Monarchy of Lower Columbia

The monarchy of Lower Columbia is the constitutional monarchy of the Federal Kingdom of Lower Columbia. The monarch is titled King or Queen (although there have been no queens regnant since the founding of the monarchy). King Zachary has been the reigning king since the death of his father, King David III on 19 August 1985. Despite being a constitutional monarch lacking any party affiliation, King Zachary undertakes several executive duties, in addition to a number of representational, diplomatic and ceremonial duties. He is also the official Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Military of Lower Columbia and a symbol of the kingdom's unity.

History
When the residents of the commonwealths that would become Lower Columbia voted to unite into a kingdom, they did not put any restrictions on their new king's power, essentially creating an absolute monarchy. However, their choice as king, Edward du Loup, did not want to reign as an autocrat out of respect for the people who had elected him king. With the help of many wise and well-informed Lower Columbians, he set strict limits on his power and codified them in the Constitution of Lower Columbia, which the public passed with an overwhelming majority in 1715.

Edward's successors in the House of du Loup faithfully abided by the Constitution's limitations for the following eight decades. However, when King Michael I began curtailing the freedoms that Lower Columbians had long enjoyed, the need for further limits on the king's power was obvious. Once Parliament had exiled Michael I and replaced him with the more moderate King Brandon I, they were able to protect the people's rights through the addition of Article IX (widely considered Lower Columbia's equivalent to the United States' Bill of Rights) to the Constitution in 1800. Since then, no king has tried to overstep the constitutional limits on his power.

Constitutional role
Under Lower Columbia's Constitution, the monarch (commonly referred to as "His Majesty" or with the acronym HM) is the head of state. All oaths of allegiance are made to the King and his lawful successors, and he is the only person allowed by law to appear on the obverse of all Lower Columbian coins and banknotes.

The monarch serves as the chief executive of the federal government of Lower Columbia, unlike most constitutional monarchs. As such, he has power to give laws passed by Parliament royal assent by signing them, or to veto them. Furthermore, it is nominally his duty to execute the laws of the land, although such executive functions are generally delegated to the ministers of his Cabinet and their subordinates. The king also has the power to conduct diplomacy with foreign countries, typically by negotiating treaties. Additionally, the monarch appoints the Lords of Parliament, the ministers of the Cabinet, ambassadors, and other national officers, all of whom are responsible for carrying out the will of the king and the people.

Succession
Upon the death of the monarch, his heir immediately succeeds to the throne with no delay. A representative of the Royal Office appointed by a special session of the Cabinet publicly announces the accession of the new monarch, and preparations begin for the new monarch's coronation ceremony. That ceremony typically occurs some months after accession, both to allow for a period of official mourning, and to allow enough time for all the preparations required for the coronation. The new monarch is then crowned in the Royal Cathedral in Kendall by the Minister of Religion.

Election by Parliament
Monarchs normally reign until death; however, the Constitution allows Parliament to replace the king by a vote if the circumstances require it. Parliament may choose to depose and exile a monarch for crimes against the state, including violating the constitutional limits on their power. In addition, if the reigning king disappears and is not found within six months, or if he abdicates, Parliament may vote to replace him, either with another member of the royal family (if any are available) or with a member of Parliament. To date, Parliament has only replaced two kings, each time with one of its own members (see Lower Columbian constitutional crisis of 1799 and Lower Columbian constitutional crisis of 1881 for more information).

Restrictions
Aside from the above special circumstances, royal succession is governed by male preference cognatic primogeniture: sons inherit before daughters, and older children inherit before younger ones of the same sex. Thus, while it is theoretically possible for a daughter to become a queen regnant, none ever has, since no king of Lower Columbia has ever had only daughters. Additionally, all monarchs are required by the Constitution to be Christians, although they are free to belong to a church or denomination of their choice. This restriction is enforced as part of the coronation ceremony, when the Minister of Religion administers the royal oath:

"'I hereby solemnly swear before God and these witnesses to faithfully discharge the duties and obligations of the Kingship; to uphold, abide by, and protect the Constitution of Lower Columbia; and to rule in cleanness of conscience, submitting to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ and placing the welfare of my Realm and of my subjects above my personal interests.'"