The parliamentary monarchy is a kind of government where there is the figure of a prince, king , monarch or principality. In this article we will provide you the definition of Parliamentary monarchy.

It is common for the parliamentary monarchy to be identified as a constitutional monarchy , even in political science textbooks. But these types of monarchy are not equivalent. Know everything about the parliamentary monarchy and its characteristics .

Definition of parliamentary monarchy

A parliamentary monarchy is defined as a form of democratic government that exists in some Western countries. In this there is a figure of king, prince, monarch or principality who serves as head of state under the control of parliament ( legislative power ) and the government ( executive power ). The parliament is in charge of controlling the functions of the State and the functions of the monarch, in addition to setting the limits of the same. In short, the ” king reigns yet does not rule .” It is also known as crowned democracy.

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Origin

This kind of monarchy did not arise unexpectedly, but it was produced slowly. It had its beginnings in the United Kingdom , where the original attempts to put limits on the role played by the absolute monarch were born . The first signs of this regime change were observed in the Middle Ages when a mixed style of government was formed. Years later, during the Modern Age , this monarchy developed better, although it recently acquired its definitive name in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In 1629 Carlos I decides to give his mandate greater strength and decides to eliminate Parliament , leaving aside that it was necessary for his power and influence. When the king suffers from lack of funds, he proceeds to reinstate him to request financial help. Because of this event, the parliament demanded that the king give powers to the legislative power and it was established that the king would not have the power to dissolve the parliament again.

This dispute resulted in the English Revolution, where the parliamentarians were victorious. Therefore, a republican government was established that, despite lasting a short time, was a key element in the birth of a new monarchy, established in 1660. It had to govern taking into account the social sectors with the most influence that represented the Parliament, namely: the nascent bourgeoisie .

The monarchy reestablished in 1660 was ruled by Carlos II who was later succeeded by Jacobo II , in the year 1685. The latter fought against Parliament for religious reasons causing the well-known Glorious Revolution, which was inspired by John Locke and his liberal ideas. Finally James II was forced to go into exile in France, it was from this moment that the Parliamentary Monarchy was adopted in England.

Difference between parliamentary monarchy and constitutional monarchy

Although it is often confused between parliamentary and constitutional monarchy , there is a fundamental variant between both types of government. The constitutional monarchy offers the king greater control of the executive power. While in the parliamentary monarchy both powers (executive and legislative) are under the power of the officials that the people have elected and the constitution endorses.

How the royal family is formed in the parliamentary monarchy

The crown in parliamentary monarchies is mainly constituted by a king or queen , who may or may not have offspring. It is also characteristic that the concept of family includes servants and servants , among other members of the royal court. For those who make up the royal family, a budget is established every year for their maintenance.

Who has the power in the parliamentary monarchy

In this kind of monarchy, command and power is fully exercised by the chambers and the government . Although the king is free to present some laws to the government to be evaluated and approved, everything will depend directly on the different chambers. On the other hand, it is important that the monarchy stay away from differences that arise in the political sphere, so its position is neutral in this regard.

Nature of the parliamentary monarchy

The mandate that the king exercises, as happens in other kinds of monarchies, is life-long. This means that he must fulfill his function from the time it is assigned to him or from his birth until his physical / intellectual capacities allow it or until his death. The monarch represents the unit of the nation or territory where he exercises his functions. Although the scope of his capacities is less than that of the president of the republic, it is his responsibility to formalize the legislative or governmental acts of the State.

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What are the privileges and limitations of the king

The constituent power does not correspond to the monarch but belongs to the people. The monarch is a respectable and untouchable figure . The honor and life of the king himself must be protected. The royal family is financially supported by government officials and the people. In addition, they have legal immunity . Both the king and his officials are obliged to abide by the constitution and can be restrained by the government.

Examples of parliamentary monarchy today

In the vast majority of parliamentary monarchies today, the powers and autonomy of the king are severely limited . Parliament can take decisions at any time that oblige the king to comply. It is the government and the chambers that have the effective decision making.

It is common for the parliamentary monarchy to be related to the royal houses of Europe, but other examples of this kind of government can also be found in areas of the Caribbean, Oceania or the Middle East, among others. Some examples are:

• Monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean)
• Monarchy of Bahrain (Middle East)
• Monarchy of Spain (Europe)
• Monarchy of Monaco (Europe)
• Monarchy of the Netherlands (Europe)
• Monarchy of Papua New Guinea (Oceania)
• Monarchy of the United Kingdom (Europe)
• Monarchy of Sweden (Europe)
• Monarchy of Tuvalu (Oceania)