A Constitutional Monarchy is a form of Constitutional government, where a hereditary Monarch is the Head of State, unlike in an Absolute Monarchy, wherein the King or the Queen is the sole source of political power, as he or she is not legally bound by the Constitution.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and Her Governments: In the United Kingdom many important governmental actions are done ‘on behalf of’ Queen Elizabeth II, or she exercises her own powers at the direction of the Prime Minister. These are generally things which remain within the Royal Prerogative.
[/accordion_group][accordion_group title=”Religion and Royal Peculiars“]In the United Kingdom, The Queen’s title includes the words ‘Defender of the Faith’.This means Her Majesty has a specific role in both the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. As established Churches, they are recognised by law as the official Churches of England and Scotland, respectively. In both England and Scotland, the established Churches are subject to the regulation of law. The principle of religious toleration is fully recognised both for those of other creeds and for those without any religious beliefs.
[/accordion_group][accordion_group title=”Benefits & Pitfalls“]Whilst monarchy is unelected, unlike an elected Presidency, Constitutional monarchy allows for certain powers of the Monarch to be limited and balanced by an elected body in the form of a Parliament of elected ministers, and is therefore a democratic process drawn upon an enlightened basis for government. Monarchists argue that Constitutional Monarchy possesses two central features that rarely are to be found in Presidents; while Presidents may see themselves in terms of a limited term of office, with them often being “retired” from other posts into the presidency, constitutional monarchy tends to involve a professional life-long commitment.
[/accordion_group][accordion_group title=”Royal Finances“]Head of State expenditure is the official expenditure relating to The Queen’s duties as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth. Head of State expenditure has reduced significantly over the past decade, from £87.3 million in 1991-92 (expressed in current pounds) to £38.2 million in 2009-10. In the year 2009-10, Palace expenditure equalled the cost of just 62 pence per person. Head of State expenditure is met from public funds in exchange for the surrender by The Queen of the revenue from the Crown Estate – this was known as the Civil List.
[/accordion_group][accordion_group title=”Defend the Crown“]There are many ways in which the British Monarchist Foundation strives to defend the crown. Whether it be through education, fundraising, events, challenging ignorance in the media and bringing awareness to world of the positive and valuable attributes of our Constitutional Monarchy, we believe that knowledge is power. In our desire to further educate and support the case for our Constitutional Monarchy, the following points support the case that Constitutional Monarchy within the United Kingdom holds more value that any other alternative government process.
[/accordion_group][accordion_group title=”Dispelling Republican Rhetoric“]Individuals and organisations of a republican nature would like for the overall population to believe that there is no space for a Constitutional Monarchy in a modern world, that the very establishment and theology of Constitutional Monarchy is antiquated and undemocratic, however we know the truth. In our desire to educate about and prove that Constitutional Monarchy is the strongest form of government (as if time has not done so), the British Monarchist Foundation refutes negative the claims often raised by republicans and the organisations which support them as illustrated in this section.
[/accordion_group][accordion_group title=”Proof in the Polls“]Over recent years numerous opinion polls have been carried out by recognised and respected polling organisations, these show that the Monarchy has clear majority support in the United Kingdom and that only a minority wish to abolish the Monarchy and become republic. The following graph shows support for retaining the monarchy or becoming a republic from 22 polls conducted by the polling group Ipsos Mori between 1993 and 2011.
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