Monarchy of the Caldan Union
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The monarchy of the Caldan Union is an institution in which a person serves as the Sovereign and head of state for the Caldan Union on a hereditary basis. It is at the core of the Caldan system of constitutional monarchy which underlies Caldan federalism and parliamentary democracy. The monarch heads the Executive as the Queen-in-Council, the Legislature as the Queen-in-Parliament, and the Judiciary as the Queen-on-the-Bench at both the federal and provincial levels. Provincial governors represent her as viceroys. However, in all of these offices, operational and effective roles are filled by others. Royal assent is required for bills to become law and orders-in-council to be given effect. However, constitutionally this assent can be withheld only under the rarest of circumstances. Under the Caldan Union's democratic constitution, the Sovereign's direct role is limited, acting only on the advice of the cabinet. The Crown is primarily viewed as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and the exercise of political power remains the preserve of the people's elected representatives. It is the role of the Queen to uphold the laws of the Caldan Union, including constitutional norms, and to ensure the rights and freedoms of the people and the sanctity of representative government. The Sovereign acts as a custodian of the Crown's governmental powers and a representative of the nation over and above government and political parties. While other members of the royal family undertake duties domestically and internationally as representatives of the Caldan Union, only the Sovereign has a formal constitutional role. In the provinces, the Sovereign is represented by the governors.
The Caldan monarchy was initially established in the 18th century. However, the institution traces itself back to the monarchies of the Three Kingdoms but also that of the Dukes of Tasat and Apatan leaders before that. The current Sovereign is Queen Gwendolyn. Although the institution of the monarchy is frequently referred to as the Crown, including in official and legal contexts, it is often poetically or informally referred to as the Gryphon Throne.