Constitutional monarchy: Difference between revisions
imported>Martin Baldwin-Edwards No edit summary |
imported>Nick Gardner No edit summary |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
A constitutional monarchy differs from an [[absolute monarchy]] in that, under a constitutional monarchy, the monarch governs the nation in accordance with the constitution rather than by exercising his or her own free will. | A constitutional monarchy differs from an [[absolute monarchy]] in that, under a constitutional monarchy, the monarch governs the nation in accordance with the constitution rather than by exercising his or her own free will. | ||
The British monarchy, which can trace its origins to before the Norman conquest in 1066, is generally accepted to be the oldest of constitutional monarchies<ref name="1997 Bogdanor, Vernon">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/oso/201084/1997/00000001/00000001/art00001|title=The Evolution of Constitutional Monarchy |accessdate=[[2007-09-09]]|year=1997|author=Bogdanor, Vernon}}</ref> | The British monarchy, which can trace its origins to before the Norman conquest in 1066, is generally accepted to be the oldest of constitutional monarchies<ref name="1997 Bogdanor, Vernon">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/oso/201084/1997/00000001/00000001/art00001|title=The Evolution of Constitutional Monarchy |accessdate=[[2007-09-09]]|year=1997|author=Bogdanor, Vernon}}</ref>. | ||
The [[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]] came into existence in 1901 as a constitutional [[monarchy]], with [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] as its Head of State. | The [[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]] came into existence in 1901 as a constitutional [[monarchy]], with [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] as its Head of State. | ||
Latest revision as of 04:53, 3 August 2009
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a written constitution declares the Head of State to be a monarch, or sovereign.
Constitutional monarchy separates the ceremonial duties of the head of State from the legislative powers of an elected parliament.
A constitutional monarchy differs from an absolute monarchy in that, under a constitutional monarchy, the monarch governs the nation in accordance with the constitution rather than by exercising his or her own free will.
The British monarchy, which can trace its origins to before the Norman conquest in 1066, is generally accepted to be the oldest of constitutional monarchies[1]. The Commonwealth of Australia came into existence in 1901 as a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Victoria as its Head of State.
See also
References
- ↑ Bogdanor, Vernon (1997). The Evolution of Constitutional Monarchy. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.