Malcolm Rivera
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. The UK has an uncodified constitution, comprising written and unwritten arrangements that establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a political body. The UK has a parliamentary democracy, with the Crown in Parliament as the UK's supreme legislative body, and Parliament is sovereign. The UK has a history of republicanism, with a brief period of republican rule in the 17th century, and there are still movements today that advocate for a republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy |
| Head of state | Monarch |
| Election of head of state | No |
| Legislative body | Crown in Parliament |
| Houses of Parliament | House of Commons and House of Lords |
| Devolved parliaments | Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| Type of state | Unitary state with a devolved system of government |
| Legal system | Three distinct systems: English law, Northern Ireland law, Scots law |
| Constitution | Uncodified, comprising written and unwritten arrangements |
| Constitutional status | Acts of Parliament, including the Magna Carta |
| Constitutional change | Simple majority vote passed by a single political party |
| Influence on constitution | International law, as Parliament cooperates with international organisations |
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What You'll Learn
The UK is a constitutional monarchy
The UK has been a monarchy almost exclusively since the Middle Ages. There was a brief period of republican rule from 1649-1660, under Oliver Cromwell, and later his son Richard. After Cromwell's death, the monarchy was restored, and governing duties were increasingly handed over to Parliament.
The UK's constitution is uncodified, meaning it is made up of written and unwritten arrangements, and is not codified into a single document. This makes it flexible and easily changeable, as there are no formally entrenched provisions. The constitution includes Acts of Parliament with special constitutional status, such as the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, and the Claim of Rights Act.
The British monarch today has a largely ceremonial role, with the government exercising its powers under "royal prerogative", on behalf of the monarch. The monarch is bound by constitutional convention to act on the advice of the government. There are still some powers reserved for the monarch, such as the ability to grant Royal Assent to a bill passed by both Houses of Parliament, and the immunity of the monarch from some taxation or restrictions on property use.
There have been movements throughout history to remove the monarchy and establish a republic in the UK, with groups such as "Republic" campaigning for this change. However, defenders of the monarchy argue that there is nothing inherently more democratic about a republic, and that the UK's current system ensures the sovereignty of its citizens.
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The UK is a parliamentary democracy
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. While the British monarch has a predominantly ceremonial role, the Crown in Parliament is the UK's supreme legislative body, with unlimited powers of legislation. The UK Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and it is the highest power in the land. This means that there are limited protections against a government that is set on diluting democratic or human rights.
The UK's constitution is uncodified, meaning it is made up of written and unwritten arrangements, including constitutional conventions, statutes and other elements. The UK does not have a single legal system due to the political union of previously independent countries. The UK has three distinct systems of law: English law, Northern Ireland law, and Scots law.
The UK's parliamentary democracy has evolved over the centuries. The English Civil Wars saw the monarchy abolished and a republic established in 1649, but the monarchy was restored in 1660. Since then, the UK has been a constitutional monarchy, with governing duties increasingly handed over to Parliament. The UK became a democratic country after World War I, when the Representation of the People Act 1918 was passed, enabling every adult male to vote.
There have been movements throughout history to remove the monarchy and establish a republic in the UK, such as the pressure group Republic, formed in 1983. Republicans argue that a monarchy devalues a parliamentary system as monarchical prerogative powers can circumvent the normal democratic process.
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The UK's uncodified constitution
The United Kingdom is one of only three countries in the world with an uncodified constitution, also known as an "unwritten" constitution. This means that the UK does not have a single, written document that has a higher legal status over other laws and rules. Instead, the UK's constitution is made up of written and unwritten arrangements, including laws, statutes, legislation, and conventions. While some have argued that this lack of codification undermines the legitimacy of the constitution, others see it as a benefit, as it allows for greater flexibility and adaptability.
One advantage of an uncodified constitution is that it is easier to change or interpret legal principles or rules when they are not "set in stone" within a single document. For example, the UK's Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 ensures a general election every five years, subject to two exceptions. This Act is part of the UK's constitution, but because the constitution is uncodified, it can be easily amended or repealed through Parliament. In contrast, countries with written constitutions, such as the United States, often have lengthy and difficult amendment processes.
However, the flexibility of an uncodified constitution can also lead to uncertainty and ambiguity, particularly when it comes to the powers of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Without a clear set of rules, there may be conflicting interpretations of legal principles, as seen with the opposing interpretations of the prerogative power to prorogue Parliament. Additionally, the lack of an effective separation of powers and the ability of Parliament to overrule fundamental rights can lead to an abuse of power and a concentration of power in the executive.
Despite these concerns, the UK's uncodified constitution has evolved over time to adapt to changing values and societal needs. It has recognised and affirmed important principles such as parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law, democracy, and upholding international law. The absence of a written constitution does not mean that the UK lacks a constitution; instead, it has a dynamic and flexible system that allows for easier changes and interpretations of legal principles.
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The UK's monarch and their powers
The UK is a constitutional monarchy, with a monarch as the head of state. The monarch's image is used to signify British sovereignty and government authority. The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The monarch has a constitutional role, with their powers regulated by the British constitution. They undertake various official, ceremonial, diplomatic, and representational duties.
While the monarch formally has authority over the government, this power is limited and can only be used according to laws enacted in Parliament and within constraints of convention and precedent. The monarch's role includes functions as the head of state and as head of the nation. As the head of state, the monarch's main functions are to appoint the Prime Minister and other ministers, open new sessions of Parliament, and give royal assent to bills passed by Parliament, signifying that they have become law. The monarch also chairs monthly meetings of the Privy Council, approves Orders in Council, receives ambassadors, and makes appointments such as senior judges, acting on the advice of the government.
The monarch also has a less formal role as the head of the nation, acting as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, providing a sense of stability and continuity, officially recognizing success and excellence, and supporting the ideal of voluntary service. This role is often fulfilled through speeches, bestowing honours, and visiting various organizations and institutions, including the armed forces, schools, hospitals, charities, and local organizations.
The monarch is also the head of the Church of England and holds the power to appoint the Lord High Commissioner to the Church's General Assembly, but does not govern it. Additionally, the monarch is the head of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 54 states, mainly former British colonies and dependencies.
While the UK has a monarchy, there have been movements supporting alternative forms of governance, such as an elected head of state, known as republicans. These movements argue that a monarchy devalues a parliamentary system by allowing monarchical prerogative powers to circumvent the normal democratic process without accountability. They believe that the people have a fundamental right to elect their head of state.
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Republicanism in the UK
The UK has had a monarchy as its form of government almost exclusively since the Middle Ages. However, there was a brief period from 1649 to 1660 when a republican government existed under Oliver Cromwell and later his son, Richard. This interruption in monarchical rule saw the enforcement of the Commonwealth of England, forcing Scotland and Ireland into union with England. Cromwell's rule was seen as restoring the mixed constitution of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. After his death, the monarchy was restored, and governing duties were increasingly delegated to Parliament, especially after the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
The argument for republicanism gained momentum during the late 18th century with the American Revolution and the French Revolution, as the concern shifted to dealing with the neighbouring French Republic. The idea of republicanism was further explored in the Victorian era, with the UK being referred to as a "crowned republic."
Today, the pressure group Republic, formed in 1983, campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic in the UK. They propose an elected, democratic head of state who would represent the nation independently of politicians. Notable politicians who have identified with republicanism include former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, former Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, and former First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf.
The anti-republican defence argues that a republic does not offer more democracy than a constitutional monarchy, as both forms of government are based on parliamentarianism and constitutionalism. They contend that the traditional institutions within a monarchy confirm citizens' sovereignty. However, Republicans counter that the monarchy devalues the parliamentary system by allowing monarchical prerogative powers to override the normal democratic process without accountability. They believe that it is a fundamental right for citizens to elect their head of state.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the UK is a constitutional monarchy.
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government where the monarch has restricted powers and acts on the advice of the government. In the UK, the monarch is Queen Elizabeth II.
The alternative to a constitutional monarchy is a republic, where the head of state is usually a president.
The countries that now make up the United Kingdom were briefly ruled as a republic in the 17th century, under Oliver Cromwell and later his son Richard.
