What is really the difference in power of a monarch and a president?

Answer 1

Monarchs of different countries have vastly different powers; as have presidents in different countries.

Answer 2

This a difficult question to answer because the power of monarch have declined over the years. In the 1800's monarchs had absolute power however they have been reduced to figure heads, ceremonial heads, with the possible exception of the King of Lesotho in Southern Africa and a few others.

The power of Presidents also differs across the spectrum with some being ceremonial heads like the President of Germany. Most Presidents are however very powerful, the President of China, even though they could still subject to the law as was evident in the case of Nixon and Clinton of America.

The world has evolved to the point where unless the head of state of a country is a dictator it is almost impossible to have absolute over a country

Hope this helps

Answer 3

I'm afraid that this question is based on a false premise, namely that all monarchs have a certain common degree of power, which is nevertheless different to that of all presidents.

There are no hard and fast rules on the matter; it's a question that can only be answered by looking at actual historical monarchs and presidents. Queen Elizabeth I had considerably more political power than Queen Elizabeth II, but even then QE1 wasn't unlimited in her power; in practice, she had to juggle the claims of conflicting power blocs, which she did remarkably successfully. Likewise, the President of the USA has vastly more power than the President of (say) Ireland. In the USA the Presidency is one of the three arms of the federal government, and the President is entitled to veto any law that gets sent up from Congress, although in practice he does so at his political peril. In Ireland the Presidency is largely a ceremonial office, real power being invested in the Taioseach (prime minister).

The practical difference between monarchs and presidents is that monarchs tend to ascend to the throne because they inherit it from an ancestor, whereas presidents are elected by popular vote. Although, in the case of the current US president, it's the other way round.

Answer 4

Other than the major difference in how the leader is chosen, the only major difference I can think of is that in today's world, monarchs are more of a celebrity than a political figure, whereas a president is required to make political decisions.

Answer 5

A monarch ascends usually through a relative being the monarch before him or her and holds the throne (and any associated authority) until he or she dies. A president is elected by the power and only holds authority for a fixed term before he or she must either willingly give it all up or face the electorate again to hold another fixed term of office.

Answer 6

I agree mostly with lexo80, with an additional point. The president of the United States is unique in the world. In the US Presidency is vested both the ceremonial leadership (such as the president of Israel) and the actual leadership (such as the prime minister of Israel). In this sense, the monarchy (at least those of so-called Constitutional monarchies) is more ceremonial than real.

In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II is the ceremonial head of state, while Prime Minister Tony Blair carries the actual power as head of state. The Royals are not supposed to dabble in domestic and foreign politics and is actually banned by law from doing so.

Answer 7

Monarch has absolute power, with no say from the people. But a president doesn't have all of the power. :]

Answer 8

In Spain we have a monarchy and a president (a Constitutional Monarchy).

Our king is called 'Commander in Chief of all the armies' and has no real power, he's kind of an Ambassador for international relations and public acts in Spain. We give part of our taxes to the Royal House, for the king and all his children and relatives (a lot!).

We don't elect our king, it's an hereditary title; but we do elect the party to rule Spanish politics, and this party has the real power, discussed in the Senate with the rest of parties there represented.