2. QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Born on April 21, 1926.
Her father was King
George VI.
She was a mechanic
during WWII.
She married Prince
Philip in 1947.
She ascended to the
throne on February 6
1952.
3. QUEEN ELIZABETH II’S REIGN
She began her political
duties immediately.
Her first Prime Minister
was Winston Churchill.
She celebrated 50 years
as Queen in 2002.
Since 1952, The Queen
has conferred almost
400,000 awards and
honors.
The Queen has
undertaken over 256
official overseas visits to
129 different countries
during her reign.
4. LINE OF SUCCESSION
The first born son of the sovereign had
been, for centuries, the first in line for the
throne.
Oct. 28, 2011- CHANGE: If Will and
Kate's first child is a girl, it's now clear
that she'll probably become queen one
day — and not even getting a little brother
can mess that up.
The Commonwealth countries agreed
Friday to change centuries-old rules of
succession that put sons on the throne
ahead of any older sisters. So that
hypothetical daughter of Prince William
and Kate Middleton — now known as
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge —
would have a prime place in history: the
first princess to beat out any younger
brothers and accede to the throne. STILL
NEEDS TO BE OFFICALLY
APPROVED!!
Catholics are ineligible for the throne .
5. CURRENT HEIRS TO THE THRONE
1. Charles, Prince of Wales
(First born son).
2. Prince William of Wales
(First born son of the Prince
of Wales).
3. Prince Henry of Wales
(Second born son of the
Prince of Wales).
4. Prince Andrew, The Duke
of York (Second born son of
the Queen).
5. Princess Beatrice of York
(First born daughter of the
Duke of York)
6. THE PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
The Parliament is
divided between two
houses.
The Upper House-The
House of Lords
The Lower House-The
House of Commons.
The Parliament is the
legislative authority in
the United Kingdom.
7. THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
This house has 650
elected members.
The Prime Minister is
selected from the
majority party.
Members can ask for a
vote of no confidence
in the government.
Most bills are
introduced here.
8. THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Members are not
elected.
They are divided into
two groups. Lords
Temporal, and Lords
Spiritual.
Cannot ask for vote of
confidence in
government.
9. PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
Highest political
authority in the UK.
Advises the Sovereign
on many of her duties.
Guides the direction of
the legislature.
The public face and
voice of the
government.
Appoints cabinet
members.
10. CABINET OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
The decision making
body of the UK.
Made up of the Prime
Minister and the 22
heads of departments.
The Prime Minister can
appoint or dismiss
members of the
cabinet.
Her father was second in line for the throne. Her Uncle Edward VIII was King for less then a year. He was forced to abdicate, or give up the throne when he intended to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who was still married. They would have been married as soon as she was free to do so. You cannot become remarried in the church of England so a marriage like that to the king would have been illegal since the king is the head of the Anglican church. If he did marry her it would have created a constitutional crisis, so he chose to give up the crown and marry Ms. Simpson, allowing his brother to ascend to the throne.Elizabeth joined the women’s services of the army during WWII. Where she served as a mechanic and truck driver and an occasional ambulance driver. She saw no combat. She remains the last head of state to have served in uniform during WWII. She met her husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark when she was 13. They exchanged letters from then on. She was in Kenya when she heard the news of her father’s death, the day she became Queen. Her mother died shortly before her coronation, or when she receives the crown. This was the first widely broadcast television events in the world.
She has Tuesday evening meetings most weeks with her Prime Minister of the day. She has conferred with 12 Prime Ministers. Her golden jubilee was celebrated in 2002. It was celebrated shortly after the deaths of her mother and sister. She is the third lonest reigning monarch at just short of 59 years. She would become the longest serving in 2015, when she is 89. Honors and visits are her main political duties.
Most of the succession rules are outlined in the 1701 Act of Succession.The 2nd born son is second in line, the second born daughter would be behind all males and previously born daughters. At the time that the line of succession was established women had none of the rights that they have today (at least not in England) and it was believed a woman succeeding to the throne would mean that she would need to be married and thus the future of England could be controlled by an overseas king. The British monarch is also the head of the Church of England so it’s quite understandable that this role couldn’t go to a Catholic. If someone who is in line for the throne should marry a Catholic then they have to forfeit their rights to the throne, however their children are still eligible for the throne as long as they are brought up in the Anglican faith. Children born to parents who are not married cannot gain the crown, the marriage of their parents does not change this.
Lords Temporal are appointed by the sovereign on advice from the Prime Minister. Lords Spiritual are the highest ranking members of the Anglican Church.
The Queen asks the prime minister to form a government in her name. The QueenDave Cameron- PM
Serve at pleasure of the monarch, like the PM Prime minister: David Cameron, 43, ConservativeDeputy prime minister: Nick Clegg, 43, Liberal DemocratChancellor: George Osborne, 38, ConservativeHome secretary: Theresa May, 53, ConservativeForeign secretary: William Hague, 49, ConservativeDefence secretary: Liam Fox, 48, ConservativeJustice secretary: Kenneth Clarke, 69, ConservativeHealth secretary: Andrew Lansley, 53, ConservativeEducation secretary: Michael Gove, 42, ConservativeBusiness secretary: Vincent Cable, 67, Liberal DemocratChief secretary to the Treasury: David Laws, 44, Liberal DemocratWork and pensions secretary: Iain Duncan Smith, 56, ConservativeEnergy and climate change secretary: Chris Huhne, 55, Liberal DemocratLocal government secretary: Eric Pickles, 58, ConservativeTransport secretary: Philip Hammond, 55, ConservativeEnvironment secretary: Caroline Spelman, 52, ConservativeInternational development secretary: Andrew Mitchell, 54, ConservativeNorthern Ireland secretary: Owen Paterson, 53, ConservativeScotland secretary: Danny Alexander, 37, Liberal DemocratWelsh secretary: Cheryl Gillan, 58, ConservativeCulture, Olympics, media and sport secretary: Jeremy Hunt, 43, ConservativeLeader of the Lords: Lord Strathclyde, 50, ConservativeMinister without portfolio: Lady Warsi, 39, Conservative
while The Sovereign is Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides in the Parliamentthe Head of State’s position is more ceremonial than the official duties of party politicsgoverns according to rules, rather than according to her own free willmust remain politically neutral.almost always acts on the advice of ministersrepresentative of nation, supporting unity and identity to the country, rather than governingappoints Prime Minister and clergy positionsNo political power
