Political system of the

z
UK: The British
Monarchy
Tarasova Valeria

04001906
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1. The Windsor family: Edward VII, George
V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II.

 an immensely popular and affable sovereign and a

leader of society;
 His social activities involved him in several scandals.
 His reign did much to restore lustre to a monarchy that
had shone somewhat dimly during Victoria’s long
seclusion as a widow.
 In 1902 he resumed his tours of Europe.
 In 1909 Edward became involved in a government
crisis after the House of Lords rejected a budget put
forth by Liberal Prime Minister H.H. Asquith

Edward VII
(1841-1910)
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George V Edward VIII

(1865 – 1936) (1894 -1972)

 He was the only British sovereign ever to

 King of the United Kingdom from 1910 to
voluntarily resign the crown.
1936, the second son of Prince Albert
 After the war and through the early 1920s,
Edward, later King Edward VII.
he undertook extensive goodwill tours of
 He visited the front in France several
the British Empire
times.
 He worked arduously in the garden and
 King George was seriously ill
woodlands, becoming in the 1930s
 He persuaded Ramsay MacDonald and
something of an authority on horticulture,
a part of his cabinet to remain in office
especially on the growing of roses.
and join with Conservative and Liberal
 he opened Parliament and then toured
ministers.
distressed areas in South Wales.
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 He sponsored the annual Duke of York’s

Camp at which equal numbers of public
(private) school boys and boys from
industrial areas.
 Before the outbreak of World War II, the king
affirmed Anglo-French solidarity and formed
a close friendship with U.S. Pres. Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
 During the war, George became a powerful
symbol of courage and fortitude for the
British people.
 His reign was perhaps most important for the
accelerating evolution of the British Empire
into the Commonwealth of Nations and the
postwar transformation of Great Britain into a
welfare state

George VI
z  She became the world’s oldest reigning British
monarch, longest reigning queen regnant in history.
 Elizabeth’s adoration for corgis is well known, as
she has owned over 30 corgis during her reign.
 Legally, the Queen Elizabeth II has the right of
ownership of all the unmarked swans wandering
around Britain waterways
 the first State Head to have used electronic mail in
1976 from an army base.
 The Queen is a passionate horse racing fan. She
has a keen interest in horses and their breeding
z 2. The Monarchy: functions of the Queen,
annual ceremonies & daily routine.

functions of the Queen:

 Opening and closing Parliament
 Approving the appointment of the Prime
Minister
 Giving the Royal Assent to bills- Giving
honours such as peerages (пэры),
knighthoods (рыцарские звания) and
medals
 Head of the Commonwealth
 Head of the Church of England
 Commander-in-Chief
(главнокомандующий) of the armed forces.
 z Annual ceremonies & amp
Interesting fact: Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-
reigning British Monarch in history

 The Easter break preceded by giving out «Maundy coins »*

and by «Maundy* Service at one of the country's cathedrals,
is spent at Windsor Castle.
 Three days of horse racing at the nearby racecourse at
Ascot — Royal Ascot. There, among other engagements, the
Queen holds the first of each summer's garden parties; three
more are held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
 cruise in the Royal yacht "Britannia
 the regular autumn schedule — the State Opening of
Parliament
 A day in December is always set aside for the Queen to
record her radio and television Christmas broadcasts
 z Her Majesty can receive
Daily routine: over 300 letters from the
public every single day. The
ones she doesn’t have time
to reply to personally are
answered by a lady-in-
waiting, who is given
instructions on how the
replies are to be written.
Takes her time to read the daily newspapers;
Responds to the ‘fan mail’ (почта поклонников);
Reads the contents of the famous ‘Red Boxes’(important
letters, such as Cabinet documents, telegrams and state
papers) sent up by Her Majesty’s Private Secretaries;
Time for undertaking engagements (these visits, usually
accompanied by her husband, are on behalf of her
patronages. They visit venues across the country,
sometimes this is up to three visits before lunch!
Dedicates one-on-one time with special guests, such as
overseas ambassadors, High Commissioners etc;
 3. Rules of the Succession to the Throne. Members of the Royal family, their
duties.
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STRICT RULES THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS TO FOLLOW

 NO ONE CAN EAT AFTER THE QUEEN HAS FINISHED HER MEAL
 BOWING AND CURTSYING IS A REQUIREMENT.
 MARRIAGE COMES WITH A NEW NAME.
 APPROVAL IS NEEDED BEFORE A PROPOSAL.
  ROYAL WEDDING BOUQUET MUST CONTAIN MYRTLE.
 EVERY ROYAL WEDDING PARTY MUST INCLUDE A CROP OF
CHILDREN.
 THE FAMILY CAN'T HAVE POLITICAL VIEWS.
 WHEN A ROYAL TRAVELS ABROAD, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO
PACK AN ALL-BLACK OUTFIT
 YOU CAN'T TOUCH A ROYAL
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Members of the Royal family, their
duties
 Prince Charles with his wife travels internationally a lot in order to
support diplomatic relationships with other countries;

 Prince Harry, The Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge set their
own Charity Foundation, hoping to make difference in the world, their
organization is dealing with wide spectrum of cases. Prince Harry is a
founder of Invictus Game – the sport games for disabled people.

 Members of the Royal Family have official relationships with many

units of the Forces, paying regular visits to soldiers, sailors and
airmen serving at home and abroad.

 Members of the Royal Family are able to recognise and participate in

community and local events in every part of the UK, from the opening
of new buildings to celebrations or acts of commemoration.
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4. The Royal residences.

Buckingham Palace, London Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire

. Buckingham Palace may well be the most well It is used as the private residence of the
known of royal residences. In the heart of the capital, Queen and her family – they take
Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence in the Scottish castle each
residence of the British sovereign since 1837 summer.
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Sandringham House, Norfolk
This delightful house retains a real
family country house feel where the
Royal Family spend Christmas – locals
can see the family making their way to
church each Christmas morning.
Windsor Castle, Berkshire
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited
castle in the world. The Queen today still upholds the
tradition of Easter Court, where she resides for a
month from March to April where she entertains
guests with her dine-and-stay parties and attends the
Easter Sunday service.
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5. The Order of the Garter (орден
подвязки), its history and members.

The Order of the Garter was the

first and remains the most
prestigious, British order of
chivalry. It was begun in or
around 1348 by Edward III.
Membership was a mark of royal
favour and a reward for loyalty to
the sovereign and for outstanding
military service.
Members:
 the Monarch
 the Prince of Wales
 no more than twenty-
four members, or
Companions; the order
also comprises
Supernumerary knights
and ladies
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6.The British Constitution: Statute of Westminster, Common Law,
Conventions.

Statute of Westminster:
Magna Carta
 Magna Carta
- Is a document that King John was forced to
 Bill Of Rights
sing by the English barons at Runnymede
 Habeas Corpus Act
in 1215.
 Statute of Westminster of 1931
- It restricted the King’s power and gave new
rights to the barons and the people.
- There are 4 of the original copies of the
Magna Carta
Habeas Corpus Act:
- 1679 z
- It proclaimed sovereign of
person and his property,
the person’s right in courts.

Bill Of Rights:
- the statue of 1689 signed by William III and Mary II. It
confirmed the petition of Right and proclaimed the
foundation of Constututional Monarchy

Statute of Westminster:
- statute of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that
effected the equality of Britain and the then dominions of
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland,
and Newfoundland.
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Common Law
 the body of customary law
 In this sense common law stands in contrast to the
legal system derived from civil law, now widespread
in continental Europe and elsewhere.
 Common law is in effect legal precedent that is made
by judges sitting in court. Unlike statutory provisions,
which are laws that are codified as Acts of
Golden Rule –
Parliament, the common law is constantly changing. treat others as
you would be
 It’s common because it applies to every one equality treated
 It’s not created by parliament

 Common Law is graduate in the Ten Commandment

and the Golden Rule
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Conventions
Unwritten laws
They regular the relations between
different levels of the society from
top to bottom.
Many traditional ceremonies =
conventions too