Constitutional monarchy

A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written, unwritten, or blended constitution. It differs from absolute monarchy in that an absolute monarch serves as the sole source of political power in the state and is not legally bound by any constitution.

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. Presidents in presidential and semi-presidential republics may have been originally conceived as equivalent to a constitutional monarch. However, most contemporary constitutional monarchs leave substantive political power to a democratically elected parliament and to ministers which enjoy its confidence. This version of constitutional monarchy has become normative and constitutional monarchies which reserve substantial powers to the personal discretion of the monarch.

In contemporary terms, the difference between a parliamentary democracy organised as a republic and one organised as a constitutional monarchy is sometimes considered one more of detail than of substance. In both cases, a titular head of state serves the traditional role of embodying and representing the nation while the actual governing is carried out by government ministers.

In nearly all cases, the monarch remains the chief of state but is obliged or expected to act on the advice of the government.

As the found of constitutional legitimacy, a responsible constitutional monarch can be a bulwark against dictatorship and can take a very active role during a constitutional crisis where the existing constitution offers no clear answers.

A common debate centres around whether and when it is appropriate for the monarch to use his or her constitutional powers. When a monarch does act, political controversy almost always ensues. The monarch is often seen to have undermined democracy and compromised the neutrality of the monarchy in favour of a partisan goal. The intervention of a monarch can sometimes check tyrannical or illegal actions by a government but it also brings political controversy which might weaken the role of the monarchy.