The Government of the U.K main contents:• Two systems and their evolution:

The monarchy

The parliamentary democracy

• Three organs and their roles:

The monarch

The parliament

The cabinet

Introduction

• The oldest representative democracy

• An evolution rather than a revolution

The monarchy• Its history

The divine rights of kings

Restriction of kings’ power(the Great Charter)

The revolution of 1640

Bill of rights in 1689

• Its present roleSymbolic(belongs to everyone)

chief of state(head of the executive)

A part of legislature

Commander in chief of the armed forces

Supreme governor of “the church of England”

Popular role

Represent the country at home and abroad

Example of good citizenship and family life

Underlying role

A confidante of the Prime minister

• Criticism of the monarchy

improper behavior of her children

financial dispute

The Parliament• Its history

Its origin the “Great Council”

House of lords and house of commons

The commons acquired more and more power

Parliament in and after the civil war

Its functions:

passing laws

voting for taxation

scrutinise the government

debate upon major issues

The House of Lords

• Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal

• Inherited peers and appointed peers

• They represent the interests of themselves rather than those of common citizens

The House of Commons

• 650 MPs

• Each represents a part of the population

• Their term is limited

• Their salaries

The cabinet and the PM

• Their origins(history)

• their functions:the executive

The Constitution

• No written constitution

• Its makeupThe Statute Laws

The Common Laws

conventions