Constitutional Powers of the Monarch Today, and Her Right to Dismiss Ministers of the Crown
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- Date Submitted: 11/05/2011 10:53 AM
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Broadly, the term ‘constitutional right’ refers to a freedom or right that is granted through a constitution, to an individual or to society as a whole.
In the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II is at the head of the monarchy. Through her holding this position, prerogative powers have been conferred to her through the development of the common law. Therefore, she theoretically at least, possesses a great deal of power over the constitutional conduct of the country. However, the constitutional writer Walter Bagehot identified the Monarch in 1867 as the "dignified part" rather than the "efficient part" of government; thus suggesting that today, her role in the actual running of the country is becoming obsolete.
In the present day, the prerogative powers possessed by the Sovereign means that in theory at least, she possess a host of constitutional rights which can be exercised. The constitutional rights possessed by the monarch are limited to non-partisan functions; however, they include the power to dismiss ministers of the crown, to refuse to give royal assent to legislation and to grant pardons. In the 19th century Walter Bagehot described the monarchy as “symbolic and ceremonial” but in possession of very little actual power; in the 21st century, this statement has even more truth.
It is still formally the case that executive power in the United Kingdom is vested in the Crown, despite the fact that this may scarcely reflect the reality of modern government. These days, there are some prerogative powers which continue to be exercised by the Monarch. Nevertheless, the decisions to exercise sovereign powers are delegated from the Monarch to ministers or offices of the crown. This fact supports the notion that although through a constitutional right, the monarch may have powers, in reality she may not be able to make use of them. For example, the Monarch does theoretically possess the power to dismiss the Prime Minister. However, in the vast majority of instances,...
In the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II is at the head of the monarchy. Through her holding this position, prerogative powers have been conferred to her through the development of the common law. Therefore, she theoretically at least, possesses a great deal of power over the constitutional conduct of the country. However, the constitutional writer Walter Bagehot identified the Monarch in 1867 as the "dignified part" rather than the "efficient part" of government; thus suggesting that today, her role in the actual running of the country is becoming obsolete.
In the present day, the prerogative powers possessed by the Sovereign means that in theory at least, she possess a host of constitutional rights which can be exercised. The constitutional rights possessed by the monarch are limited to non-partisan functions; however, they include the power to dismiss ministers of the crown, to refuse to give royal assent to legislation and to grant pardons. In the 19th century Walter Bagehot described the monarchy as “symbolic and ceremonial” but in possession of very little actual power; in the 21st century, this statement has even more truth.
It is still formally the case that executive power in the United Kingdom is vested in the Crown, despite the fact that this may scarcely reflect the reality of modern government. These days, there are some prerogative powers which continue to be exercised by the Monarch. Nevertheless, the decisions to exercise sovereign powers are delegated from the Monarch to ministers or offices of the crown. This fact supports the notion that although through a constitutional right, the monarch may have powers, in reality she may not be able to make use of them. For example, the Monarch does theoretically possess the power to dismiss the Prime Minister. However, in the vast majority of instances,...