British Parliament
The history of the British Parliament
- British Parliament the world's oldest
- The Parliament of England traces its origin from the
Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot. When William the Conqueror, who ruled England
from 1066, there were large landowners and advice church hierarchs.
In 1215, large landowners have John Lackland signing of the Magna Carta, according to which the king could appoint new taxes
(except for some of the old feudal taxes) without the consent of the
board of the Royal (royal court), which gradually evolved into a parliament.
- In 1265, Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester,
has collected the first elected Parliament.
The composition of the British Parliament
- The UK Parliament is bicameral, that is based on a
bicameral system, and consists of the House of Commons and House of
Lords. However, as the national representative body of parliament is
a triune institution, which includes not only both houses, but the monarch,
( Crown-in-Parliament), because only the presence of all three elements
form the legal the sense of what is called the British Parliament. This
relationship is due to feature the principle of the separation of powers
which consists in the fact that in the system of government is the UK
division and in fact, formally missing: the monarch is an integral part
of each of the branches of government. So, one of the political prerogatives
of the monarch is its right to convene and dissolve the parliament.
In addition, no law can acquire legal force until then, until it is
received Royal Assent, that is, until it is approved by the monarch.
Queen heads the parliament, however, its role is largely ceremonial
in nature: in practice it usually acts in accordance with the recommendations
of the Prime Minister and other members of the government.
House of Lords
- The House of Lords originated in the XIX century and
at that time consisted entirely of big feudal lords - the peers, the
titles of which initially could only be transferred by inheritance,
but she received its name only in 1544, when it had much more power
than the elected House of Commons. In 1649, the upper house was abolished
by the revolutionary government that came to power during the English
Civil War, but rebuilt in 1660. Since the XIX century, the powers of
the upper chamber is gradually limited, and it is currently weaker than
the elected part.
House of Commons
- This royal council, is going for a short period, it
included the clergy, the nobles, and representatives of counties (known
as «knights of the shire»). The main concern of this
meeting was approval of the taxes proposed by the Crown. Gradually,
the council has evolved into a legislative power.
The powers of the British Parliament
The
Parliament of the United Kingdom may set their own laws and regulations.
Some acts are valid on the entire territory of the Kingdom, including
Scotland, but as Scotland has its own legal system (the so-called Scottish
law (English. Scots law)), many acts do not apply in Scotland or are
accompanied by the same acts, but acts only in Scotland or (since 1999)
the laws adopted by the Parliament of Scotland.
Judicial functions
Queen
in Parliament is the highest court in most cases, but some of Parliament
comes from the ancient custom to file a petition to the House of correcting
injustice and justice. House of Commons ceased considering petitions
to annul the judgment in 1399, essentially transforming the House of
Lords in the highest judicial body of the country. Now the judicial
functions of the House of Lords are not performed across the Chamber,
and a panel of judges, which was granted by the sovereign life peeragethe
cases decided by a court of the Privy Council (for example, appeals
from ecclesiastical courts). Judicial powers of the
The term of office
- Initially, there were no restrictions on the duration
of the Parliament, but the Triennial Acts set the maximum term of office
of three years. Septennial Act 1715 extended the term of up to seven
years, but an act of Parliament in 1911 reduced it to five years. During
World War II, the duration of the parliament has been temporarily increased
to ten years, and after its completion in 1945 again found to be five
years.
- Before the death of the monarch automatically meant
the dissolution of parliament. However, it was inconvenient not to have
the Parliament at the time when the succession to the throne could be
challenged. During the reign of William III and Mary II was adopted
by the Statute that Parliament should continue to work within six months
after the death of the sovereign, if it will not be dissolved before.
Representation of the People Act of 1867 (Reform Act 1867) overturned
the establishment. Now the death of the sovereign does not affect the
duration of the Parliament
The process of the parliamentary session
- Monarch arrives at Westminster from Buckingham Palace
in a carriage drawn by horses, accompanied by the Royal Horse Guards.
He goes inside through a specially designated entry under the Victoria Tower. Above the
building throughout the ceremony instead of the Union Jack flying in
the Royal Standard .Monarch met the great Lord Chamberlain with a long wooden
rod in his hand, and King of Arms (Black Rod), carrying on his shoulder
a cane with a metal tip. They lead the monarch through the corridors,
walking in front of him with. Serjeant-at-Arms, who carries the ceremonial mace, shouting
the phrase: «Hats off, Strangers!» - To present bared their heads in front of His /
Her Majesty. Since the monarch is forbidden to enter the House of Commons,
King of Arms leads him to the House of Lords. Going back to the monarch
welcomed those present, then he sits on the throne prepared for him
and invites everyone to follow his example phrase: «My Lords, pray be seated». Peers are dressed for the ceremony in their ceremonial
red robes and wigs.
- Then the king of arms sent to the House of Commons to invite deputies
to attend the royal speech. But as soon as he entered the courtroom
on the threshold of this meeting, members slam the door in his face,
to show him the superiority of the lower chamber and its independence
from the royal authority, of which he is the messenger. After the King
of Arms thrice knocked on the door with his cane, he is allowed to enter
the hall, accompanied by a parliamentary usher, who must pick up the
mace of the House. He welcomed the nod to the speaker, and then the
deputies and the following phrase formally notify them that the king
awaits them in the House of Lords: «Mr Speaker, The Queen (or King) commands
this honourable House to attend Her Majesty immediately
in the House of Peers» Then the deputies out of the hall
after the parliamentary ushers, carrying a mace on his shoulder.
Thank you for attention