The Monarchy Flashcards
The monarchy summary
The UK is a constitutional monarchy and the monarch is the head of state.
Notionally the queen has the right to govern, but in reality she has a largely ceremonial role with little real power.
The queen reigns but does not rule - she can advise and warn the PM
Real power lies with her majesties government - the pm and the cabinet (the executive) and the hol and hoc (legislature)
The Queens role
She is head of the executive, legislature and judiciary
commander in chief of armed forces
is the supreme governor of the church of England
head of the commonwealth (head of state of 15 of its 53 members)
heads the privy council - consisting of former and current Cabinet ministers
The queen exercises notional powers - the royal prerogative (decisions are actually taken by the PM and Cabinet)
Summoning and dissolving parliament
giving royal assent to bills passed by parliament
writing the queens speech, outlining the bills to be presented to parliament
declaring war
creating knighthoods and other honours
appointing senior church of England clergy, judges, police chief constables and diplomats
Funding the queen receives
The sovereign grant (replaced the civil list and Grant in aid in 2011) funded by the taxpayer. £85.7m in 2020/21. Set at 25% of the income from the crown estate (worth about £11bn
Privy purse - a personal pot of money derived from the duchy of Lancaster estates.
