Repúblicas monárquicas y monarquías republicanas en la constitución del mundo ibérico

Abstract

***Monarchic republics and republican monarchies in the constitution of the Iberian world***

Throughout the making of modern States, while the existence of a monarchy defined the European Constitutional model as a parliamentary system, in America, it was the lack of it which defined that continent’s model, and the first, both constitutional and presidential, republic was established. During the post revolutionary era, while seeking how to temper the revolution, emerged the need to reorganize the balance of powers in favor of the executive branch. However, this was a problem for monarchies, where this executive branch was an undetachable and politically irresponsible king. For that reason, it became necessary to search for an alternative executive power named by the king, but actually responsible before the parliament, and, therefore, detachable. It could be dismissed in case of conflict. This was the monarchy’s “constitutional costume”: the parliamentary system was thus understood as a republican model under a monarchical superstructure. In America, where the elected president was responsible before its electors, it was not necessary to diminish the principle of separation of powers. That was the key difference in the making of the two different constitutional models in both continents up to day. However, several Latin American conservative republics did considered those features of the monarchy and its moderating role. This article deals with the evolution of both monarchical and republican political systems and historical transferences between them both.