Official name: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Political system: Constitutional monarchy without a written constitution; there are Acts of Parliaments and conventions

Executive power of the state

There are two heads of the country:

  • 1. the official head - the monarch (today queen Elizabeth II from the house of Windsor, she has been queen since 1952)
  • she can act only on the advice of her ministers and she is not responsible (/she doesn't bear responsibility) for the deed, the ministers are responsible
  • Her majesty the Queen

  • 2. the real head - the prime minister (today Tony Blair) and the Cabinet - the seat of the PM and C is 10, Downing Street

the Cabinet

  • about 20 seniors ministers selected by prime minister personally
  • Cabinet and prime minister have brief sessions at least one a week regularly and there is no voting, the final decision is up to the prime minister
  • (the 1st PM of GB - Robert Walpole, 1721)

  • the modern government is arranged in about 15 departments (ministerstvá) with ministerial head - the minister with the title "The Secretary of State for…"
  • every Secretary of State has 2 or 3 "Ministers of State for…" - their are second in importance, in hierarchy
  • The Secretary of State for finance = "Chancellor of Exchequer" - archaic title, seat: 11, Downing Street

Law-making power of the state

  • the highest low-making body of Britain is the British Parliament

1215 - Magna Charta Libertatum (The Great Charter of Liberties)

  • for the 1st time is stated that the king is not above the law
  • it was signed by John the Lackland from the house of Plantagenet

  • the 1st sitting of parliament was in 1295 - 1st parliament was held under the king Edward I
  • in 17107 - the Scottish parliament was abolished (abolishment of), now the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh is again

Parliament consists of:

  • 1. The House of Lords (about 900) - members have hereditary right
  • life peers - they are given that title for great achievements and it is only for that person
  • 26 Lords Spiritual - the Church of England, Anglican Church - archbishops and bishops)

2.