Portal:Monarchy/Monarchies today Intro

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     Constitutional monarchy

     Commonwealth realm      Semi-Constitutional monarchy      Absolute monarchy      Monarchy in some sub-state level entities

Since 1800, most of the world's monarchies have been abolished by dismemberment or annexation, or have been transformed into republics; most current countries that are monarchies are constitutional ones. Among the few states that retain aspects of absolute monarchy are Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland and the Vatican City (the papal city-state, an electoral theocracy). In Jordan and Morocco, the monarch also retains considerable power. There are also recent (2003) developments in Liechtenstein, wherein the regnant prince was given the constitutional power to dismiss the government at will. Nepal had several swings between constitutional rule and direct rule related to the Maoist rebel movement and killings by a suicidal crown prince. In December 2007 the Nepalese government agreed to abolish the country's monarchy after the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008. The monarchy was formally abolished on the 28 May, 2008.

[edit] Monarchy and Oligarchy

Currently 44 nations in the world have monarchs as heads of state, 16 of which are Commonwealth Realms that formally recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state and Prince Charles as heir.

State Title Extent Currently Notes
Flag of Andorra Andorra Co-Princes Constitutional Monarchy Nicolas Sarkozy and Joan Enric Vives Sicília Political structure in place since 1278.
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda King/Queen of Antigua and Barbuda Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Dame Louise Lake-Tack
Flag of Australia Australia King/Queen of Australia Federal Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Michael Jeffery, and six Governors
Flag of the Bahamas Bahamas King/Queen of the Bahamas Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Arthur Dion Hannat
Flag of Bahrain Bahrain King, styled Malik Semi-Constitutional Monarchy Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah Known as "emir" until 2002.
Flag of Barbados Barbados King/Queen of Barbados Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Sir Clifford Husbands
Flag of Belgium Belgium King/Queen of the Belgians Constitutional Monarchy Albert II Ruled by the king of the Netherlands until 1830. At the 1830 independence the constitution was a model of how to limit royal power.
Flag of Belize Belize King/Queen of Belize Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Sir Colville Young
Flag of Bhutan Bhutan Druk Gyalpo 'Dragon King' Constitutional Monarchy Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck Buddhist constitutional monarchy.
Flag of Brunei Brunei Sultan Absolute sultanate Hassanal Bolkiah
Flag of Cambodia Cambodia King; individual throne styles, but most Kings include the titles of Brhat Pada, Samdach Brhat, Varman, Rajadhiraja, Parama, and Adipati Constitutional Monarchy Norodom Sihamoni Reinstituted in 1993.
Flag of Canada Canada King/Queen of Canada Federal Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor General, currently Michaëlle Jean, and by ten Lieutenant Governors, one in each province.
Flag of Denmark Denmark King/Queen Constitutional Monarchy Margrethe II of Denmark Also queen of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Act of Succession revised in 1953 to allow for female monarchs.
Flag of Grenada Grenada King/Queen of Grenada Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Sir Daniel Williams
Flag of Jamaica Jamaica King/Queen of Jamaica Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Kenneth Hall
Flag of Japan Japan Emperor Constitutional Monarchy/Empire Akihito World's only remaining emperor.
Flag of Jordan Jordan Hashemite King, styled Malik Semi-constitutional Hashemite monarchy Abdullah II Monarchy established by United Kingdom in 1921.
Flag of Kuwait Kuwait Emir, styled Amir ad-Dawlat al-Kuwayt "Emir of the State of Kuwait" Semi-constitutional emirate Sabah Al-Sabah Was Hakim al-Kuwayt "Ruler of Kuwait" until 1961; still prefixed "sheikh", as every member of a Gulf dynasty).
Flag of Lesotho Lesotho King Constitutional Monarchy Letsie III Known as Paramount Chief until 1965. Regarded as a symbol of national unity, the King does not exercise any executive or legislative powers.
Flag of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Prince Semi-constitutional principality Hans-Adam II Some powers delegated to Prince Alois.
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg Grand Duke/Duchess Constitutional grand duchy Henri Only remaining Grand Duchy. Ruled by the king of the Netherlands until 1890.
Flag of Malaysia Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong or "Paramount Ruler" Constitutional federation Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Position electoral amongst -de facto tends to rotate between- the nine hereditary rulers of the peninsular Malay states, only for 5 years.
Flag of Monaco Monaco Sovereign Prince/Princess Semi-constitutional principality Albert II Last sovereign monarchy under (French, amical) protection
Flag of Morocco Morocco King, styled Malik Semi-Constitutional Monarchy Mohammed VI Morocco currently administers the disputed region of Western Sahara.
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands King/Queen Constitutional Monarchy Beatrix Also queen of both overseas autonomous areas: Aruba and Netherlands Antilles.
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand annex Cook Islands and Niue King/Queen of New Zealand Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by Governor-General Anand Satyanand
Flag of Norway Norway King/Queen Constitutional Monarchy Harald V Act of Succession revised in 1990 to allow for female monarchs (full cognatic primogeniture).
Flag of Oman Oman Sultan Absolute sultanate Qaboos
Flag of Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea King/Queen of Papua New Guinea Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Sir Paulias Matane
Flag of Qatar Qatar Emir Absolute emirate Hamad bin Khalifa Formerly Hakim Qatar "Ruler of Qatar", from 3-9-1971: Amir Dawlat Qatar "Emir of the State of Qatar"
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis King/Queen of Sain Kitts and Nevis Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Sir Cuthbert Sebastian
Flag of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia King/Queen of Saint Lucia Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Dame Pearlette Louisy
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines King/Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Sir Frederick Ballantyne
Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia King styled Malik but also The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (خادم الحرمين الشريفين), i.e. Protector of the Holy Cities Absolute Monarchy Abdullah Saudi Arabia was unified in 1932.
Flag of the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands King/Queen of the Solomon Islands Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Sir Nathaniel Waena
Flag of Spain Spain King/Queen Constitutional Monarchy Juan Carlos I Monarchy was restored in 1975; and holds the title King of Jerusalem.
Flag of Swaziland Swaziland King (also Indovuzaki -lit. She-Elephant- or Queen Mother) Absolute Monarchy Mswati III (and Ntombi) Currently democratizing.
Flag of Sweden Sweden King/Queen Constitutional Monarchy Carl XVI Gustaf Act of Succession revised in 1979 to allow for female monarchs (full cognatic primogeniture).
Flag of Thailand Thailand King Constitutional Monarchy Bhumibol Adulyadej The world's longest-serving current head of state. Known as Rama, the throne name with numeral officially used by every king of the present Chakri dynasty, currently Rama IX; Buddhist monarchy.
Flag of Tonga Tonga King/Queen Constitutional Monarchy George Tupou V The traditional Polynesian style of Tu'i Tonga, still the dynasty's birthright, was superseded by the western royal style in 1865, i.e. before the British protectorate
Flag of Tuvalu Tuvalu King/Queen of Tuvalu Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, currently Filoimea Telito
Flag of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates President Constitutional federation Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Position formally elected amongst the seven rulers of the Trucial states, de facto always from premier state Abu Dhabi.
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom King/Queen of the United Kingdom Constitutional Monarchy Elizabeth II Commonwealth realm. Also Sovereign of Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, and the non-sovereign states of the British overseas territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

It was under complete Parliamentary control between 1649 and 1660 (see "The Protectorate").
Flag of the Vatican City Vatican City (Holy See) Supreme Pontiff, more commonly as "Pope" Absolute theocracy Benedict XVI Electoral (by Cardinals in conclave), sovereign Prince of the church