BRITISH CIVILISATION - THE MONARCHY AND THE CONSTITUTION

1. What are the official titles of the monarch?

“By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith”

Head of the State, Head of the Church

2. What is the title Fidei Defensor held by the monarch? What does Prince Charles want to change about this title and why?

“Fidei Defensor” = Defender of the Faith

- the term was introduced by Henry VIII; it reflects the Sovereign's position as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England (formally superior to Archbishop of Canterbury)

• it is present on all current British coins by the abbreviations, F D or FID DEF

Prince Charles wants to change the title from “The Defender of the Faith” (`the' directly refers to the Anglicanism) to ”The Defender of Faith” as Britain became a multicultural country and every religion is respected and therefore should be `defended' there.

3. Why does the monarch reign but not rule? What are the implications of this?

The power of the monarch in the modern British system is mostly symbolic and ceremonial, summed up by the saying, "the Queen reigns but she does not rule." In other words, as a constitutional monarch, the Queen plays an important role in the government, but does not have any real power. She cannot make or pass legislation and must remain politically neutral. As Head of State, she performs many official duties but almost always acts on the advice of her elected ministers. The Monarch “rules” through the government.

Implications:

• Official duties of the Head of State are separated from the politics

• This system guarantees stability and continuity of the monarchy

( during the realm of Elizabeth II - 11 Prime Ministers )

• The monarch is not above the law

• No Royal inferences in the law

• Taxation by Royal Prerogative

• Freedom to petition the King/ Queen

• MPs elected with no inference from the King/Queen

4. What must be the religion of the monarch and why?

The monarch must be a protestant as the Head of the Church of England; according to the Act of Settlement, neither Catholics, nor those who marry a Catholic, may remain in the line of succession.

5. What is the family name of the Royal Family?

The family name is Windsor. They changed their name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917.

From 8 February 1960, all The Queen's descendants who do not bear the "style, title or attribute of HRH, and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess" have the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. (Mountbatten as Prince Philip's surname).

6. Who is the heir to the throne? And the second in line? What is the Act of Settlement? Should it be changed?

Prince Charles is presently heir to the British throne. He will not become king until his mother, Queen Elizabeth, abdicates (gives up the throne), retires or dies. When either of these happen, Prince Charles may abdicate and pass the throne to his eldest son Prince William (second in line to the throne).

Act of Settlement (1701) is one of the main constitutional laws governing the succession to the throne of the United Kingdom

• The monarch must belong to The Church of England as s/he is the head of it

• Neither Catholics, nor those who marry a Catholic, nor those born out of wedlock, may remain in the line of succession

Challenges have been made against the Act of Settlement, especially its provisions regarding Roman Catholics and preference for males. Further, as the current monarch is a woman, and both her eldest child, and, in turn, his eldest child, are Anglican males, any move to change the succession laws would have no immediate implications. Consequently, there has been little public concern with the issues, and debate has been confined to largely academic circles. If, however, Prince William were to father a daughter, and then a son, or express a desire to marry a Catholic woman, moves to alter the Act of Settlement could be significantly revived.

It is perceived as a great prejudice against Catholics. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England, pointed out that Prince William, "can marry by law a Hindu, a Buddhist, anyone, but not a Roman Catholic"

7. What is the Civil List and who is it paid to?

In the United Kingdom, the list of sums appropriated annually by Parliament to pay the expenses of the sovereign and his or her household. The sums are charged to the government's Consolidated Fund and audited by the treasury.

Civil List is a list of individuals to whom money is paid by the government. This is a return of a small portion of the revenue from the Crown Lands that are surrendered by the monarch to parliament at the beginning of each reign. Now only the Queen and Prince Philip receive founding from the Civil List.

8. Do the Queen and the Royal Family pay tax? Has this always been the case?

Though always voluntarily subject to the Value Added Tax and other indirect taxes, the Queen agreed to pay taxes on income and capital gains from 1992, although the details of this arrangement are both voluntary and secret. Since 1993 the Queen's personal income has been taxed as any other Briton. The Queen's private estate will be subject to Inheritance Tax.

Some members of the Royal Family carry out public duties and they receive an annual payment known as a Parliamentary Annuity, the funds being supplied to cover office costs. The Queen pays for the rest of the Royal Family from her own pocket ( money from the Crown Land ) apart from Prince Charles who pays for himself and his family.

9. What official duties are carried out by the monarch in the role of Head of State?

• she stands over ceremonial occasions, e.g. State Opening of the Parliament

• she has to sign every single act of Parliament (Royal Assent)

• once a week she meets the Prime Minister

• she appoints bishops, diplomats, etc.

• she gives honours (medals, titles, etc.)

• she entertains foreign heads of state

• she represents the UK around the world

10. What other roles does the monarch carry out? What is meant by the term Head of the Nation?

Monarch's roles:

• Head of the Church of England and Scotland (“The Supreme Governor of the Church of England”)

• Head of the Executive and Judiciary

• Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces

• Head of the Nation

• Head of the Commonwealth

As the Head of Nation, the Queen's role is:

• She acts as a focus for the nation to join together

• She visits local communities

• Charity work

• She organizes Garden Parties (those who received invitations can bring one person each with them)

11. What is the Honours List? At what times of the years do individuals receive honours from the Queen?

Twice a year at Buckingham Palace, the Queen gives titles or 'honours', once in January (New Year Honours List) and once in June (The Birthday Honours List).

Honours received include:

• C.B.E. - Companion of the British Empire O.B.E. - Order of the British Empire M.B.E. - Member of the British Empire

• Knighthood - a knight has "Sir" before his name. A new knight kneels in front of the Queen. She touches first his right shoulder, then his left shoulder with a sword. Then she says "Arise, Sir...and his first name, and the knight stands.

• Peerage - a peer is a lord. Peers sit in the House of Lords.

• Dame/Baroness - these are two of the highest honours for a woman.

12. What official roles do other members of the Royal Family play?

• Often carry out official duties in the UK and abroad where The Queen cannot be present in person.

• When official events such as receptions, State banquets and garden parties are held, the Royal Family supports The Queen in making her guests welcome.

• Represent The Queen and the nation in Commonwealth or other countries, at events such as State funerals or national festivities, or through longer visits to strengthen Britain's diplomatic and economic relations.

• Supporting and encouraging the public and charity sectors

• Meetings with ordinary people to understand their interests, problems and concerns

13. Can the monarch vote in British elections? Why/why not? And European elections?

No, the monarch cannot vote in British elections because as the Head of state s/he must remain politically neutral.

The monarch (as well as the members of the Royal Family who do not hold a peerage) is eligible to vote in European elections, although in practice it would be seen as unconstitutional if s/he ever did.

14. What relationship does the monarch have with the Prime Minister? When do they meet?

• The Prime Minister is the "Head of Her Majesty's Government"

• the monarch is responsible for appointing a new Prime Minister

• The Prime Minister takes office by attending the Monarch in private audience, and Kissing Hands, and that appointment is immediately effective without any other formality or instrument

• The monarch could in theory unilaterally dismiss a Prime Minister, but in practice a Prime Minister's term now comes to an end only by electoral defeat, death, or resignation

• The Prime Minister acts as the public "face" and "voice" of Her Majesty's Government, both at home and abroad.

• Solely upon the advice of the Prime Minister, the Sovereign exercises her statutory and prerogative powers: they include the dissolution of Parliament; high judicial, political, official and Church of England ecclesiastical appointments; and the conferral of peerages, knighthoods, decorations and other honours.

They meet once a week.

15. What does the phrase “Queen in Parliament” mean?

It means that every act of Parliament must be signed by the Queen (=Royal Assent); it refers to the Crown in its legislative role, acting with the advice and consent of the lower house and upper house.

16. What is the Commonwealth? What is the role of the Queen within the Commonwealth?

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary, intergovernmental organisation which currently comprises 54 sovereign states (all but two of which were formerly part of the British Empire). The first Head of the Commonwealth was King George VI, the second is his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. The Commonwealth is not a political union.The member states co-operate within the promotion of democracy, human rights, free trade, good governance, the rule of law and world peace. The Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth is a symbol of the association (she has no executive power). Elizabeth II's powers are theoretically very large, but in practice are never exercised. Elizabeth II serves more as a figurehead, while real power is invested in other roles within the Commonwealth.

17. Distinguish between the terms the United Kingdom, the British Isles and Great Britain giving examples of when they might be used.

The UK - Great Britain + the northeastern part of Ireland + many small islands

Great Britain - England + Scotland+ Wales

The British Isles - The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland + The Republic of Ireland

18. What are the flags, national anthems and patron saints of each country within the United Kingdom as well as the Republic of Ireland?

	National anthem	Flag	Emblem	Patron Saint
The UK	“God save the Queen”		A rose, a lion	no
The Republic of Ireland	"The Soldier's Song" ("Amhrán na bhFiann")		A harp, a shamrock	St. Patrick
Northern Ireland	“Londonderry Air”		A shamrock	St. Patrick
England	“Land of hope and glory”, “Jerusalem”	St. George's cross	A red rose	St. George
Wales	“Land of my fathers”		A daffodil/ a leek	St. David
Scotland	Officially none, de facto: “Flower of Scotland” “Scotland the Brave”	St. Andrew's cross	A thistle	St. Andrew the Apostle

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