Transcript Government of the British Isles and Norden

Government
of the
British Isles
and
Northern Europe
North Carolina Geographic Alliance
PowerPoint Presentations 2007
Definitions
• Monarchy – rule by a monarch, usually a
king or a queen.
• Absolute Monarchy – a monarchy in which
the king or queen has almost total control.
• Constitutional Monarchy – a monarchy in
which the power of the monarch is limited
by law and custom.
Definitions
• Democracy – meaning “rule by the people”.
A system of government, such as a
representative democracy, where people
choose their leaders.
• Republic – A system of government is which
representatives are elected by the people to
govern and make laws.
Absolute Monarchy
Henry VIII ruled
England from
1509-1547
Elizabeth I ruled
England from 15581603
For centuries
England was
ruled by absolute
monarchs such as
Henry VIII and
Elizabeth I. Both
ruled with almost
total control.
Constitutional Monarchy
Queen Elizabeth II rules
the United Kingdom as a
constitutional monarch.
While she has little ruling
power, she serves as a
symbol of the country’s
traditions and carries out
many ceremonial powers.
Constitutional Monarchy
Queen Elizabeth
speaks at the opening
of Parliament each
year. This is a
ceremonial duty of the
monarch of the United
Kingdom.
Constitutional Monarchy
In London, the royal family lives at Buckingham Palace.
British Parliament
Parliament is the legislative branch of the
government of the United Kingdom. Laws
are made by Parliament.
Parliament consists of two branches
House of Lords
House of Commons
House of Lords
The House of Lords,
with about 1200
members, is made
up of the bishops of
the Church of
England and the
hereditary and life
peers, all of whom
are appointed by the
Crown.
The House of Lords has
little political power.
House of Commons
The House of
Commons has 659
members, elected
from equal-size
districts by British
subjects at least 18
years old.
Members of
Parliament serve
a five year term.
House of Commons
The House of Commons holds the political
power in the United Kingdom. It is the
ruling legislative (law making) part of
government.
The political leader of the United Kingdom,
the prime minister, comes from the
House of Commons.
House of Commons
The political party with the majority of the
seats in the House of Commons becomes
the majority party. The leader of the
majority party becomes the Prime Minister of
the United Kingdom.
The Prime Minister selects members of his
or her party to serve on the Cabinet. The
Prime Minister and the Cabinet form the
ruling government of the United Kingdom.
House of Commons
Conservative Party
Labour Party
367 seats
292 seats
Majority party
Minority Party
The leader of the
party becomes the
Prime Minister,
appoints the
Cabinet and forms
the government.
The leader of the
party leads the
Opposition in the
House of
Commons.
House of Commons
Conservative Party
Labour Party
249 seats
410 seats
Minority Party
Majority party
The leader of the
party leads the
Opposition in the
House of
Commons.
The leader of the
party becomes the
Prime Minister,
appoints the
Cabinet and forms
the government.
Monarchies in Norden
and the British Isles
• United Kingdom-Queen Elizabeth II (1952)
• Norway - King Harald V (1991)
• Sweden – King Carl XVI Gustav (1973)
• Denmark - Queen Margarethe II (1972)
Republics in Norden and the British Isles
• Ireland
• Iceland
• Finland
These republics have an
elected parliament and a
prime minister that
serves as the head of
government.
They also have an
elected president who
performs ceremonial
duties.
House of Windsor Succession
HRH Queen
Elizabeth II
M
1
HRH Prince Phillip,
Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Charles,
Prince of Wales
2
Prince
William
3
Prince
Harry