Functions and powers

The monarch in law is the head of the executive, an integral part of the legislature, the head of the judiciary, the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the Crown and the temporal head of the established Church of England. But the Crown is only sovereign by the will of Parliament, and the Queen acts on the advice of her ministers which she cannot constitutionally ignore. And in most matters of state the refusal of the Queen to exercise her power according to the direction of her Prime Minister would risk a serious constitutional crisis. That's why it is often said that the monarch reigns but does not rule.

Nevertheless, the functions of the monarch are politically important. The powers of the monarch are to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament; to give royal assent to legislation passed by Parliament. The Queen is the "fountain of justice" and as such can, on the advice of the Home Secretary, pardon or show mercy to convicted criminals. As the "fountain of honour" the Queen confers peerages, knighthoods and other honours. She makes appointments to many important state offices. She appoints or dismisses government ministers, judges, governors, members of diplomatic corps. As the Commander-in-Chief of the armed services (the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force) she appoints officers, and as temporal head of the established Church of England she makes appointments to the leading positions in the Church.

In international affairs as Head of the State the Queen has the power to conclude treaties, to declare war and to make peace, to recognize foreign states and governments, and to annexe and cede territories.

Notes to the text:

to prorogue – назначать перерыв в работе парламента

the Royal Navy – ВМС Великобритании

the Royal Air Force – ВВС Великобритании

to conclude treaties – заключать договора

to annexe – присоединять

to cede – передавать, уступать

Task 6. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: законодательство, главнокомандующий вооруженным силами, монарх (2 слова), действовать по чьему-либо совету, созывать, распустить (2 слова) парламент, королевская санкция, миловать (2 слова), присваивать (звания, титулы), звание пэра, рыцарское звание, почести, назначать, заключать договор, объявлять войну, заключить мир.

Task 7. Complete Table 1 with antonyms and Table 2 with synonyms. Use the words from the text:

Table 1Table 2

…	assent		a monarch	…
to dissolve	…	…	to reign
…	to convict	to dissolve
to appoint	…	…	matters
…	to make peace	to pardon	…
permanent	…	…	a chief

Task 8. Answer the questions:

1. Why is it said that the monarch reigns but does not rule?

2. What are the powers of a monarch?

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