Concetti Chiave
- The Crown symbolizes executive power in the UK, embodied by the Sovereign but functions through Ministers accountable to Parliament.
- Queen Elizabeth II, as the current sovereign, serves as the Head of State, Head of the Commonwealth, and Head of the Church of England.
- The Queen's roles include opening and closing Parliament, granting Royal Assent to laws, and issuing pardons on ministerial advice.
- The UK Parliament is composed of the Queen, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons, with the latter being the primary legislative body.
- General elections occur every five years, determining MPs in the House of Commons and subsequently the formation of the Government Executive.
The Crown
The Crown is the symbol of the executive power represents both the Sovereign and the Government. The Crown is identified in the person of the Sovereign, but its functions are exercised by Ministers who respond to Parliament. Thus Britain is a parliamentary democracy, “governed by Her Majesty’s Government in the name of the Queen”. The present sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, is one of the longest reigning British monarchs; in fact she ascended the throne in 1952.
Besided being a symbol of national unity, the Queen is Britain’s Head of State, Head of the Commonwealth and of the Church of England. She opens and closes Parliament and, in case of government crisis, she dissolves it. She gives her Royal Assent to transform a Bill into law.
The Queen has also the power to confer peerages and other titles and can, on ministerial advice, grand pardon to people convicted of crime. However, the power to conclude treaties, to declare war and to make peace rests with the Government, under the Royal Prerogative.
Parliament and Government
Parliament consists of three elements: the Queen (who summons, prorogues and sometimes dissolves Parliament), the House of Lords (who are not elected by the people) and the House of Commons, chosen general elections. The House of Commons with its 659 representatives is the supreme legislative authority in the UK: it makes laws by passing Acts of Parliament and discusses important political issues. The 688 non-elected members of the House of Lords (hereditary and life peers, two archbishops and 24 bishops of the Church of England) are partially involved in the legislative process: they examine and revise Bills from the House of Commons.
General elections are held every five years: the people elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons in Westminster Palace in London. Each MP represents one on 59 constituencies, or “seats”, in the UK and is also normally a member of one of the major political parties. The leader of the party that wins most seats at a general election is invited by the Queen to form the Government Executive which determines the country’s policy. The Executive includes the Prime Minister (or Premier) and the Cabinet Ministers. The remaining MPs are grouped into opposition and other parties. The result is an assembly that reflects a broad of range of political opinions all of which have a voice in the debates about key government issue and policies.
Domande da interrogazione
- Qual è il ruolo della Corona nel sistema politico britannico?
- Quali sono le funzioni principali della Regina nel Regno Unito?
- Come è composto il Parlamento britannico?
- Come si formano il Governo e l'Esecutivo nel Regno Unito?
La Corona rappresenta il potere esecutivo e simboleggia sia il Sovrano che il Governo. Le sue funzioni sono esercitate dai Ministri che rispondono al Parlamento, rendendo la Gran Bretagna una democrazia parlamentare.
La Regina è il Capo di Stato, Capo del Commonwealth e della Chiesa d'Inghilterra. Apre e chiude il Parlamento, può scioglierlo in caso di crisi governativa, e dà il suo Assenso Reale per trasformare un disegno di legge in legge.
Il Parlamento è composto dalla Regina, dalla Camera dei Lord e dalla Camera dei Comuni. La Camera dei Comuni, con 659 rappresentanti eletti, è l'autorità legislativa suprema, mentre la Camera dei Lord, con membri non eletti, esamina e rivede i disegni di legge.
Dopo le elezioni generali, il leader del partito che vince più seggi è invitato dalla Regina a formare il Governo Esecutivo, che include il Primo Ministro e i Ministri del Gabinetto, determinando la politica del paese.
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