What are constitutional monarchies?

A constitutional monarchy is a country where a king or queen shares power with a government made by the people.

Imagine you have a toy box that’s ruled by your favorite teddy bear, but you and your friends also get to decide what toys go in and out. That's kind of like a constitutional monarchy. The king or queen is like the teddy bear, still important and respected, but they can’t just make all the rules on their own.

In a constitutional monarchy, there’s usually a written rulebook, like a special agreement that says what the king or queen can and cannot do. This helps keep things fair, so no one gets too much power.

The people also get to choose who will help run the country, just like how you might vote on which game to play at recess.

Take England, it has a constitutional monarchy. The queen (or king) is there for big events and ceremonies, but the government is made by the people through elections. It’s like having a principal who signs your report cards, but you still get to choose your class president!