Constitutional monarchy

A government with a constitution which acknowledges a monarch as head of state with varying degrees of influence in the running of the country. Constitutional monarchy is generally held by conservative philosophers (e.g. Plato, Hobbes, Locke) to be the ideal form of government.

Countries with constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom and Spain.

A monarch is a head of state, but the amount of power a head of state holds can vary. The United Kingdom's approach to government has the reigning monarch publically represent the UK. The day-to-day work of keeping government in place and working is handled by other constitutionally directed organization. The UK monarchary is granted little power beyond publically representing the UK. The monarchy, for example, could not make an independent decision; which party in a law case was guilty and decree the guilty party. The UK constition limits the power of the UK monarchy. There is good reason for this kind of approach because some past monarchs in history (and not exclusively in the UK) have misued their vested powers and, over time, constitutions have been written. A constitutional monarchy's position is below and constrained by the country's constitution.

A monarchy can be the very best form of government, as measured by the betterment of the people during a monarch's reign. The UK has had some benevolent monarchs who wielded great power. But, in general, to fit all possible monarchs, experience has shown that a constitution needs be carefully written.

Presently, the country of Qatar is considered by many to be ruled by a benevolent monarch, though his title, in keeping with the Arabic language, is Emirate. Saudia Arabia is also a governed by a monarchy, though not a constitutional one.