Constitutional Monarchy: Reigning but Not Ruling

In a constitutional monarchy, a hereditary monarch is head of state, but real political power lies with elected institutions. The monarch's role is largely ceremonial: opening parliament, signing laws, representing the nation and sometimes appointing a prime minister after elections. Bagehot summed up the British monarch's rights as 'to be consulted, to encourage, to warn'. Constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Their powers differ: Sweden's 1974 Instrument of Government removed the king from government formation and law-making entirely, while other monarchs retain reserve powers rarely used. Supporters argue monarchs provide continuity, national unity and a head of state above party politics. Critics, including republican movements in several of these countries, argue that hereditary office is incompatible with democratic equality and that monarchies are expensive. Many such monarchies remain popular, and public debate continues.