The Monarchy and the ConstitutionIn the increasingly questioning world of the 1990s, the role of the monarchy in a democracy is again coming under scrutiny. Its critics argue that the monarchy is a profoundly conservative institution which serves to inhibit social change; that it has outlived its usefulness; that it symbolizes and reinforces deference and hierachy; and that its radical reform is therefore long overdue.Rejecting these arguments Vernon Bogdanor makes a powerful case for the positive role that monarchy plays in modern democratic politics. Ranging across law, politics, and history he argues that far from undermining democracy, the monarchy sustains and strengthens democratic institutions; that constitutional monarchy is a form of government that ensures not conservatism but legitimacy.The first serious examination of the political role of the monarchy to appear in many years, this book will make fascinating reading for all those interested in the monarchy and the future of British politics. |
Contents
The Evolution of Constitutional Monarchy | 1 |
The Rules of Succession | 42 |
Influence and the Prerogative | 61 |
Copyright | |
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abdication accept advice allegiance appointed argued Asquith Assent Australia Baldwin Balfour become Bonar Law Britain British cabinet century Church of England Church of Scotland Churchill Cited Civil List coalition Commonwealth Conference Conservative constitutional monarchy conventions crisis Crown declared disestablishment dismiss Dominions Duke Edward VIII eign election electorate Elizabeth Empire enjoyed ernment exercise form a government governor governor-general Hardinge Harold head Home Rule Bill House of Commons House of Lords hung parliament independent influence Irish King George king's Knollys leader legislation Liberal Lord Stamfordham MacDonald Macmillan marriage ment minority government National Government Nicolson Oxford University Press Palace parliamentary peers political position prerogative prime minister Prince of Wales principle private secretary Queen Victoria RA GV Reform refuse a dissolution remain republic republican resigned role royal Simpson sover sovereign statute succession symbol throne tion Ulster United Kingdom veto vote