What is a set of limits on the monarch's power?

Question

What is a set of limits on the monarch's power?

Answer 1

Very few concrete ones.  William and Mary pretty much signed away the store in 1689.

Answer 2

The British monarchy is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and holds the now constitutional position of head of state. According to convention, the Queen's powers are exercised upon the advice of her prime minister. She does however possess certain reserve powers which she may exercise at her own discretion.

In the UK, the Queen (or King, when there is a male monarch) has numerous theoretical personal prerogatives. In practice, however, with the exception of the appointment of a prime minister, which is done with every prime minister, there are few circumstances in modern British government where these could be justifiably exercised; they have rarely been exercised in the last century. These powers could be exercised in an emergency such as a constitutional crisis. The monarch's personal prerogatives are:

- The refusal to dissolve Parliament when requested by the Prime Minister.

- To appoint a Prime Minister of her own choosing.

- The dismissal of a Prime Minister and his Government on the Monarch's own authority.

- The refusal of the Royal Assent.

- The refusal of the "Queen's Consent," where direct monarchical assent is required for a bill affecting, directly or by implication, the prerogative, hereditary revenues—including ultimus haeres, treasure trove, and bona vacantia—or the personal property or interests of the Crown to be heard in Parliament.

It has long been established in the uncodified Constitution of the United Kingdom that political power is ultimately exercised by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, of which the Sovereign is a non-partisan component, along with the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Thus, as the modern British monarchy is a constitutional one, the Sovereign's role is in practice limited to non-partisan functions (such as being the fount of honour).

In practice, political power is exercised today through Parliament and by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The sovereign also holds the title of Supreme Governor of the established Church of England. The monarch holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister, as well as regular audiences with other members of the Cabinet. The monarch may express his or her views, but, as a constitutional ruler, must ultimately accept the Prime Minister's and Cabinet's decisions.

Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_mon...

Answer 3

The Queens powers are as follows:

    1.The sovereign appoints each new prime minister, usually the leader of whichever party has a majority in Parliament.  However, she does have the option of selecting a prime minister of her own choosing whom she feels would better serve the country.  This power was last used in 1963 when Queen Elizabeth appointed Sir Alec Douglas-Home as Prime Minister, on the advice of Harold Macmillan, an elder statesman.

    2.The sovereign holds the power to dissolve Parliament; thereby setting in motion a general election.  This is done at the request, and only at the request, of the prime minister.  The queen can even refuse to grant the request to dissolve Parliament and require that it sit its full term.  This was last considered in 1910 by King George V but in the end the ruler allowed Parliament to dissolve.  

    3.The sovereign can dismiss a prime minister and his cabinet by her own will.  This was last done by King William IV in 1834 to further his political reforms.

    4.The sovereign can refuse to grant the Royal Assent, which is required to enact any law passed by Parliament.  This power was last used by Queen Anne in 1708 when she withheld Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill.  

    5.The sovereign can refuse to grant the Queen’s Consent, which is required for a bill affecting, directly or by implication, the powers, hereditary revenues, personal property or interests of the Crown to be heard in Parliament.  This power was last used by Queen Elizabeth in 1999 when, on the advise of her cabinet, she refused to consent to the Military Action Against Iraq Bill, which sought to transfer from the monarch to Parliament the power to authorize military strikes against Iraq.