The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a costitutional monarchy even though it has no written costitution.

The organization of the state is based on Act of Parliament and on traditions and unwritten conventions.

It is therefore relatively simple to change such a flexible constitution, as public opinion changes.

The first step towards limiting the absolute power of the sovereign 525b13f was taken in 1215 when the Magna Carta was signed by king John.

This fundamental document granted certain powers to the barons, whose representatives started to meet regularly.

This was the beginning of a process which continued through the centuries: gradually power passed from the monarch to the representatives of the people, that is to say Parliament.

She reigns but she does not rule.

Queen Elizabeth II has no decisionmaking power even though she is the queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

She is a figurehead, above party politics, and she represents continuity with the past in a country that loves tradition.

As head of state, che opens and closes Parliament as much for ceremonial reasons as for political ones.

She appoints the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers, but the Prime Minister is always the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons. A bill passed by both Houses of Parliament does not become a law until she has given the Royal Assent and signed it, but no monarch has refused to do this for over two centuries!

She declares war and makes peace, but only on the request of the Prime Minister.

Then she is the head of the Commonwealth, head of the armed forces and head of the Church of England and represents the United Kingdom at home and abroad, receiving foreign heads of state at Buckingham Palace.

However a lot of her time is taken up with opening new buildings, visiting hospitals, working for charities and touring Commonwealth countries.

Every New Year che confers honours on people who have done something important for the country in one field or another - for instance, eminent politicians, businessmen, scientists, trade unionists.

The highest honour gives the right to sit in the House of Lords as a Life Peer.

Very few people would want to abolish the monarchy for a republic.