<ref name=":1" />

[[File:Privy Council (Japan).jpg|thumb|A meeting in the [[Privy Council of Japan|Japanese privy council]] in 1946 led by [[Hirohito]]]]

The [[Commonwealth realm]]s share the same person as a ceremonial [[hereditary monarchy]] under the [[Westminster system]] of constitutional governance.<ref name="k395">{{cite book | last1=Collin | first1=Richard Oliver | last2=Martin | first2=Pamela L. | title=An Introduction to World Politics: Conflict and Consensus on a Small Planet | publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA | date=2012-08-02 | isbn=979-8-7651-7204-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OuR3EQAAQBAJ&pg=PA240 | access-date=2026-02-07 | page=240}}</ref> Two constitutional monarchies – [[Monarchy of Malaysia|Malaysia]] and [[Monarchy of Cambodia|Cambodia]] – are [[Elective monarchy|elective monarchies]], in which the ruler is periodically selected by a small [[electoral college]].<ref name="i689">{{cite web | last=Ibrahim | first=Junaid | title=How Malaysia elects the King | website=The Star | date=2024-07-19 | url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/20/how-malaysia-elects-the-king | access-date=2026-02-07 | archive-date=6 December 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251206005934/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/20/how-malaysia-elects-the-king | url-status=live }}</ref>

Some use the term '''semi-constitutional monarchy''' to identify constitutional monarchies where the monarch retains substantial powers, on a par with a [[President (government title)|president]] in a [[Presidential system|presidential]] or [[semi-presidential system]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ecpr.eu/Events/PaperDetails.aspx?PaperID=30190&EventID=95 |title=Semi presidential systems and semi constitutional monarchies: A historical assessment of executive power-sharing |last1=Anckar |first1=Carsten |last2=Akademi |first2=Åbo |year=2016 |publisher=European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) |access-date=14 August 2019 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214014519/https://ecpr.eu/Events/PaperDetails.aspx?PaperID=30190&EventID=95 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Numerous liberal democracies restrain monarchic power in practice rather than written law, e.g., the [[constitution of the United Kingdom]], which affords the monarch substantial, if limited, legislative and executive powers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-22 |title=Robert Craig: Could the Government Advise the Queen to Refuse Royal Assent to a Backbench Bill? |url=https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2019/01/22/robert-craig-could-the-government-advise-the-queen-to-refuse-royal-assent-to-a-backbench-bill/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=UK Constitutional Law Association |language=en |archive-date=3 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203143536/https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2019/01/22/robert-craig-could-the-government-advise-the-queen-to-refuse-royal-assent-to-a-backbench-bill/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==

The oldest constitutional monarchy dating back to ancient times was that of the [[Hittites]]. They were an [[ancient Anatolian people]] that lived during the [[Bronze Age]] whose king had to share his authority with an assembly, called the ''[[Pankus|Panku]]'', which was the equivalent to a modern-day deliberative assembly or a legislature. Members of the ''Panku'' came from scattered noble families who worked as representatives of their subjects in an adjutant or subaltern federal-type landscape.<ref>{{citation |date=12 September 2008 |title=The Hittites |work=smie.co |url=http://www.smie.co/html/cultural_history/hittites/hittites_3.shtml |access-date=21 November 2015 |archive-date=20 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020063846/http://www.smie.co/html/cultural_history/hittites/hittites_3.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Akurgal|2001|p=118}}

According to [[Herodotus]], [[Demonax (lawmaker)|Demonax]] created a constitutional monarchy for King [[Battus III of Cyrene|Battus III]] the Lame, of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]], when [[Cyrenaica]] had become an unstable state, in about 548 BC.<ref name=Histories>{{cite book|title=The histories|author=Herodotus|translator=George Rawlinson|publisher=Penguin Random House|year=1997|url=https://files.romanroadsstatic.com/materials/herodotus.pdf|pages=304|archive-date=19 November 2024|access-date=25 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241119031526/https://files.romanroadsstatic.com/materials/herodotus.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Constitutional and absolute monarchy ===

====England, Scotland and the United Kingdom====

In the [[Kingdom of England]], the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688 furthered the constitutional monarchy, restricted by laws such as the [[Bill of Rights 1689]] and the [[Act of Settlement 1701]], although the first form of constitution was enacted with [[Magna Carta]] of 1215. At the same time, in [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]], the [[Convention of Estates (1689)|Convention of Estates]] enacted the [[Claim of Right Act 1689]], which placed similar limits on the Scottish monarchy.

[[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] was the last monarch to veto an Act of Parliament when, on 11 March 1708, she blocked the [[Scottish Militia Bill]]. However Hanoverian monarchs continued to selectively dictate government policies. For instance [[King George III]] constantly blocked [[Catholic Emancipation in Britain|Catholic Emancipation]], eventually precipitating the resignation of [[William Pitt the Younger]] as prime minister in 1801.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hague|first1=William|title=William Pitt the Younger|date=2004|publisher=HarperCollins|location=London|isbn=0007147198|pages=469–472|edition=1st}}</ref> The sovereign's influence on the choice of prime minister gradually declined over this period. The [[Fox-North Coalition]] came to power on 2 April 1783, in spite of the King's resistance. It was the first time that [[George III]] had been allowed no role in determining who should hold government office.<ref name="MI">{{harvnb|Mitchell|2007}}</ref>

[[William IV of the United Kingdom|King William IV]] was the last monarch to dismiss a prime minister, when in 1834 he removed [[Lord Melbourne]] as a result of Melbourne's choice of [[Lord John Russell, 1st Earl Russell|Lord John Russell]] as Leader of the House of Commons.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hurd|first1=Douglas|title=Robert Peel – a biography|date=2007|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|location=London|isbn=978-0297848448|pages=169–170|edition=1st}}</ref><ref name="Mitchell">{{cite book|last1=Mitchell|first1=L.G.|title=Lord Melbourne 1779–1848|date=1997|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|isbn=0198205929|page=147|edition=}}</ref> [[Queen Victoria]] was the last monarch to exercise real personal power, but this diminished over the course of her reign. In 1839, she became the last sovereign to keep a prime minister in power against the will of Parliament when the [[Bedchamber crisis]] resulted in the retention of Lord Melbourne's administration.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mitchell|first1=L.G.|title=Lord Melbourne 1779–1848|date=1997|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|isbn=0198205929|pages=241–242|edition=}}</ref> By the end of her reign, however, she could do nothing to block the unacceptable (to her) premierships of [[William Ewart Gladstone|William Gladstone]], although she still exercised power in appointments to the Cabinet. For example, in 1886 she vetoed Gladstone's choice of [[Hugh Childers]] as War Secretary in favor of [[Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wilson|first1=John|title=CB - A life of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman|url=https://archive.org/details/cblifeofsirhenry0000wils|url-access=registration|date=1973|publisher=Constable and Company Limited|location=London|isbn=009458950X|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cblifeofsirhenry0000wils/page/161 161–162]|edition=}}</ref>

Today, the role of the British monarch is by convention effectively ceremonial.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliament and Crown |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/relations-with-other-institutions/parliament-crown/ |access-date=22 February 2024 |website=UK Parliament |archive-date=5 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805105749/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/relations-with-other-institutions/parliament-crown/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[British Parliament]] and the [[Government of the United Kingdom|Government]] – chiefly in the office of [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] – exercise their powers under [[Royal prerogative|"royal (or Crown) prerogative"]]: on behalf of the monarch and through powers still formally possessed by the monarch.{{sfn |Dunt|2015}}{{sfn|Parliamentary staff|2010}}

No person may accept significant public office without swearing an [[Oath of Allegiance (United Kingdom)|oath of allegiance to the King]].{{sfn|Sear|2001|page=3}} With few exceptions, the monarch is bound by [[Constitutional conventions of the United Kingdom|constitutional convention]] to act on the [[advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the government.

====Continental Europe====
Poland developed the first constitution for a monarchy in continental Europe, with the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791]]; it was the second single-document constitution in the world just after the first republican [[Constitution of the United States]]. Constitutional monarchy also occurred briefly in the early years of the [[French Revolution]], but much more widely afterwards. [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] is considered the first monarch proclaiming himself as an embodiment of the nation, rather than as a divinely appointed ruler; this interpretation of monarchy is germane to continental constitutional monarchies. German philosopher [[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel]], in his work ''[[Elements of the Philosophy of Right]]'' (1820), gave the concept a philosophical justification that concurred with evolving contemporary political theory and the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christian view of natural law.{{sfn|Hegel|1991|p={{page needed|date=December 2015}} }} Hegel's forecast of a constitutional monarch with very limited powers whose function is to embody the national character and provide constitutional continuity in times of emergency was reflected in the development of constitutional monarchies in Europe and Japan.{{sfn|Hegel|1991|p={{page needed|date=December 2015}} }}

==== Executive monarchy versus ceremonial monarchy ==== <!-- Linked to by [[Fumimaro Konoe]] -->
There exist at least two different types of constitutional monarchies in the modern world – ''executive and ceremonial''.<ref name=":0">Ginsburg, Tom and Rodriguez, Daniel B. and Weingast, Barry R., The Functions of Constitutional Monarchy: Why Kings and Queens Survive in a World of Republics (21 May 2023). Northwestern Public Law Research Paper No. 23-29, U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 831, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4454620 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4454620</ref>

In executive monarchies (also called ''semi-constitutional monarchies''), the monarch wields significant (though not [[Absolute monarchy|absolute]]) power, though it is often  limited to opting and dismissing ministers or other government officials. The monarchy under this system of government is a powerful political (and social) institution. ''Semi-monarchy'' is a distinct regime type characterized by a [[collegial executive]], a hereditary monarch with substantive powers who appoints the cabinet, dual cabinet accountability to both the monarch and the legislature, and the monarch's authority to dissolve the assembly.<ref>{{Cite journal<!-- Deny Citation Bot--> |last1=Metin |first1=Abdullah |last2=Ünal |first2=Serkan |title=Classifying forms of government on a global scale |journal=Asian Journal of Comparative Politics |date=2022 |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=487–515 |doi=10.1177/20578911221127176 }}</ref> 

By contrast, in ceremonial monarchies (also called ''[[crowned republic]]s''), the monarch holds little to no actual power or direct political influence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=crowned republic, n. meanings, etymology and more {{!}} Oxford English Dictionary |url=https://www.oed.com/dictionary/crowned-republic_n |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250503095135/https://www.oed.com/dictionary/crowned-republic_n |archive-date=3 May 2025 |access-date=2026-06-10 |website=www.oed.com |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

For instance, when [[Hereditary Prince Alois]] of Liechtenstein threatened to veto a possible approval of a [[2011 Liechtenstein referendums|referendum to legalize abortion in 2011]], it came as a surprise because the prince had not vetoed any law for over 30 years<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 September 2011 |title=Liechtenstein prince threatens to veto referendum |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/09/08/liechtenstein-prince-threatens-to-veto-referendum/ |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US |archive-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912181628/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/09/08/liechtenstein-prince-threatens-to-veto-referendum/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (in the end, this was moot, as the proposal was not approved).

=== Modern constitutional monarchy ===
As originally conceived, a constitutional monarch was head of the [[executive branch]] and quite a powerful figure even though their power was limited by the constitution and the elected parliament. Some of the framers of the U.S. Constitution may have envisioned the president as an elected constitutional monarch, as the term was then understood, following [[Baron de Montesquieu|Montesquieu's]] account of the separation of powers.{{sfn|Baron de Montesquieu|1924|p={{page needed|date=December 2015}} }}

The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed primarily in the United Kingdom, where a democratically elected parliament and the executive government formed from the ranks of the majority party, led by a [[prime minister]], exercise true power while the monarch remains as a largely vestigial and constrained position (in the Commonwealth nations, the monarch is bound to take the advice of his or her government ministers, and has very limited 'reserve powers'). {{cn|date=September 2026}}

Nations of the Commonwealth and European democracies are where much of the working out of the contours and limits of constitutional monarchs' powers has been done, primarily over the last century. In the course of [[France]]'s [[July Monarchy]], [[Louis-Philippe I]] was styled "King of the French" rather than "King of France".  Following the [[unification of Germany]], [[Otto von Bismarck]] rejected the British model. In the constitutional monarchy established under the [[Constitution of the German Empire]] which Bismarck inspired, the [[Kaiser]] retained considerable actual executive power, while the [[Chancellor of Germany#Empire (1871–1918)|Imperial Chancellor]] needed no parliamentary vote of confidence and ruled solely by the imperial mandate. However, this model of constitutional monarchy was discredited and abolished following Germany's defeat in the [[First World War]]. Later, [[Kingdom of Italy under Fascism (1922–1943)|Fascist Italy]] could also be considered a constitutional monarchy, in that there was a [[King of Italy|king]] as the titular head of state while actual power was held by [[Benito Mussolini]] under a constitution. This eventually discredited the Italian monarchy and led to its abolition in 1946. After the [[Second World War]], surviving European monarchies almost invariably adopted some variant of the constitutional monarchy model originally developed in Britain.{{cn|date=September 2026}}

A [[parliamentary democracy]] may be a constitutional monarchy or a [[republic]], differing only in terms of titles and rules of succession rather than in substantial exercise of power. In both cases, the titular head of state{{snd}}monarch or president{{snd}}serves the traditional role of embodying and representing the nation, while the government is carried on by a cabinet enjoying the support - or at least the toleration - of a majority of [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]].

However, three important factors distinguish monarchies such as the [[United Kingdom]] from systems where greater power might otherwise rest with [[Parliament]]. These are:
* The [[royal prerogative]], under which the monarch may exercise power under certain very limited circumstances
* [[Sovereign immunity]], under which the monarch may ''do no wrong'' under the law because the [[responsible government]] is instead deemed accountable
* The immunity of the monarch from some taxation or restrictions on property use

Other privileges may be nominal or ceremonial (e.g., where the executive, judiciary, police or armed forces act on the authority of or owe [[allegiance]] to the Crown).

Today slightly more than a quarter of constitutional monarchies are [[Western Europe]]an countries, including the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], [[Monarchy of Spain|Spain]], the [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Netherlands]], [[Monarchy of Belgium|Belgium]], [[Monarchy of Norway|Norway]], [[Monarchy of Denmark|Denmark]], [[Monarchy of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]], [[Monarchy of Monaco|Monaco]], [[Monarchy of Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]] and [[Monarchy of Sweden|Sweden]]. However, the two most populous constitutional monarchies in the world are in Asia: [[Monarchy of Japan|Japan]] and [[Monarchy of Thailand|Thailand]]. In these countries, the [[prime minister]] holds the day-to-day powers of governance, while the monarch retains residual (but not always insignificant) powers. The powers of the monarch differ between countries. In 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 (government)|cabinet]].

In nearly all cases, the monarch is still the nominal chief executive, but is bound by convention to act on the advice of the Cabinet. However, a few monarchies (most notably [[Japan]] and [[Sweden]]) have amended their constitutions so that the monarch is no longer the nominal chief executive.

There are fifteen constitutional monarchies under King [[Charles III]], which are known as [[Commonwealth realm]]s.{{sfn|Royal Household staff|2015b}} Unlike some of their continental European counterparts, the Monarch and his 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. For example, during the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis]], the Governor-General dismissed the Australian Prime Minister [[Gough Whitlam]]. The [[Australian Senate]] had threatened to block the Government's [[budget]] by refusing to pass the necessary appropriation bills. On 11 November 1975, Whitlam intended to call a half-Senate election to try to break the deadlock. When he sought the Governor-General's approval of the election, the Governor-General instead dismissed him as prime minister. Shortly after that, he installed leader of the opposition [[Malcolm Fraser]] in his place. Acting quickly before all parliamentarians became aware of the government change, Fraser and his allies secured passage of the appropriation bills, and the Governor-General dissolved Parliament for a [[double dissolution]] election. Fraser and his government were returned with a massive majority. This led to much speculation among Whitlam's supporters as to whether this use of the Governor-General's reserve powers was appropriate, and whether [[Republicanism in Australia|Australia should become a republic]]. Among supporters of constitutional monarchy, however, the event confirmed the monarchy's value as a source of checks and balances against elected politicians who might seek powers in excess of those conferred by the constitution, and ultimately as a safeguard against dictatorship.

In Thailand's constitutional monarchy, the monarch is recognized as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion, and Defender of the Faith. The immediate former King, [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]], was among the longest-reigning monarch in the world and the longest in all of Thailand's history, before dying on 13 October 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dewan|first1=Angela|title=Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/asia/thai-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-dies/index.html|website=CNN Regions+|date=13 October 2016|publisher=|access-date=13 October 2016|archive-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013144827/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/asia/thai-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-dies/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bhumibol reigned through several political changes in the Thai government. He played an influential role in each incident, often acting as mediator between disputing political opponents. (See Bhumibol's role in [[Bhumibol Adulyadej#Role in Thai politics|Thai Politics]].) Among the powers retained by the Thai monarch under the constitution, [[Lèse majesté in Thailand|lèse majesté]] protects the image of the monarch and enables him to play a role in politics. It carries strict criminal penalties for violators. Generally, the Thai people were reverent of Bhumibol. Much of his social influence arose from this reverence and from the socioeconomic improvement efforts undertaken by the royal family.

In the United Kingdom, a frequent debate centres on when it is appropriate for a British monarch to act. 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 (political)|partisan]] goal, while some [[political scientist]]s champion the idea of an "interventionist monarch" as a check against possible illegal action by politicians. For instance, the monarch of the United Kingdom can theoretically exercise an absolute veto over legislation by withholding royal assent. However, no monarch has done so since 1708, and it is widely believed that this and many of the monarch's other political powers are [[lapsed power]]s.

In ''[[The English Constitution]]'', British political theorist [[Walter Bagehot]] identified three main political rights which a constitutional monarch may freely exercise: the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn. Many constitutional monarchies still retain significant authorities or political influence, however, such as through certain [[reserve power]]s, and may also play an important political role. Political scientist [[Vernon Bogdanor]], paraphrasing [[Thomas Macaulay]], has defined a constitutional monarch as "A sovereign who reigns but does not rule".{{sfn|Bogdanor|1996|pp=407–422}} Strongly limited constitutional monarchies, such as those of the [[monarchy of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] and [[monarchy of Australia|Australia]], have been referred to as [[crowned republic]]s by writers [[H. G. Wells]] and Glenn Patmore.<ref>{{cite web |title=64. The British Empire in 1914. Wells, H.G. 1922. A Short History of the World |url=https://www.bartleby.com/86/64.html |access-date=27 April 2021 |website=bartleby.com |archive-date=23 August 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823071255/https://www.bartleby.com/86/64.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Patmore |first=Glenn |title=Choosing the Republic |publisher=UNSW Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-74223-200-3 |location=Sydney, NSW |page=105 |oclc=635291529}}</ref>

== List of current constitutional monarchies ==
{{Main list|List of current monarchies
}}
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2022|reason=No cites for the individual countries categorized}}

There are currently 43 monarchies worldwide.

===Ceremonial constitutional monarchies===
{|
|valign="top" style="width:20em;"|
* {{Flag icon|Andorra}} [[Co-princes of Andorra|Andorra]]
* {{Flag icon|Antigua and Barbuda}} [[Monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda|Antigua and Barbuda]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group="lower-alpha">[[Commonwealth realm]]s, which share the same person as their monarch, currently King [[Charles III]].</ref>
* {{Flag icon|Australia}} [[Monarchy of Australia|Australia]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Bahamas}} [[Monarchy of the Bahamas|The Bahamas]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Belgium}} [[Monarchy of Belgium|Belgium]]
* {{Flag icon|Belize}} [[Monarchy of Belize|Belize]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Cambodia}} [[Monarchy of Cambodia|Cambodia]]
* {{Flag icon|Canada}} [[Monarchy of Canada|Canada]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Cook Islands}} [[Monarchy in the Cook Islands|Cook Islands]]
* {{Flag icon|Kingdom of Denmark}} [[Monarchy of Denmark|Danish Realm]]
** {{Flag icon|Denmark}} [[Politics of Denmark|Denmark]]
** {{Flag icon|Faroe Islands}} [[Politics of the Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]]
** {{Flag icon|Greenland}} [[Politics of Greenland|Greenland]]
* {{Flag icon|Grenada}} [[Monarchy of Grenada|Grenada]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Indonesia}} [[Indonesia]]<ref name="Indonesia" group=lower-alpha>[[Indonesia]], a [[presidential republic]], has a province with a monarch as its ceremonial head.</ref>
** {{Flag icon|Special Region of Yogyakarta}} [[Special Region of Yogyakarta]]
* {{Flag icon|Jamaica}} [[Monarchy of Jamaica|Jamaica]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
|valign="top"  style="width:20em;"|
* {{Flag icon|Japan}} [[Emperor of Japan|Japan]]
* {{Flag icon|Lesotho}} [[Monarchy of Lesotho|Lesotho]]
* {{Flag icon|Luxembourg}} [[Monarchy of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]]
* {{Flag icon|Malaysia}} [[King of Malaysia|Malaysia]]
** {{Flag icon|Johor}} [[Sultan of Johor|Johor]]
** {{Flag icon|Kedah}} [[Sultan of Kedah|Kedah]]
** {{Flag icon|Kelantan}} [[Sultan of Kelantan|Kelantan]]
** {{Flag icon|Negeri Sembilan}} [[Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan|Negeri Sembilan]]
** {{Flag icon|Pahang}} [[Sultan of Pahang|Pahang]]
** {{Flag icon|Perak}} [[Sultan of Perak|Perak]]
** {{Flag icon|Perlis}} [[Raja of Perlis|Perlis]]
** {{Flag icon|Selangor}} [[Sultan of Selangor|Selangor]]
** {{Flag icon|Terengganu}} [[Sultan of Terengganu|Terengganu]]
|valign="top" style="width:20em;"|
* {{Flag icon|Kingdom of the Netherlands}} [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
** {{Flag icon|Netherlands}} [[Politics of the Netherlands|Netherlands]]
** {{Flag icon|Aruba}} [[Politics of Aruba|Aruba]]
** {{Flag icon|Curaçao}} [[Politics of Curaçao|Curaçao]]
** {{Flag icon|Sint Maarten}} [[Politics of Sint Maarten|Sint Maarten]]
* {{Flag icon|Niue}} [[List of Niuean monarchs|Niue]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|New Zealand}} [[Monarchy of New Zealand|New Zealand]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Norway}} [[Monarchy of Norway|Norway]]
* {{Flag icon|Papua New Guinea}} [[Monarchy of Papua New Guinea|Papua New Guinea]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} [[Monarchy of Saint Kitts and Nevis|Saint Kitts and Nevis]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Saint Lucia}} [[Monarchy of Saint Lucia|Saint Lucia]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} [[Monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|Solomon Islands}} [[Monarchy of Solomon Islands|Solomon Islands]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|South Africa}} [[South Africa]]<ref name="South Africa" group=lower-alpha>[[South Africa]], a [[Presidential parliamentary republic|presidential-parliamentary republic]], has a province with a monarch as its ceremonial head.</ref>
** {{Flag icon|KwaZulu-Natal}} [[KwaZulu-Natal]]<ref>{{cite act|title= KwaZulu-Natal Traditional Leadership and Governance Act, 2005|type=Act|date=2005 |institution=KwaZulu-Natal Legislature|at=Section 17|url= https://archive.opengazettes.org.za/archive/ZA-NL/2006/provincial-gazette-ZA-NL-no-6460-dated-2006-01-16.pdf|access-date=14 November 2024}}</ref>
* {{Flag icon|Spain}} [[Monarchy of Spain|Spain]]
* {{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Monarchy of Sweden|Sweden]]
* {{Flag icon|Thailand}} [[Monarchy of Thailand|Thailand]]
* {{Flag icon|Tuvalu}} [[Monarchy of Tuvalu|Tuvalu]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
* {{Flag icon|United Kingdom}} [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]<ref name="Commonwealth" group=lower-alpha/>
** {{Flag icon|England}} [[Monarchy of England|England]]
** {{Flag icon|Scotland}} [[Monarchy of Scotland|Scotland]]
** {{Flag icon|Wales}} [[Politics of Wales|Wales]]
** {{noflag|[[Monarchy of Ireland#Monarchs of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]}}
|}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===Executive constitutional monarchies===
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* {{Flag icon|Bahrain}} [[King of Bahrain|Bahrain]]
* {{Flag icon|Bhutan}} [[King of Bhutan|Bhutan]]{{efn|Per [[Congress.gov]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kingdom of Bhutan |url=https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10660 |access-date=2026-10-03 |website=[[Congress.gov]]}}</ref> Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nath |first=Lopita |date=2018 |title=An old monarchy, a new democracy and gross national happiness in Bhutan: A holistic approach for sustainable development. |url=https://indianjournals.com/article/cla-7-2-006 |journal=The Clarion – International Multidisciplinary Journal |language=en |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=38–49 |doi=10.5958/2277-937X.2018.00024.2 |issn=2277-1697 |via=[[EBSCO Research]]}}</ref>}}
* {{Flag icon|Jordan}} [[King of Jordan|Jordan]]
* {{Flag icon|Kuwait}} [[Emir of Kuwait|Kuwait]]
* {{Flag icon|Liechtenstein}} [[Monarchy of Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]]
* {{Flag icon|Monaco}} [[Monarchy of Monaco|Monaco]]
* {{Flag icon|Morocco}} [[King of Morocco|Morocco]]
* {{Flag icon|Qatar}} [[Emir of Qatar|Qatar]]
* {{Flag icon|Tonga}} [[List of monarchs of Tonga|Tonga]]
* {{Flag icon|United Arab Emirates}} [[President of the United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates]]
** {{Flag icon|Abu Dhabi}} [[Emirate of Abu Dhabi|Abu Dhabi]]
** {{Flag icon|Dubai}} [[Emirate of Dubai|Dubai]]
** {{Flag icon|Sharjah}} [[Emirate of Sharjah|Sharjah]]
** {{Flag icon|Ajman}} [[Emirate of Ajman|Ajman]]
** {{flag|Umm al-Quwain}} 
** {{Flag icon|Ras Al Khaimah}} [[Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah|Ras Al Khaimah]]
** {{Flag icon|Fujairah}} [[Emirate of Fujairah|Fujairah]]<ref name="UAE" group=lower-alpha>In the case of the [[United Arab Emirates]], the [[President of the United Arab Emirates|president]] functions as the head of state of a federation of seven [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]], and is ''[[de jure]]'' elected by the [[Federal Supreme Council]] from among its members; the [[List of prime ministers of the United Arab Emirates|prime minister]] is ''de jure'' appointed and is the head of government. The president and prime minister are ''[[de facto]]'' the rulers of the absolute monarchies of [[Emirate of Abu Dhabi|Abu Dhabi]] and [[Emirate of Dubai|Dubai]], respectively.</ref>
}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}


== Former constitutional monarchies ==
* The [[Kingdom of Afghanistan]] was a constitutional monarchy under [[Mohammad Zahir Shah]] from 1964 to 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mohammad Zahir Shah |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammad-Zahir-Shah |website=Britannica |access-date=8 December 2025 |archive-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210135235/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammad-Zahir-Shah |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The [[Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq]] was a constitutional monarchy until 1958 when [[King Faisal II]] was deposed in a military coup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faisal II |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Faisal-II |website=Britannica |access-date=8 December 2025 |archive-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231052557/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Faisal-II |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 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 [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]. Corsica became an independent kingdom under [[George III]] of the United Kingdom, but with its own elected parliament and a written constitution guaranteeing local autonomy and democratic rights.

== Other variants of constitutional monarchies ==
[[Japan]] is the only country remaining with an [[Emperor of Japan|emperor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/seido/seido.html|title=The Imperial Institution – The Imperial Household Agency|website=kunaicho.go.jp|access-date=2 September 2018|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820031724/http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/seido/seido.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Constitution of Spain|The Spanish Constitution]] does not recognize the [[King of Spain|Spanish Monarch]] as the ''sovereign'', but as the [[head of state]] [Section 56(1)]. It states "National Sovereignty belongs to the [[Spanish people|Spanish People]], from whom all state powers emanate."<ref>{{cite web | title=Spanish Constitution | Spanish Senate | url=https://www.senado.es/web/conocersenado/normas/constitucion/detalleconstitucioncompleta/index.html?lang=en#t2 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Australian Monarchist League]]
* [[Criticism of monarchy]]
* [[Monarchism]]
* [[Figurehead]]
* [[Parliamentary republic]]
* [[Reserve power]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Further reading ===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{citation |last = Akurgal |first = Ekrem |year=2001 |title = The Hattian and Hittite civilizations |page=118 |location=Ankara |publisher = Turkish Ministry of Culture |isbn=975-17-2756-1 }}
* {{citation |last1=Blum |first1=Jerome |last2=Cameron  |first2=Rondo |last3=Barnes |first3=Thomas G. |year=1970 |title = The European World |location = Boston |publisher= Little, Brown |volume = 1 |oclc=76819 |pages=267–268 }}
* {{citation |last=Bogdanor |first=Vernon |author-link=Vernon Bogdanor |year=1996 |url=http://pa.oxfordjournals.org/content/49/3/407 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171020064121/https://academic.oup.com/pa/article-abstract/49/3/407/1592600/The-Monarchy-and-the-Constitution?redirectedFrom=fulltext |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 October 2017 |title=The Monarchy and the Constitution |journal=[[Parliamentary Affairs]] |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=407–422 |doi=10.1093/pa/49.3.407 |url-access=subscription }} – excerpted from {{citation |ref=none |first=Vernon |last=Bogdanor |year=1995 |title = The Monarchy and the Constitution |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] }}
* {{citation |last=Boyce |first=Peter |year=2008 |title=The Queen's Other Realms |publisher=Federation Press |location=Annandale |page=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kY-Tk0-quyoC |isbn=978-1-86287-700-9 }}
* {{citation |last = Davies |first = Norman |title = Europe: A History |year=1996 |publisher = Oxford University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/europehistory00davi_0/page/699 699] |isbn=0-19-820171-0 }}
* {{citation |editor-last = Dunt |editor-first = Ian |year = 2015 |url = http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/monarchy/ |access-date = 13 September 2011 |title = Monarchy – Background |website = politics.co.uk |archive-date = 10 October 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111010213454/http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/monarchy |url-status = live }}
* {{citation |last = Hegel |first = G. W. F. |author-link = G. W. F. Hegel |year=1991 |orig-year=1820  |title = Elements of the Philosophy of Right |editor-first = Allen W. |editor-last = Wood |translator-first = H. B. |translator-last = Nisbet |publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn = 0-521-34438-7 }} – originally published as Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel, ''Philosophie des Rechts''.
* {{citation |first = George Thomas |last = Kurian |url = http://library.cqpress.com/teps/encyps_315.1 |title = Constitutional Monarchy |encyclopedia = The Encyclopedia of Political Science |publisher = CQ Press |year = 2011 |doi = 10.4135/9781608712434 |isbn = 978-1933116440 |url-access = subscription }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{citation|ref=none |author-link=John Locke|last=Locke |first=John |title=Two Treatises of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration |editor-first=Ian |editor-last=Shapiro |edition=with essays by John Dunn, Ruth W. Grant and Ian Shapiro |location=New Haven |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=2003 |orig-year=1690 |isbn=0-300-10017-5}}
* {{cite video|author=Mitchell, Leslie|title=Charles James Fox|date=2007|publisher=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]|ref={{harvid|Mitchell|2007}}}}
* {{Citation |last=McCannon |first=John |year=2006 |title = Barron's how to Prepare for the AP World History Examination |edition = 2nd, illustrated |publisher = Barron's Educational Serie |isbn=978-0764132711 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9UuH2pwQOI4C&pg=PA177 177]–178}} – England and the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries were parliamentary democracies.
* {{citation |last =Baron de Montesquieu |first=Charles-Louis|author-link = Baron de Montesquieu |year=1924 |title = The Spirit of Laws |publisher = Legal Classics Library }}
* {{citation |editor-last=Orr |editor-first=Campbell |year=2002 |title = Queenship in Britain, 1660–1837: Royal Patronage, Court Culture, and Dynastic Politics |edition=illustrated |publisher = Manchester University Press |isbn=978-0719057694 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z92wf0IMv6EC&pg=PA3 3]}}
* {{citation |date = 21 April 2010 |url = http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/crown-prerogative/ |access-date = 13 September 2011 |title = Crown Prerogative |website = Official website of the British Parliament |ref = {{harvid|Parliamentary staff|2010}} }}
* {{citation |last = Patmore |first = Glenn |title = Choosing the Republic |year = 2009 |publisher = UNSW Press |isbn=978-1-74223-015-3 |page =[https://books.google.com/books?id=hc4p65yM_hYC&dq=%22Crowned+republic%22&pg=PB105 105] }}
* {{citation |date = 12 December 2015 |url = http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/HowtheMonarchyworks/Whatisconstitutionalmonarchy.aspx |title = What is constitutional monarchy? |website = Official website of the British Monarchy |ref = {{harvid|Royal Household staff|2015a}} |access-date = 20 May 2010 |archive-date = 4 June 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190604151257/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/HowtheMonarchyworks/Whatisconstitutionalmonarchy.aspx |url-status = live }}
* {{citation |date = 12 December 2015 |url = http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/QueenandCommonwealth/WhatisaCommonwealthRealm.aspx |title = What is a Commonwealth realm? |website = Official website of the British Monarchy |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101202194643/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/QueenandCommonwealth/WhatisaCommonwealthRealm.aspx |archive-date = 2 December 2010 |ref = {{harvid|Royal Household staff|2015b}} }}
* {{citation |last=Schmitt |first=Carl |orig-year=1928 |year=2008 |title = Constitutional Theory |edition = illustrated
|editor-first = Jeffrey
|editor-last = Seitzer
|translator-first = Jeffrey |translator-last = Seitzer
|publisher = Duke University Press |isbn=978-0822340119 |pages=313–[https://books.google.com/books?id=Oc7kELb-bJwC&pg=PA314 314] }}
* {{citation |last = Sear |first = Chris |year = 2001 |url = http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP01-116 |title = Research Paper 01/116 |format = PDF |website = Official website of the British Parliament |access-date = 12 December 2015 |archive-date = 22 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222154707/http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP01-116 |url-status = live }}
{{refend}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Constitutional Monarch}}
[[Category:Monarchy]]
[[Category:Constitutional state types]]