monarchy

Government in which a single person holds a varying degree of legislative (law-making) and executive (administrative) power. Where such government has no constitutional checks or limits, it is known as absolutism, or absolute monarchy. Absolute monarchs rule by the ‘divine right of kings’, their right to rule being given by God and, therefore, unchallengeable. Limited or constitutional monarchies, such as that of the British crown, have defined or limited powers within the constitution, and their position is more social than political.

The monarchy is the oldest institution of government in the UK, existing centuries before Parliament. The only interruption in the history of the UK monarchy was when the UK was a Republic between 1649 and 1660. The UK monarchy's absolute power has been gradually reduced over the centuries. The monarch is the UK's head of state and also head of the Commonwealth. The monarch must give the royal assent to every bill passed by Parliament, before it can become an act of Parliament. The monarch is the only person who can dissolve parliament. Other duties include constitutional functions such as the opening of parliament, presiding at ceremonial occasions, visiting local communities, and representing the UK internationally.