What does it mean to say Canada is a constitutional monarchy?

Answer 1

A constitutional monarchy is a form of government, combining two concepts: a Monarchy and a Constitutional Democracy.

A Constitutional Democracy is a form of republic where the base rules of government are spelled out in one or more "founding" documents. That is, the government's duties and functions are defined in writing; this may be supplemented by Common Law legal rulings to define a body of official law that describes how the government is to be conducted. One major component of this body of law is that the government is some form of democracy, with a citizenry able to vote and participate in government.

A Monarchy is a form of government where a single individual acts as absolute head of state. This individual's position is usually (but not always) hereditary.

The combination of the two yields a form of government where the Executive Branch is headed by a Monarch, while the Legislative and Judiciary branches are run on Constitutional grounds (i.e. founded in law and with citizen participation). In some forms, the Monarch continues to wield significant (or even perhaps absolute) Executive power, while in others, the Monarch is little more than a figurehead.

Answer 2

It means that Canada has a king or queen, however, it also has it's own government that is independent from the queen or king. The monarch is more symbolic, and does not really have any control over Canada.

Answer 3

A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the perimeters of a written constitution.

Answer 4

We have a Constitutional and our system is based on a parliamentary system that has a King or Queen.

But in Canada the Monarchy is purely ceremonial and has no real role or power.

Answer 5

Mean that Canada has a monarch.