A constitutional monarchy is a system of government where a monarch (king, queen, emperor, etc.) acts as the head of state within the limits set by a constitution. Unlike an absolute monarchy, where the monarch has unrestricted power, a constitutional monarch’s authority is regulated by legal frameworks or constitutional principles. The monarch typically performs ceremonial and representative roles rather than direct governance or policy-making
. In this system, political power is shared between the monarch and a constitutionally organized government, usually a parliament. The real governing power usually lies with elected officials such as a prime minister and the legislature, while the monarch serves as a symbolic figure embodying national unity and continuity
. The monarch may retain some formal powers, such as dissolving parliament, giving royal assent to legislation, appointing a prime minister, or handling foreign relations, but these powers are generally exercised according to constitutional rules or conventions, not personal discretion
. Examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Japan, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada. The degree of power held by the monarch varies between countries, with some monarchs having more influence than others, but in all cases, their role is constitutionally limited and balanced by elected government institutions
. In summary, a constitutional monarchy combines a hereditary monarchy with a constitutional framework that limits the monarch’s powers and establishes democratic governance through elected representatives, making the monarch a symbolic head of state rather than an absolute ruler
