O Rei na Regeneração

: poderes constitucionais e prática política : 1852-1885

Abstract

The doctorate thesis titled “O Rei na Regeneração: Poderes constitucionais e prática política (1852-1885)” (The King in the “Regeneração” period: Constitutional powers and political practice: 1852-1885) is aimed at identifying and understanding the role assigned to and played by the constitutional Kings during the historic period of the “Regeneração”, that is, from 1852, the year of the Additional Act which translated the goals of the political movement borne out of the field marshall Duke of Saldanha’s pronunciamento (military declaration, 1851), up until1885, the year of approval of the Additional Act that limited the responsibilities of the moderating power and laid down the conditions to foster the rotating alternation of two major governing parties: the “Regenerador” and the “Progressista” (Regenerator and Progressive parties). The dissertation is divided into two main parts. Part I focuses on the evolving theories about the royal powers since the old regime until the liberal era, and looks into how the three monarchic constitutions dealt with those powers. In its turn, Part II consists of an interpretative analysis of the major political events that took place during the reigns included in said chronological period, mostly those in which the King made use of the important prerogatives entrusted to the moderating power. Finally, the author seeks to respond to the questions that guided the thesis itself: What was the King’s role during the time of the liberal regeneration? Did the King stand as a factor of political stability or of political instability during the period under analysis? Overall, the conclusion is that the King, while never forgoing the wide-ranging powers conferred upon him by the Constitutional Charter, exercised a wise and sensible interpretation of the same and, during a political period lackingother strong constitutional references, stood as the guarantor of institutional balance and political stability.

Date of Award	20 Apr 2018
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Miguel Sardica (Supervisor)