We explain what a parliamentary monarchy is, its characteristics and current examples. Furthermore, the constitutional monarchy.
What is parliamentary monarchy?
The term parliamentary monarchy is relatively recent in most legislation and legal frameworks, and designates systems of government in which there is a king or a monarch, whose lifetime role gives him certain powers, but who at the same time is subject to the authority of the legislative branch that is, of the parliament or national assembly.
It could be said that the parliamentary monarchy is a form of constitutional monarchy, in the sense that the powers of the monarch are contemplated and limited in law, unlike the old authoritarian or absolutist monarchies.
But in parliamentary monarchies, The crown performs representative functions, minors within the political functioning of the State, and does not have control of the executive power. On the other handthe executive power is entrusted to a Prime Minister elected from within parliament.
However, the monarch enjoys special powers and benefits, as does the rest of the royal family. But in a certain sense, the parliamentary monarchy is the closest thing there can be to the republic, within the range of monarchies. Most Western European democracies are, in fact, parliamentary monarchies.
See also: Monarchy
Characteristics of parliamentary monarchies
In general, parliamentary monarchies are recognized by:
- Have a monarch for life arrived at the position through hereditary succession and noble lineage, whose role in the management of the State is rather representative or very limited.
- possess full separation and autonomy of public powers without the monarch controlling any of them at will. The greatest force within the State is the legislative power, that is, the parliament.
- Grant the monarch very limited and specific powers explicitly established in the constitution, and subject to the discretion of parliament.
- Assign the head of state to a Prime Minister or President usually elected from within the legislature itself.
- Function according to precepts of the republican and democratic order.
Countries with parliamentary monarchy
Currently, many nations in the world are governed through a parliamentary monarchy, such as Spain, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Japan, Monaco, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Parliamentary monarchy and constitutional monarchy
Ordinarily speaking, there is no major difference between the terms of parliamentary and constitutional monarchy, since Parliamentary monarchy is a specific type of constitutional monarchy.
In both cases The power of the king is delimited and established in the constitutional text that is, it is not above the law, as it was in the absolutist monarchies of the Old Regime.
However, when the term parliamentary monarchy is used, it is generally desired to emphasize that the political leadership of the State no longer resides in the crown, rather in charge of representative functions or accompanying the institutions (for example, signing the laws that promulgated by parliament so that they can come into force), but resides in the legislative branch.
That is to say that Parliamentary monarchies differ from other constitutional monarchies in that the legislative branch is responsible for appointing the head of state. that is, the Prime Minister or President. The latter is in charge of the decisions of the executive branch, in accordance with the laws and the balance of political powers between the parties that make up the parliament.
For the rest, the parliamentary monarchy operates like any parliamentary republic, with separation of public powers and respect for democratic rules.
Continue with: Constitutional monarchy
References
- “Parliamentary monarchy” on Wikipedia.
- “Parliamentary monarchy” (video) on Canal UNED.
- “Parliamentary monarchy” in Wolkers Kluwer, Legal guides.
- “Parliamentary Monarchy” in Oxford Constitutional Law.
