17. What are the powers of the monarch of the uk?

The reigning monarch is not only the head of state but also a 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. The monarch's sovereign powers are limited by the idea that national sovereignty resides in 'the Crown in Parliament' - the idea that the Crown is only sovereign by the will of Parliament. The powers of the monarch are basically to summon, 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; and finally to declare war on or make peace with an enemy power.

In practice the monarch discharges all these functions on the direction of the government. The Queen is visited regularly by her Prime Minister to receive an account of Cabinet decisions and to be consulted on matters of national life.

18. What are the peculiarities of the Government in the UK?

The reigning monarch is not only the head of state but also a symbol of the unity of the nation. The monarch has some powers, but they are just ceremonial. In practice the monarch discharges all these functions on the direction of the government. The monarch's sovereign powers are limited by the idea that national sovereignty resides in 'the Crown in Parliament' - the idea that the Crown is only sovereign by the will of Parliament.

The Queen is visited regularly by her Prime Minister to receive an account of Cabinet decisions and to be consulted on matters of national life. The Prime Minister is the head of the executive power, at the same time he is a member of the Parliament, the ruling party.

Furthermore, in practice it is not Parliament as a whole which is sovereign, but the government of the day and its supporters, since they almost invariably form a majority in the Commons. For the duration of its normal term, five years, the government of the day may enact or implement its policies, so long as it can ensure party support in the Commons. The life of a Parliament is not fixed, and the government of the day may call for a general election at any time during its five-year term.

19. What are the functions of Parliament in the uk?

Parliament is an ancient institution, dating from the middle of the 13^th century. Parliament is the seat of British democracy, but it is perhaps valuable to remember that while the House of Lords was created to provide a council of the nobility for the king, the Commons were summoned originally in order to provide the king with money. Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the state. Parliament's functions today are to pass laws, to raise enough money through taxation to enable the government to function, to examine government policy and administration, particularly its financial programme, and to debate or discuss important political issues. The life of a Parliament is not fixed, and the government of the day may call for a general election at any time during its five-year term. Each Parliament is divided into annual sessions, running normally from October to October with breaks for public holidays and for a long summer 'recess' (usually late July until October).