The Monarchy

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. This means that it has a monarch as its Head of the State. The head of state and theoretical source of executive, judicial and legislative power in the UK is the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II who came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and was crowned on 2 June 1953 However, sovereignty in the UK no longer rests with the monarch, since the English Bill of Rights in 1689, which established the principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty. The monarch reigns with the support of Parliament. Despite this the Monarch remains Head of State, like a President in European political tradition. The hereditary principle still operates and the Crown is passed on to the sovereign's eldest son (or daughter if there are no sons).

Originally the monarch possessed the right to choose any British citizen to be her Prime Minister and could call and dissolve Parliament whenever he or she wished. Other royal powers called royal prerogative, such as to appoint ministers and the ability to declare war, are exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, with the formal consent of the Queen. Today the Sovereign has an essentially ceremonial role restricted in exercise of power by convention and public opinion.

The Queen has a central role in state affairs, not only through her ceremonial functions, such as opening Parliament, but also because she meets the Prime Minister every week and receives copies of all Cabinet papers.

Functions of the Queen:

- opening and closing Parliament;

- approving the appointment of the Prime Minister;

- giving her Royal Assent to bills;

- giving honours such as peerages, knighthoods and medals;

- Head of the Commonwealth;

- Head of the Church of England;

- Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Among Queen Elizabeth's many duties are the regular visits she makes to foreign countries, and especially those of the Commonwealth, whose interests and welfare are very important to her. The Queen has allowed the BBC to make a documentary film about the every day of the royal family. She also started the tradition of the "walkabout", an informal feature of an otherwise formal royal visit, when she walks among the public crowds and stops to talk to some people. The annual Christmas broadcast made by the Queen on radio and television has become a traditional and popular feature of the season.

The Queen is very rich, as are other members of the royal family. In addition, the government pays for her expenses as Head of the State, for a royal yacht, train and aircraft as well as for the upkeep of several palaces. The Queen’s image appears on stamps, notes and coins.

Word list

Bill of Rights – «Біль о правах»

to possess – володіти

to call and dissolve Parliament – скликати і розпускати парламент

prerogative - виняткове право; привілей

to declare war – оголошувати війну

to restrict in exercise – обмежити у користуванні

Royal Assent to bills – санкція монарха (погодження монархом законопроекту)

honours - нагороди, відзнаки

knighthood - лицарське звання

welfare – добробут

to walk about – прогулюватися

broadcast – теле-, радіомовлення

note – банкнота

IX. Agree or disagree with the statements:

1. The head of state and theoretical source of power in the UK is the Queen.

2. The source of executive and legislative power in the UK is the Prime Minister.

3. Sovereignty in the UK no longer rests with the monarch.

4. The Monarch remains Head of State, like a President in American political tradition.

5. Originally the monarch could call and dissolve Parliament whenever he or she wished.

6. Royal property is powers called royal prerogative.

7. The Prime Minister appoints ministers with the formal consent of the Queen.

8. Today the Sovereign has an essentially ceremonial role.

9. The Queen has allowed the BBC to make a documentary song about the royal family.

10. The Queen is very rich, but other members of the royal family are much richer.

X. Answer the questions:

1. Who is the theoretical source of executive and legislative power in the UK?

2. Does the monarch possess the right to call and dissolve Parliament?

3. What is called royal prerogative?

4. Do the Prime Minister and the Cabinet need the formal consent of the Queen for their actions?

5. What essential rights does the monarch continue to exercise?

6. What are the functions of the Queen?

7. What is the tradition of the “walkabout” about?

8. Who pays for her Majesty’s expenses as Head of the State?