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 
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.  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
The following is a list of reigning monarchies. Except where noted, monarch selection is hereditary as directed by the state's constitution.
StateLast constitution establishedType of monarchyMonarch selection1981KingdomHereditary succession.1993Co-PrincipalitySelection of Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell and election of French President1901Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy. Hereditary succession.1973KingdomHereditary succession.1966KingdomHereditary succession.2002KingdomHereditary succession1831Kingdom; popular monarchyBelgium 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.Hereditary succession1929Elective absolute monarchyThe Pope is elected by the cardinals of the Catholic Church1981KingdomHereditary succession.2007KingdomHereditary succession.1993Elective monarchy; KingdomChosen by throne council1867 (last updated 1982)Constitutional Monarchy and Federal Parliamentary Democracy. Hereditary succession.1953KingdomHereditary succession2009Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy.Hereditary succession.1974KingdomHereditary succession.1962KingdomHereditary succession.1946EmpireHereditary succession1952Kingdom1971Kingdom; mixture of Constitutional and Absolute monarchy1962EmirateHereditary succession, with directed approval of the House of Al-Sabah and majority of National Assembly1993KingdomHereditary succession directed approval of College of Chiefs1862Principality1868Grand duchy1957Elective monarchy; Federal monarchySelected from nine hereditary Sultans of the Malay states1911Kingdom1666Kingdom1815Kingdom1814Kingdom1907Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy. Hereditary succession.1975KingdomHereditary succession.1983KingdomHereditary succession.1979KingdomHereditary succession.1979KingdomHereditary succession.1978KingdomHereditary succession.1978Kingdom (Swaziland)1968Kingdom; Mixture of absolute and constitutional monarchyHereditary succession1974KingdomSwitched from semi-constitutional monarchy to constitutional monarchy2007Kingdom1970Kingdom1978KingdomHereditary succession.1971Federal Union of EmiratesElective monarchyPresident elected by the seven absolute monarchs of the Federal Supreme Council1688Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy. Hereditary succession.

References

Category:Monarchy