government of the british isles and northern europe north carolina geographic alliance powerpoint...

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Government of the British Isles and Northern Europe North Carolina Geographic Alliance PowerPoint Presentations 2007

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Government of the

British Isles and

Northern Europe

North Carolina Geographic AlliancePowerPoint 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 MonarchyFor centuries

England was

ruled by absolute

monarchs such as

Henry VIII and

Elizabeth I. Both

ruled with almost

total control.

Henry VIII ruled England from 1509-1547

Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558-

1603

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 LordsThe 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 CommonsThe 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 CommonsThe 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

Majority partyMinority 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.

Monarchies in Nordenand 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

1

2

3

HRH QueenElizabeth II

MHRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales

PrinceHarry

Prince William