文档介绍：Culture and Background Chapter 3: The Government of the United Kingdom
UK Government: History
The Monarchy is the oldest institution of government in the UK
Rule of a King (or Queen)
Divine Right of Kings
Kings got their authority to rule from God, not from the people
King James IV and I
UK Government: History
Magna Carta
Signed in 1215 by King John
Limited kings’ abilities to abuse their power
Expresses the liberty and political rights of citizens against the Crown
UK Government: History
Parliament
Started as a council to provide money for the king
Gained more power over time
Eventually began making laws for the country
UK Government: History
“The Roundheads” led by Oliver Cromwell
Wanted to abolish the monarchy
Killed King Charles I in 1642
Ruled for 18 years (Cromwell ruled for 11 of those years)
Oliver Cromwell
UK Government: History
The Bill of Rights
In 1689, Following the civil war, Parliament passed the Bill of Rights which ensured the King would never be able to ignore the Parliament
UK Government: History
The
The King or Queen would meet regularly with important members of Parliament, this group became known as the .
Today the top government members (Prime Minister, Ministers, etc.) make up the .
Members of Parliament
After 1832, representatives to the House mons were elected by popular election.
The Political Party with the most seats form the government.
UK Government: British Parliamentary Democracy
Because of Britain’s imperial past, there are similar systems of government in many former colonies around the world.
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
The representative of the Queen in each country is called the Governor-General.
The Constitution
Britain is one of only two countries in the world without a written constitution (Israel is the other)
The foundations of the British state are laid out in:
Statute law: laws passed by mon laws: laws established mon practice in the courts
Conventions: unwritten rules vital to the working