Constitutional monarchy: examples of countries. Countries with a constitutional monarchy: a list

What forms of government exist in the modern world? Where on earth are the countries still ruled by kings and sultans? The answers to these questions are found in our article. In addition, you will learn what a constitutional monarchy is. Examples of countries of this form of government you will also find in this publication.

Basic forms of government in the modern world

To date, we know of two main models of public administration: monarchical and republican. Under the monarchy is meant a form of government in which power belongs to one person. It can be a king, emperor, emir, prince, sultan, etc. The second distinctive feature of the monarchical system is the process of transferring this power by inheritance (and not by the results of popular elections).

Today, there are absolute, theocratic and constitutional monarchies. Republics (the second form of government) are more common in the modern world: they are about 70%. The Republican model of state governance presupposes the election of the supreme authorities - the parliament and (or) the president.

The most famous monarchies of the planet: Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Japan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Examples of countries-republics: Poland, Russia, France, Mexico, Ukraine. However, in this article we are only interested in countries with a constitutional monarchy (a list of these states you will find below).

Monarchy: absolute, theocratic, constitutional

Monarchic countries (there are about 40 in the world) are of three types. It can be a theocratic, absolute and constitutional monarchy. Let us consider briefly the features of each of them, and we will dwell in more detail on the latter.

In absolute monarchies, the fullness of power is concentrated in the hands of one person. He takes absolutely all decisions, realizing the domestic and foreign policies of his country. The most vivid example of such a monarchy can be called Saudi Arabia.

In theocratic monarchy, power belongs to the highest ecclesiastical (spiritual) minister. The only example of such a country is the Vatican, where the Pope is the absolute authority for the population. True, some researchers refer to theocratic monarchies of Brunei and even Great Britain. It's no secret that the English queen is also the head of the church.

The constitutional monarchy is ...

The constitutional monarchy is that model of state government, under which the monarch's power is substantially limited.

Sometimes he can be completely deprived of supreme authority. In this case, the monarch is only a formal figure, a certain symbol of the state (as, for example, in Britain).

All these legal restrictions of the monarch's power, as a rule, are reflected in the constitution of the concrete state (hence the name of this form of government).

Types of constitutional monarchy

Modern constitutional monarchies can be parliamentary or dualistic. First, the government is formed by the parliament of the country, to which it reports. In the dualistic constitutional monarchies of ministers appoints (and removes) the monarch himself. Only the right of some veto remains for the parliament.

It is worth noting that the division of countries into republics and monarchies is sometimes somewhat arbitrary. After all, even in the most democratic states, certain aspects of the continuity of power can be observed (appointing relatives and friends to important state posts). This applies to Russia, Ukraine and even the United States.

Constitutional monarchy: examples of countries

To date, the constitutional monarchies can be attributed to 31 states of the world. The third part of them is located in Western and Northern Europe. About 80% of all constitutional monarchies in the modern world are parliamentary, and only seven - dualistic.

Below are listed all the countries with a constitutional monarchy (list). In brackets the region in which the state is located is indicated:

1. Luxembourg (Western Europe).
2. Liechtenstein (Western Europe).
3. The Principality of Monaco (Western Europe).
4. Great Britain (Western Europe).
5. Netherlands (Western Europe).
6. Belgium (Western Europe).
7. Denmark (Western Europe).
8. Norway (Western Europe).
9. Sweden (Western Europe).
10. Spain (Western Europe).
11. Andorra (Western Europe).
12. Kuwait (Middle East).
13. United Arab Emirates (Middle East).
14. Jordan (Middle East).
15. Japan (East Asia).
16. Cambodia (Southeast Asia).
17. Thailand (South-East Asia).
18. Bhutan (South-East Asia).
19. Australia (Australia and Oceania).
20. New Zealand (Australia and Oceania).
21. Papua New Guinea (Australia and Oceania).
22. Tonga (Australia and Oceania).
23. Solomon Islands (Australia and Oceania).
24. Canada (North America).
25. Morocco (North Africa).
26. Lesotho (South Africa).
27. Grenada (Caribbean region).
28. Jamaica (Caribbean region).
29. Saint Lucia (Caribbean).
30. Saint Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean).
31. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Caribbean).

On the map below, all these countries are marked in green.

Constitutional monarchy - the ideal form of government?

There is an opinion that the constitutional monarchy is the guarantee of stability and welfare of the country. Is it so?

Of course, the constitutional monarchy is not capable of automatically solving all the problems that arise before the state. However, it is ready to offer the society some political stability. After all, in such countries, a constant struggle for power (imaginary or real) is absent a priori.

The constitutional-monarchical model has a number of other advantages. As practice shows, it was in such states that it was possible to build the world's best social security systems for citizens. And it's not just about the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

You can take, for example, the same countries of the Persian Gulf (UAE, Kuwait). They have much less oil than in the same Russia. However, over several decades, from poor countries, whose population was engaged exclusively in grazing in oases, they were able to turn into successful, prosperous and well-established states.

The most famous constitutional monarchies of the world: Great Britain, Norway, Kuwait

Great Britain is one of the most famous parliamentary monarchies on the planet. The head of state (and also formally 15 more countries of the Commonwealth) is Queen Elizabeth II. However, one should not think that it is a purely symbolic figure. The British queen has a powerful right to dissolve the parliament. In addition, it is she who is the commander-in-chief of the British troops.

The Norwegian king is also the head of his state, according to the Constitution, which has been in force since 1814. If we cite this document, Norway is a "free monarchical state with a limited and hereditary form of government." And initially the king had more extensive powers, which gradually narrowed.

Another parliamentary monarchy since 1962 is Kuwait. The role of the head of state is played by the emir, who has broad powers: he dissolves the parliament, signs laws, appoints the head of the government; He also commands the troops of Kuwait. It is curious that in this amazing country women are absolutely equal in their political rights with men, which is not at all typical for the states of the Arab world.

Finally

Now you know what a constitutional monarchy is. Examples of countries of this form of government are present on all continents of the planet, except Antarctica. These are the gray-haired wealthy states of the old Europe, and the youngest rich countries of the Middle East.

Is it possible to say that the most optimal form of government in the world is the constitutional monarchy? Examples of countries - successful and highly developed - fully support this assumption.