26. Constitutional Monarchy. Powers and responsibilities. Public image.

The Bill of Rights (1689) was the first legal step towards constitutional monarchy. This Bill prevented the monarch from making laws without Parliament’s approval, guaranteed freedom of speech in Parliament, and forbade the king to interfere with the elections of its members. The Toleration Act (1689) granted religious freedom to various Protestant groups. The Act of Settlement (1691) made sure only a Protestant could inherit the crown, provided elections to the House of Commons, and declared that the new laws and taxes must be approved by Parliament and the monarch. The Triennial Act (1694) obliged the king to summon Parliament at least every three years. The Septennial Act (1715) increased the normal term of Parliament’s existence from three to seven years and made it possible for the government in office to support the constituencies on which its power depended. The power of Parliament has grown steadily, while the power of the monarch has weakened. In the eighteenth century Britain was more democratic than any other European state. The Reform Acts of 1832, 1867 and 1884 gave the vote to large numbers of male citizens (female since 1928).

The reigning monarch is not only head of state but also symbol of the unity of the nation. The monarchy is hereditary, the succession passing automatically to the oldest male child, or in the absence of males, to the oldest female offspring of the monarch. By Act of Parliament, the monarch must be a Protestant. In law the monarch is head of the executive and the judiciary, head of the Church of England, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The powers of the monarch are to summon, prorogue (or suspend until the next session) and dissolve Parliament; to give royal assent to legislation passed by Parliament; to appoint government ministers, judges, officers of the armed forces, governors, diplomats and bishops of the Church; to confer honours, such as peerages and knighthoods; to remit sentences passed on convicted criminals; to declare war on or make peace with an enemy power. In practice, with the exception of a few honours she is free to decide herself, the monarch discharges all these functions on the direction of the government.

By being a figurehead and representing the country, the monarch performs certain ceremonial duties, leaving the real government more time to get on with the actual job of running the country. The First World War strengthened the monarchy as the anchor of the nation. The members of the royal family take part in actions and activities of national or humanistic importance. Princess Diana visited AIDS victims in hospitals, attracted attention to the problems of lepers during her oversea tours. Anne, the Princess Royal, is famous for her work for the Save the Children Fund, which earned her the respect of the nation. Prince Charles has energetically made himself very well informed and active on a number of issues: homelessness and housing, inner city decay, small business enterprise among the unemployed, and architecture. The monarchy is also important for the economy of the country, providing tourist attraction. Occasions such as the state opening of Parliament, the Queen’s official birthday, royal weddings, the changing of the guard give British people a symbol of continuity, and an outlet for the expression of national pride. According to the national surveys, almost 80 per cent of the population are strongly in favour of the monarchy, and fewer than 10 per cent are opposed to it.