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The functions of the British Crown, Queen Elizabeth II - Coggle Diagram
The functions of the British Crown, Queen Elizabeth II
The monarchy evolved over hundreds of years, her role has become largely symbolic.
For centuries, the English monarchy held a great deal of authority, but its history is full of challenges to that power and of concessions to nobles.
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As the Royal Family has shed most of its political powers, Queen Elizabeth, her husband and her children have emphasized their roles in various charitable organizations—the Queen is the titular “patron” of over 600 charities, although this role consists mostly of drawing attention to the causes. Her presence during some of the great crises in recent British history, including the COVID-19 pandemic, has drawn praise.
1) Over time Parliament evolved into a true representative government, similar to the Congress of the United States.
2 )The House of Lords, consists of nobles and originally held nearly all of Parliament’s power, but over the centuries the lower house, the House of Commons, grew more powerful.
3) By the 1700s, the Commons had obtained the sole right to initiate taxes, meaning that a legislative body consisting of elected officials—though most people still couldn’t vote—controlled the state’s purse.
1 ) Parliament’s role ultimately depended on how much power the monarch wanted to give it, and how much he or she needed Parliament’s support.
2 ) Example King Charles I governed without Parliament for over a decade, setting into motion events that would end with his beheading and the abolition of the monarchy in 1649. Parliament then ruled without a king until the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
King John's signing of Magna Carta in 1215 acknowledged that the monarchy's powers did have limits and, crucially, established that the crown could not levy taxes without the consent of a council of religious officials and feudal lords.
That council of wealthy and powerful figures evolved into Parliament, which gradually took on a greater role as English people began to appeal to it to solve disputes and send representatives to petition it on their behalf.
The monarch retains the right to “invite” whomever he or she pleases to form a government, but this is a holdover from the time when “Prime Minister” was an informal way of referring to the Member of Parliament selected by the king or queen to lead proceedings.
1 ) The Queen remains the head of British state, the highest representative of the United Kingdom on the national and international stage. The head of the British government, however, is the Prime Minister. One serves as a symbol of the country and the other serves as the chief executive of the government
2 ) In her role as head of state, Queen Elizabeth II gives a regular speech at the opening of each new Parliament and makes official appearances and speeches on holidays and special occasions.
3 ) The Queen keeps in close contact with the Prime Minister and is regularly briefed on all important national matters, but never publicly weighs in on political debates—nor are any final decisions up to her.
1 ) As Britain's global empire crumbled in the wake of World War II, a number of its formal colonies declared independence but chose enter the Commonwealth of Nations, of which the Queen remains the figurehead. .
2 ) Citizens of Australia, Canada and many island nations across the world consider themselves subjects of Queen Elizabeth, who famously toured 13 of these “Commonwealth realms” in 1953.
3 ) Elizabeth appears on the currency of many of these nations and her visits are usually a cause for celebration, but her duties there, as in her home country, are entirely ceremonial.
1 )She formally opens Parliament every year, and when the government passes a bill, it cannot become an Act of Parliament until it receives her stamp of approval, a process called Royal Assent.
2 ) In reality, though, no monarch has refused to give Royal Assent since 1708, when Queen Anne did so only at the behest of ministers.
As such, Queen Elizabeth II’s formal duties are largely representational, such as embarking on goodwill visits abroad and hosting foreign heads of state.
The monarch’s main role is to serve as a vital part of Britain’s “national identity, unity and pride”.
But the Queen does have a few unique legal privileges. Royal.uk says she “retains the right to claim ownership of any unmarked mute swan swimming in open waters”. She also claims dominion over all whales, sturgeons and dolphins in the waters around England and Wales, doesn’t need a passport to travel abroad, and can drive without a licence.
1 )The Queen would accept the resignation of the outgoing prime minister and then instruct the incoming leader to form a government in her name - but this process is “put in jeopardy if there is uncertainty over the government being formed”, says the Daily Express.
2 ) If no single political party wins an overall majority in the House of Commons, the Queen is left in a sensitive position. She must be kept informed about any negotiations to build a coalition, but cannot exercise any personal discretion over the choice of Downing Street’s occupant.
3 )With no majority, the existing PM is given the first chance to create a government, either by trying to govern with a minority of MPs or by forming a coalition or “confidence and supply” arrangement with another party or parties. If this fails, the largest opposition party is usually invited to try to do the same.
Once a PM is in office, the Queen meets with them weekly and offers counsel. She reads the Queen’s Speech to open Parliament, although this is written by the government, and in normal times her powers are usually exercised on the advice of the PM.