Royal Prerogative: Difference between revisions

The '''Royal Prerogative''' is a body of customary authority, privilege, and immunity, recognized in [[:en:common law]] and, sometimes, in [[:en:Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] jurisdictions possessing a monarchy as belonging to the [[:en:Sovereign]] alone.<ref>In [[:en:Commonwealth]] realms, the wording "[[:en:the Crown]]" is usually used in this context instead of "King or Queen"</ref> It is the means by which some of the [[:en:executive (government)|executive]] powers of government, possessed by and vested in a [[:en:monarch]] with regard to the process of governance of their state, are carried out. The analogous institution in a Republic such as the United States would be a reserve clause that reserves all unspecified powers to the federated states or the people. In a constitutional monarchy such as the United Kingdon, individual prerogatives can be abolished by Parliament although special procedure applies.  

Though some [[:en:republic]]an heads of state possess similar powers, they are not coterminous, containing a number of fundamental differences, and may be either more or less extensive.See [[:en:reserve power]]s.

While prerogative powers were originally exercised by the monarch acting alone, and do not require [[:en:parliament]]ary consent, they are now always exercised on the advice of the [[:en:Prime Minister]] or the [[:en:Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]], who is then accountable for the decision to Parliament. There may be situations in which the monarch could choose to exercise the Royal Prerogative without the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Such situations are rare, and generally only occur in emergencies or where existing precedent does not adequately apply to the circumstances in question.  In many [[:en:liberal democracy|liberal-democratic]] [[:en:constitutional monarchies]], such actions could precipitate a [[:en:constitutional crisis]].

Not all constitutional monarchs have royal prerogative that can be exercised independently however. For example, the [[:en:Monarch of Sweden|King of Sweden]] and the [[:en:Emperor of Japan]] have specific government duties that cannot be exercised with any degree of individual discretion, no matter what the circumstance.