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Types of government systems in the Commonwealth Caribbean
Types of government systems in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Crown Colony
The political traditions of the Commonwealth Caribbean islands reflect the diverse ways in which they were brought into the British Empire and administered, as well as the dominant political views in London at the time of their incorporation. Some of these traditions can still be observed in the operation of contemporary politics in the region.
The first group–Barbados, the Bahamas, the Leeward Islands, and Jamaica–developed during the early attempts to found colonies. Like the mainland North American colonies (and Bermuda), these territories had representative assemblies based on the bicameral system of the mother country. Each colony had a governor who represented the monarch, an appointed upper house, and an elected lower house. The electoral franchise, however, was extremely restricted, being vested in a few wealthy male property holders. Power was divided between the governor, who executed the laws, and the assembly, which made them. However, the assembly retained the right to pass all money bills–including the pay for the governor– and so used this right to obstruct legislation or simply control new officials.
These older colonies also had an effective system of local government based on parish vestries. The vestries were elected annually by the freeholders and met frequently to levy local revenues for the maintenance of the poor, the support of the clergy, the construction of roads, and other local business, such as the licensing of teachers.
Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, Tobago, and St. Lucia were brought into the British Empire between 1763 and 1814. Grenada and the Grenadines were captured during the Seven Years War and ceded by France at the end of the war. St. Vincent came as part of the settlement of 1783 between France and Britain. Tobago, Dominica, and St. Lucia, won during the Napoleonic Wars, were ceded in 1803, 1805, and 1814, respectively. They were referred to as “ceded islands” and also had assemblies, which sometimes functioned like those in the older territories. However, the small size of the free landholding population in these islands vitiated the functions of these assemblies and precluded development of a viable system of local government such as had developed in Jamaica and Barbados. The British administered these islands in two units: the British Leeward Islands (St. Kitts, Nevis, Barbuda, Anguilla, Antigua, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, and also Dominica from 1871 to 1940) and the British Windward Islands (St. Lucia, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Grenada as well as Dominica between 1940 and 1956).
When Trinidad and St. Lucia were brought into the empire in 1797 and 1814, respectively, the British government, cognizant of the difficulty that it had had with the various local planters’ assemblies, vested the royal governors with virtually autocratic powers. This system of direct British rule through appointed officials rather than elected representatives was known as “crown colony” government. At the same time, the British retained the previous Spanish, French, and Dutch forms of government, gradually altering them through time. No sustained attempt was made to foster local government in these newer colonies, although the leading cities–Port of Spain and Castries–had municipal councils. Perhaps as a result, a strong grass-roots democracy failed to develop early in the latter territories.
Constitutional Monarchy
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch—typically a king or queen—acts as the head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution. In a constitutional monarchy, political power is shared between the monarch and a constitutionally organized government such as a Parliament. Constitutional monarchies are the opposite of absolute monarchies, in which the monarch holds all power over the government and the people. Along with the United Kingdom, a few examples of modern constitutional monarchies include Canada, Sweden, and Japan.
Key Takeaways: Constitutional Monarchy
- A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a non-elected monarch functions as the head of state within the limits of a constitution.
- Political power in a constitutional monarchy is shared between the monarch and an organized government such as the British Parliament.
- A constitutional monarchy is the opposite of an absolute monarchy in which the monarch has total power over the government and the people.
Power Distribution in a Constitutional Monarchy
Similar to the way in which the powers and duties of the president of the united States are described in the U.S Constitution, the powers of the monarch, as the head of state, are enumerated in the constitution of a constitutional monarchy.
In most constitutional monarchies, the monarchs’ political powers, if any, are very limited and their duties are mostly ceremonial. Instead, real governmental power is exercised by a parliament or similar legislative body overseen by a prime minister. While the monarch may be recognized as the “symbolic” head of state, and the government might technically function in the name of the queen or king, the prime minister actually governs the country. Indeed, it has been said that the monarch of a constitutional monarchy is, “A sovereign who reigns but does not rule.”
As a compromise between placing blind trust in a lineage of kings and queens who have inherited their power, and a belief in the political wisdom of the people being ruled, modern constitutional monarchies are usually a blend of the monarchical rule and representative democracy
Besides serving as a living symbol of national unity, pride and tradition, the constitutional monarch may—depending on the constitution—have the power to disband the current parliamentary government or to give royal consent to the actions of the parliament. Using England’s constitution as an example, British political scientist Walter Bagehot listed the three main political rights available to a constitutional monarch: “the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn.”
Republic.
A republic is a form of government where the citizens have the supreme power, and they exercise that power by voting and electing representatives to make decisions and govern. Republics come in different forms of government, but a common one is a democracy.
Republics come in different forms. They can be broken up based on the type of government principles they operate on.
- Federal Republics have divisions, like states or provinces, that have some autonomy from the national government. The United States of America is an example of a federal republic.
Other Types of Republics
While those are the main types of republics, you might also hear:
- Presidential Republic is a type of government run using the presidential system, where the president heads the nation. This type of republic can be unitary or federal. Algeria uses a presidential republic.
- In Parliamentary Republics, the government is run by a parliamentary system. You have a parliament and prime minister leading the nation. Parliamentary republics are both unitary and federal. India is a parliamentary republic.
The Founders read that republican government was one in which:
- The power of government is held by the people.
- The people give power to leaders they elect to represent them and serve their interests.
- The representatives are responsible for helping all the people in the country, not just a few people.
Useful Terms
Representatives: people elected to act for others
interests: those things which are to a person’s benefit
What are the Advantages of Republican Government?
The Founders thought a republican government was the best kind of government they could choose for themselves. They believed that the advantages of republican government were:
- Fairness. They believed that laws made by the representatives they elected would be fair. If their representatives did not make fair laws, they could elect others who would.
- Common welfare. The laws would help everyone instead of one person or a few favored people.
- Freedom and prosperity. People would have greater freedom and be able to live well.