The Role of the Monarch in Britain

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. It means that it is the country that has the Queen and a democratically elected government.

The Crown is one of the oldest secular institutions in Britain and there is automatic hereditary succession to the throne, but only for Protestants.

Since 1689 the monarch’s executive powers have been limited. The Queen technically is Head of State but as a constitutional monarch she has little power. She has a number of formal constitutional rules. Besides being Head of State she serves as head of the executive, judiciary and legislature, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and 'supreme governor' of the Church of England. Ministers and officials of the central government are the monarch's servants, and judges, military officers, peers and bishops of the Church of England swear allegiance to the Crown. In holding these positions, the monarch personifies the British state and is a symbol of national unity.

Political stability owes much to the monarchy. The monarch is expected to be politically neutral, and is supposed to reign but not rule.

For all practical purposes the monarch acts only on the advice of political ministers, which cannot be ignored. The monarch cannot make laws, impose taxes, spend public money or act unilaterally. Contemporary Britain is therefore governed by Her Majesty's Government in the name of the Queen.

But the monarch still performs some important executive and legislative
duties. These include the summoning, opening, proroguing and dissolving
of Parliament; giving the Royal Assent to bills which have been passed by
both Houses of Parliament; appointing government ministers and other
public figures; granting honours; and fulfilling international duties as head
of state.

Constitutionally, the monarch has the right to be informed of, and advised on, all aspects of national life by receiving government documents and meeting regularly with the Prime Minister. The monarch also has the right to encourage, warn and advise ministers.

A central power still possessed by the monarch is the choice and appointment of the Prime Minister.

Vocabulary

commander-in-chief n главнокомандующий

Crown n 1 власть монарха; 2 монарх; 3 королева

hereditary adj наследственный, передаваемый по наследству

Her Majesty’ Governmentправительство Ее Величества (официальное название правительства при правлении королевы)

honours n почести, награды, ордена

impose taxes облагать налогами

personify v олицетворять, персонифицировать

prorogue v назначать перерыв в работе парламента (не распуская его)

reign v царствовать

rule v управлять, править

secular adj светский

succession n престолонаследие

summon v созывать (парламент)

supreme governor верховный правитель

swear allegiance присягнуть на верность / в верности

Reading tasks

Answer these questions.

1What is a constitutional monarchy?

2Who can be the monarch in Great Britain?

3When did the limitation of the monarch’s executive powers start?

4What authorities does the Queen enjoy?

5What does it mean: “The monarch reigns but doesn’t rule”?

6What executive and legislative duties does the Queen perform?

7What rights does the monarch have?

8What central power does the monarch possess?

Language focus

AMatch each statement with the correct question tag.

	Statement		Question tag
	The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy,	a	are they?
	The monarch reigns with the support of Parliament,	b	isn’t it?
	The powers of the monarch are not defined precisely,	c	has he/she?
	Parliament and the monarch meet together on symbolic occasions such as the opening of Parliament,	d	doesn't he/she?
	The monarch hasn’t refused to sign a bill for more than 200 years,	e	don’t they?

BCombine these three parts into sentences using the suitable verb.

	The monarch		a	head of the Commonwealth.
	The Queen	is	b	a great knowledge of domestic and international politics.
	The monarchy	has	c	a considerable part to play in the operation of government.
	Everything today		d	done in the Queen’s name.
	The influence of monarchical advice on formal and informal levels		e	substantial.
	Unlike temporary politicians, the monarch		f	a permanent fixture in the British political system.
	The continuity of the English monarchy		g	been interrupted only by Cromwellian rule from 1649 to 1660.

CPut the verbs in brackets into the appropriate form.