Simone Lawson
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The reigning king or queen is the country's head of state, but all political power rests with the prime minister and the cabinet. The first couple to be constitutional monarchs of England were William III and Mary II, who were co-monarchs installed after the Glorious Revolution. The Bill of Rights of 1689 further curtailed the power of the monarchy and excluded Catholics from the throne.
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What You'll Learn
The transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The reigning monarch is the country's head of state, but all political power rests with the prime minister and the cabinet, and the monarch must act on their advice.
In the 17th century, the English Civil War resulted in the execution of King Charles I in 1649 and the abolition of the monarchy. The country became a republic called the Commonwealth of England, which lasted until 1660. This period marked a significant shift in the balance of power, with Oliver Cromwell, the leader of the Commonwealth, becoming the de facto head of state.
Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, with Charles II taking the throne, the power of the monarchy continued to be limited. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 further curtailed the power of the monarchy, with the installation of William III and Mary II as co-monarchs. The Bill of Rights 1689, and its Scottish counterpart, the Claim of Right Act 1689, established parliamentary restrictions on the monarchy and excluded Catholics from succession to the throne.
In the 18th century, the Acts of Union in 1707 formally united the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland to create the Kingdom of Great Britain, with a single monarch. This marked the beginning of the United Kingdom as a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch's powers increasingly subject to Parliament.
The monarchy in the United Kingdom has continued to evolve, with the role of the monarch becoming more ceremonial and representative, while the political power rests with the democratically elected government. The monarchy remains an important symbol of the country's history and traditions, with the monarch serving as the head of state and performing official duties.
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The Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 ended the reign of James II and VII of Scotland and installed William III and Mary II as co-monarchs of England. This marked a significant shift in the nature of the monarchy, as it further curtailed the power of the monarchy and excluded Catholics from succession to the throne. The revolution was a result of the English Civil War and the exile of James II, who served in both the French and Spanish armies.
Following the Glorious Revolution, the Bill of Rights 1689 was enacted, which established the rights and liberties of the citizens of England and further limited the power of the monarch. The Bill of Rights, also known as the English Bill of Rights, was a pivotal moment in the development of constitutional monarchy in England, as it outlined the powers and restrictions of the monarch and protected the rights and freedoms of the people. One of the key provisions of the Bill of Rights was the exclusion of Catholics from the succession to the throne, which ensured that the monarch would be Protestant and prevented the potential influence of the Catholic Church on the affairs of the state.
The Bill of Rights also addressed issues related to taxation, legislation, and the maintenance of a standing army in peacetime. It established the principle that the monarch could not impose taxes or raise an army without the consent of Parliament, further solidifying the power of Parliament in governing the country. The Bill of Rights was a significant step towards constitutional monarchy and limited the absolute power previously held by the monarch.
The events of the Glorious Revolution and the enactment of the Bill of Rights were a culmination of the ongoing process of reducing the political powers of the English monarch, which had begun with the Magna Carta in the 13th century. The revolution and the bill established a new balance of power between the monarch and Parliament, shaping the future of the country and the role of the monarchy in the governance of England.
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The Act of Union in 1707
The Treaty of Union consisted of 25 Articles, which formed the basis of the two separate Acts of Union passed by the parliaments in Westminster and Edinburgh. Article 1 provided for the union of the two kingdoms into a single kingdom named Great Britain, with its own royal coat of arms and a combined flag of the crosses of St Andrew and St George. Article 2 addressed the succession of the House of Hanover to the throne and ensured a Protestant succession, as outlined in the English Act of Settlement of 1701.
The Act of Union had significant implications for the governance and representation of the newly unified kingdom. Scotland sent 45 members to the new House of Commons of Great Britain and also appointed Scottish representative peers to the House of Lords. The financial payoffs to Scottish parliamentarians involved in the union were criticised by Robert Burns in his poem "Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation".
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The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, in which the monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The reigning king or queen is the country’s head of state. All political power rests with the prime minister (the head of government) and the cabinet, and the monarch must act on their advice. The monarch has functions both as head of state and as head of the nation.
The current monarch, King Charles III, is also head of the Commonwealth and head of state in 14 countries beyond the UK. While the King reigns, he does not rule. Ruling is done by his government, and as head of state in the UK, the King is constitutionally obliged to follow the government's advice. His main functions as head of state are to appoint the Prime Minister and all other ministers, to open new sessions of parliament, and to give royal assent to bills passed by parliament, signifying that they have become law. The King also chairs monthly meetings of the Privy Council, to approve Orders in Council, and he makes a host of other appointments, such as the senior judges, but in all this, he acts on the advice of the government.
In a representative role, the sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, giving a sense of stability and continuity, officially recognizing success and excellence, and supporting the ideal of voluntary service. This role has been fulfilled through speeches such as the King's annual broadcast on Christmas Day, through giving honours to recognize public and voluntary service, and through visits to the armed forces, schools, hospitals, charities, and local organizations.
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in making decisions. Constitutional monarchies differ from absolute monarchies (in which a monarch is the sole decision-maker) in that they are bound to exercise powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework. A constitutional monarch in a parliamentary democracy is a hereditary symbolic head of state who mainly performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policymaking power.
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The evolution of the monarchy's relationship with its subjects
The monarchy in the United Kingdom, or the British monarchy, has evolved significantly over the centuries, with the monarch's relationship with their subjects being influenced by various factors, including social and political changes, as well as the personal characteristics of individual monarchs.
The origins of the British monarchy can be traced back to the petty kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and early medieval Scotland, which gradually consolidated into the kingdoms of England and Scotland by the 10th century. During this early period, the monarch's relationship with their subjects was likely more personal and direct, with the monarch holding significant power and influence over their domain.
One of the earliest examples of a monarch's relationship with their subjects being influenced by personal characteristics is the case of King John of England, who ruled in the 12th and 13th centuries. King John's reign was marred by civil strife and conflicts with the nobility, and he is known to have had poor morals, including having many mistresses and at least one illegitimate son. This likely impacted his relationship with his subjects, as even his contemporaries disapproved of his behaviour.
Moving into the 16th century and 17th centuries, the English and Scottish monarchies became increasingly intertwined, with members of the two royal families often intermarrying. This period also saw the start of a shift in power dynamics, with the Magna Carta beginning the process of reducing the English monarch's political powers. The English Reformation and Scottish Reformation further shaped the role of the monarchy, with the monarch taking on a central role in religious affairs.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the subsequent Bill of Rights in 1689 marked a significant shift in the monarchy's relationship with its subjects. The revolution resulted in the installation of William III and Mary II as co-monarchs, and the Bill of Rights further curtailed the power of the monarchy, excluding Catholics from succession to the throne. From the end of the 17th century onwards, monarchs lost executive power and became increasingly subject to Parliament, leading to the constitutional monarchy that exists in the United Kingdom today.
Today, the monarch in the United Kingdom is the head of state and has formal authority over the government, known as "His/Her Majesty's Government". However, in practice, their role is largely ceremonial and representative, with political power resting with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The monarch must act on the advice of these elected officials, and their powers are regulated by the British constitution and constrained by laws enacted in Parliament, conventions, and precedents.
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Frequently asked questions
The United Kingdom became a constitutional monarchy in the 17th century, when monarchs lost executive power and became subject to Parliament. The first monarchs to rule during this period were King James I of England (also King James VI of Scotland) and Queen Elizabeth I.
King James I of England was also King of Scotland, as James VI. He inherited the English and Irish thrones from his cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, in 1603.
Queen Elizabeth I was King James I's first cousin, twice removed. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a hereditary monarch is the head of state, but their powers are regulated by a constitution. In the UK, the reigning king or queen shares power with a constitutionally organized government, and all political power rests with the prime minister and the cabinet.
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