1) Powers & Limitations of the monarch

Question 1

power - royal prerogative (4)

Answer 1

monarch led the political nation w prerogative powers:

• foreign diplomacy
• declaration of war
• right to dissolve parliament
• religion (supreme governor of church)

Question 2

power - unwritten constitution

Answer 2

mix of common law, parliamentary law & tradition

advantage: open to interpretation (enabled compromise)

Question 3

power - financial matters

Answer 3

prerogative income meant that monarch could become financially self-sufficient & establish themselves as absolute w no need for parliament

Question 4

limitations - control of general population

Answer 4

monarch needed Political Nation to control public, so had to rely on certain people such as JPs/MPs

Question 5

limitations - unwritten constitution

Answer 5

mix of common & parliamentary law & tradition

disadvantage: open to interpretation (so could be seen in any way)

Question 6

limitations - financial matters

Answer 6

limits on monarch’s income prevented absolutism - substantial funds only obtained through parliamentary subsidies & parliament reluctant because it meant taxing Political Nation (themselves)
KEY LIMIT ON MONARCH’S POWER