The Queen’s Role in the Modern State

The Queen is a constitutional monarch: in other words, she is bound by rules and conventions and cannot rule in an arbitrary way.

Limits began to be placed on the powers of the monarch as far back as 1215 when the barons forced King John to recognise in Magna Carta that they had certain rights. The constitutional monarchy we know today developed in the 18th and 19th centuries as day-to-day power came to be exercised by Ministers in Cabinet, deriving their authority from a steadily widening electorate.

The essence of the monarchy today is that the Queen is politically impartial. On almost all matters she acts on the advice of the government of the day. The tasks of making laws, administering justice, and governing and defending the country are carried out by others in The Queen's name. The Monarch thus symbolises the permanence and stability of the nation, which transcends the ebb and flow of party politics.

Queen in Parliament

This is the formal title of the British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Commons, a majority of whom normally support the government of the day, has the dominant political power.

As constitutional monarch, the Sovereign is required, on the advice of Ministers, to assent to all Bills. The Royal Assent (that is, consenting to a measure becoming law) has not been refused since 1707. The role of the Sovereign in the enactment of legislation is today purely formal, although The Queen has the right to be consulted, to encourage and to warn.

The Queen in Parliament is most clearly demonstrated in the State Opening of Parliament, when The Queen opens Parliament in person, and addresses both Houses in The Queen's Speech. This speech, drafted by the Government and not by The Queen, outlines the Government's policy for the coming session of Parliament and indicates forthcoming legislation. Each session therefore, begins with The Queen's Speech, and the Houses cannot start their public business until the Speech has been read.

Queen and Prime Minister

The Queen retains certain residual powers, notably to appoint a Prime Minister, and to decide whether or not to grant a dissolution of Parliament. The Prime Minister is normally the leader of the party which has a majority in Parliament, but there still could be exceptional circumstances when The Queen might need to exercise the discretion she still retains to ensure that her Government is carried on.

These days, however, The Queen's influence is mainly informal. She has a right and a duty to express her views on government matters to the Prime Minister at their weekly audiences, but these meetings - and all communications between the Monarch and her Government - remain strictly confidential. Having expressed her views, The Queen abides by the advice of her Ministers.

Queen and Privy Council

The Privy Council is the oldest form of legislative assembly still functioning; its origins date from the Norman Kings' Court, which met in private. Until the 17th century, the king and his Council were the Government, with Parliament's role limited to voting funds. Today, the Privy Council has limited, formal executive functions which retain some significance.

On the advice of the Privy Council, The Queen formally approves a large number of Orders in Council (which, by Acts of Parliament, enact subordinate legislation ranging from constitutions of dependent territories to international pollution). The Queen also approves Proclamations (formal notices which cover areas such as the dissolution of Parliament, coinage and dates of certain Bank Holidays). The Privy Council also has certain judicial functions.

There are 400 Privy Councillors, consisting of all members of the Cabinet, a number of middle-ranking government ministers, leaders of the opposition parties in both Houses of Parliament, senior judges and some appointments from the Commonwealth.