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The constitution and constitutional monarchy

Study note

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the head of state, but it is the elected government, not the monarch, that runs the country and makes day to day decisions. The monarch reigns within limits set by the constitution and appoints the government rather than ruling personally. This is why the correct description of the UK is a monarchy in which the King is head of state while the government governs.

Unlike many countries, the UK does not have a single written or codified constitution set out in one document. Instead, the way the country is governed comes from many sources, including Acts of Parliament, long standing customs and conventions, and historic documents built up over centuries. The UK never had a revolution that swept away the old system and replaced it with a brand new written one, so its constitution is often called unwritten or uncodified. Remember that there is a monarch, so the UK is not a republic, and the monarch is not elected every few years.

Memory tip: Constitutional monarchy: the monarch is head of state, but the government governs.

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What does it mean that the UK is a constitutional monarchy?

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Show all questions and answers for The constitution and constitutional monarchy(5 questions with explanations)

The constitution and constitutional monarchy: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. What does it mean that the UK is a constitutional monarchy?

    • There is no monarch at all
    • The monarch makes all the laws personally
    • The monarch is head of state but the government runs the country
    • The monarch is elected every five years

    Correct answer: The monarch is head of state but the government runs the country

    In a constitutional monarchy the monarch is head of state while the elected government governs.

  2. 2. The UK has a single written constitution in one document.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: False

    False. The UK's constitution is uncodified, drawn from laws, conventions and historic documents.

  3. 3. What type of state is the UK, in which the monarch is head of state but the government runs the country?

    • monarchy
    • federation
    • republic
    • dictatorship

    Correct answer: monarchy

    The UK is a constitutional monarchy.

  4. 4. Which of these statements is correct?

    • The UK has one written constitution in a single document
    • The UK constitution is not written down in a single document

    Correct answer: The UK constitution is not written down in a single document

    The UK constitution is uncodified, drawn from laws, conventions and historic documents.

  5. 5. Which of these statements is correct?

    • In a constitutional monarchy the monarch personally runs the country
    • In a constitutional monarchy the government runs the country, not the monarch

    Correct answer: In a constitutional monarchy the government runs the country, not the monarch

    The monarch is head of state, but the elected government runs the country.

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