The Constitutional Monarchy Flashcards
What is a constitutional monarchy?
A system of government where the monarch is the head of state but their powers are limited by Parliament.
What is a democracy?
A system of government by the eligible members of electorate, through elected representatives.
What is universal suffrage? Was it present in 1783?
- adult men and women can vote
- no, women couldn’t vote
What is secret ballot? Was it present in 1783?
- voting is anonymous
- no, people partied during elections or were forced to vote
What are regular elections? Was it present in 1783?
- elections every 7 years
-1716 septennial act - but NO; seats were never contested as mps saw no need for reform and liked continuity
What is bribery? Was it present in 1783?
- being paid or threatened to vote for a certain candidate
- yes, voting was very corrupt
Were MPs paid? What was the result of this?
- no
- thus MPs were only wealthy aristocrats
What is the House of Commons? Was it present in 1783?
- the elected chamber of parliament
- they were becoming more powerful
- dominated by aristocrats and did not care for democracy
What is Equal Franchise? Was it present in 1783?
- men and women of the same age can vote
- no. women couldn’t vote
What were the Political Parties of 1783?
Whigs and tories
Was there fair representation in 1783?
- no, not in Parliament as Mps were aristocrats, constituencies were different sizes and there were too many voting requirements
What are the key features of a democracy?
- Universal Suffrage
- equal franchise
- NO bribery
- political parties
- house of commons
- secret ballot
- regular elections
- fair representation
- MPs being paid
What was the 1689 Bill of Rights?
An act which restricted the power of the monarchy resulting in democracy in Britain
How was democracy initially perceived as in Britain?
- a familiar but uncommonly used word
- wasn’t always good
- connoted the Ancient world and the idea of aristocrats having too much power over the masses
What did the British government want to do?
- balance the monarchical, democratic and aristocratic element of politics
What 2 things did the government disagree over?
who should be able to vote and how should it be carried out
was voting a right?
What was the problem with seats in Parliament?
- unequal distribution
- some MPs represented 1000s, some less then 100
What was the role of Parliament?
- to collect taxes and acceptance for the laws created by the monarch
Who dominated parliament?
- aristocrats
What was the role of the monarch in 1783? What could they do?
- Head of State
- veto legislation made by parliament via the civil list
- summon and dissolve parliament
- chose MPs and the PM
What was the Royal Prerogative?
- a special right to choose & dismiss MPS and didn’t have to listen to MPs
What was the Civil List?
a fixed annual sum agreed by parliament to pay for the monarch’s household
What did the monarch use to gain loyalty?
Patronage
What chambers made up Parliament?
House of Commons and House of Lords
Which was the superior chamber in parliament?
Which was the superior chamber in parliament?
In what way was the monarch reliant on parliament?
- financially; had to have parliaments support to pass laws
What was the House of Lords? What could they do?
- unelected, hereditary peers
- could block laws passed by the Commons
What was the House of Commons? What could they do?
- chamber of elected representatives
- controlled taxation
- checked on the executive
- becoming more powerful
What was the Prime Minister & Cabinet? What did they do?
- advised the King
- becoming more dependent on the support of parliament than the monarch
- PM was usually the First Lord of Treasury beforehand
Who were the Whigs? Where did their name originate from?
- political faction
- name for horse thieves and Scottish Presbyterians
- connoted non-conformity as they claimed the power to exclude the heir to the throne
- supported protestant succession
- political faction
- name for horse thieves and Scottish Presbyterians
- connoted non-conformity as they claimed the power to exclude the heir to the throne
- supported protestant succession
- political faction
- name originated from them being known as papist outlaws as they supported the stuart dynasty, despite them being roman catholics
Which political party was most popular in 1783? Why was this?
- whigs
- tories were associated with their failure to restore the stuart dynasty
What is a similarity between Whigs and Tories?
- both advocated for continuity and did not care for democracy
Which party was more tolerant towards Protestant dissenters?
- Whigs
Who was Charles James Fox?
- political rival to Pitt
- known for being outspoken, unpredictable and against the monarch’s rule
What is another name for a constitutional monarchy?
- a limited government
