Monarchy Government: How a Monarchy Works as a System of Government
How monarchy government works: who holds power, how laws are made, how governments are formed, how the monarch is funded and replaced, with the UK, Japan, Jordan and Saudi Arabia compared side by side.
Last updated September 2026
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Monarchy government is a system with a monarch as head of state. That is the only feature every monarchy shares. Everything else depends on the constitution and the country's history.
That includes who makes the laws and who runs the ministries. This page explains the parts of a monarchy government. It compares four real systems side by side. It also sets monarchy against the republic.
TL;DR: In every monarchy the monarch is head of state. In constitutional monarchies such as the UK and Japan, parliament makes laws and elected ministers govern. In Jordan the king shares real power with parliament. In Saudi Arabia the king holds final power. Monarchs usually serve for life. Fixed rules decide who comes next.
The parts of a monarchy government
| Part | Role | Who fills it in a constitutional monarchy |
|---|---|---|
| Head of state | Represents the state; formal acts | The monarch |
| Head of government | Runs the government day to day | A prime minister, answerable to parliament |
| Legislature | Makes laws and approves taxes | An elected parliament |
| Courts | Apply the law | Independent judges, often acting in the Crown's name |
| Royal household | Runs the monarch's official life | Staff paid through a public grant |
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In an absolute monarchy, several of these roles merge in the monarch. The king may also be prime minister. He may issue laws by royal decree.
Four monarchy governments compared
| Question | United Kingdom | Japan | Jordan | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who is head of state | The King | The Emperor | The King | The King |
| Who runs the government | Prime minister, from the Commons majority | Prime minister, chosen by the Diet | Prime minister, appointed by the King | Council of Ministers, under the King |
| Who makes laws | Parliament | The Diet | Parliament, with the King's approval | The King, by royal decree |
| Elected national legislature | Yes (House of Commons) | Yes (both houses) | Yes (lower house); upper house appointed | No; the Shura Council is appointed |
| Monarch's real power | Formal; acts on advice | None related to government | Substantial | Final authority |
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The four systems share a head of state for life. They differ on almost everything else.
Forming a government
In a parliamentary monarchy, elections decide who governs. After a UK general election, the King asks the leader who can win a majority in the House of Commons to form a government. In Japan the Diet names the prime minister. The Emperor then formally appoints them. In Sweden the Speaker of the Riksdag, not the King, proposes the prime minister.
In monarchies with strong royal powers, the monarch plays a real part. Jordan's king appoints the prime minister and can dismiss the government. In Saudi Arabia, the king forms the Council of Ministers. Since 2022 the crown prince has served as prime minister.
Where the formal and real power differ
Formal powers of a constitutional monarch.
Status: Reviewed The formal powers are written down. Custom governs their use.
Note: In the UK, many powers of government are still used in the Crown's name. Making treaties and appointing ministers are two. By custom, the monarch uses them only on ministers' advice. Japan's constitution goes further. It states that the Emperor "shall not have powers related to government".
Sources: House of Commons Library, "The UK's constitutional monarchy"; Japanese Law Translation (Ministry of Justice), "The Constitution of Japan".
Approving laws
In most monarchies, a bill passed by parliament needs a final act by the monarch before it becomes law. The rules vary.
| Country | Monarch's role in lawmaking |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Royal Assent, always given on ministers' advice; last refused in 1708 |
| Spain | The King sanctions and promulgates laws within fifteen days |
| Sweden | No role; the government promulgates laws |
| Liechtenstein | The Prince's sanction is needed; no sanction within six months counts as refusal |
| Saudi Arabia | Laws are issued by royal decree |
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When the monarch cannot act
Every monarchy needs a plan for a monarch who is too young or too ill to act. In the UK, the Regency Acts provide for a regent. Japan's Imperial House Law also provides for a regent from the imperial family. Belgium used a different device in 1990. It declared King Baudouin briefly unable to reign, so the government could sign a law he objected to.
Paying for a monarchy government
Monarchies pay for the head of state in different ways. The UK funds the monarch's official work through the Sovereign Grant. It is set by law and linked to the profits of the Crown Estate.
Japan funds the imperial family through the state budget. The Imperial Household Agency manages it. Many European monarchies pay a yearly allowance set by parliament. In absolute monarchies the line between state and royal wealth is often less clear.
Replacing a monarch
Monarchies need a rule for what happens when the monarch dies or leaves. Most pass the crown by birth order. The UK, Sweden and several others now pass it to the eldest child, son or daughter. A few elect. Malaysia's rulers choose a king every five years.
A monarch can also step down, as in the Netherlands in 2013, Japan in 2019 and Denmark in 2024. The monarchies page compares the rules.
Monarchy government vs republic
| Feature | Monarchy | Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Head of state | A monarch | A president or equivalent |
| How chosen | Usually by birth; sometimes by election among a few | By voters, parliament or another body |
| Term | Usually for life | Usually a fixed term |
| Can be democratic | Yes, as a constitutional monarchy | Yes |
| Can be authoritarian | Yes, as an absolute monarchy | Yes |
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The table shows that the split between monarchy and republic is about the head of state, not about democracy. A constitutional monarchy such as Norway can be more democratic than many republics. For how the constitutional form grew, see limited monarchy. For the British case, see Britain's monarchy.
To see how the British system grew, see our guide to the best books about the royal family. It ends with Elizabeth II's 70-year reign.
Verdict: how monarchy government works
Monarchy government always puts a monarch at the head of the state, usually for life and by birth. Beyond that, the constitution decides everything. In the UK and Japan, the monarch reigns while elected governments rule.
In Jordan the king shares power. In Saudi Arabia the king holds final power. For the idea and its history, see the monarchy hub.
Sources checked for this page
- Britannica, "Monarchy"
- House of Commons Library, "The UK's constitutional monarchy"
- Institute for Government, "The monarch, royal family and parliament"
- Japanese Law Translation (Ministry of Justice), "The Constitution of Japan"
- Saudi National Portal, "Government Work Mechanism"
- Sveriges riksdag, The Instrument of Government
Questions people also ask
How does a monarchy government work?
A monarch serves as head of state, usually for life. In a constitutional monarchy, elected ministers run the government and parliament makes laws; in an absolute monarchy, the monarch holds final authority over both.
What is the difference between a monarchy and a republic?
In a monarchy, the head of state is a monarch who usually inherits the role for life. In a republic, the head of state is elected or appointed, usually for a fixed term.
Can a monarchy be democratic?
Yes. Most of the world's democracies with monarchs, such as the UK, Sweden and Japan, combine a hereditary head of state with elected governments.
Who makes the laws in a monarchy?
In constitutional monarchies, the elected parliament. In absolute monarchies such as Saudi Arabia, the monarch issues laws by decree, advised by appointed councils.
Does a monarch have to sign every law?
In most monarchies a law needs the monarch's formal assent or promulgation, but in parliamentary monarchies this is a formality. Sweden has removed the King from lawmaking altogether.
Who is the head of government in a monarchy?
Usually a prime minister. In parliamentary monarchies the prime minister leads the party or coalition with a majority in parliament. In Brunei the sultan is also prime minister, and in Saudi Arabia the crown prince has held the post since 2022.