What power or influence does the Queen have over the commonwealth countries?

Question

I mean she's the head of those countries but what does she actually do concerning it? Some people seem to think that because she is head of those countries, she is so powerful but that is far from the truth....?

Answer 1

Just a title....nothing more!

Answer 2

none what so ever.. she's a figure head and that's it

Answer 3

The Queen is the nominal head of state for the Commonwealth countries.

Her role is now strictly ceremonial.  Even existing Vrown colonies ( like Barbados) get their final decisions from the British Privy Council, not the Queen.

BUT

The Queen has earned enormous respect for her balanced viewpoint on issues.

When she talks, people and governments listen, even if they are not members of the Commonwealth.

Answer 4

Here's what http://www.royal.gov/uk  which is the official site of Buckingham Palace says:

"THE QUEEN'S ROLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH

For over 50 years, The Queen has been Head of the Commonwealth.

This is an important symbolic and unifying role. As Head, The Queen personally reinforces the links by which the Commonwealth joins people together from around the world.

One of the ways of strengthening these connections is through regular Commonwealth visits.

During her reign, The Queen has visited every country in the Commonwealth (with the exception of Cameroon, which joined in 1995) and made many repeat visits. One third of The Queen's total overseas visits are to Commonwealth countries.

The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family are also regular visitors to the Commonwealth.

The Queen keeps in touch with Commonwealth developments through regular contact with the Commonwealth Secretary General and his Secretariat. This is the Commonwealth's central organisation.

Based in London, it co-ordinates many Commonwealth activities. Her Majesty also has regular meetings with Heads of Government from Commonwealth countries.

Each year, The Queen attends the Commonwealth Day celebrations in London. Since 1977, Commonwealth Day has been celebrated throughout the Commonwealth on the second Monday in March.

The Queen attends an inter-denominational service held in Westminster Abbey, followed by a reception hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary General.

Modern communications technology allows The Queen to speak to every part of the Commonwealth through her annual Christmas and Commonwealth Day messages.

Both messages are delivered by The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth to the peoples of the Commonwealth as a whole. They are unique in that they are delivered on The Queen's own responsibility, drafted without ministerial advice.

  Every two years a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) is held, at locations throughout the Commonwealth.

The Queen is normally present in the host country, during which she has a series of private meetings with the Commonwealth countries' leaders.

The Queen also attends a CHOGM reception and dinner, at which she makes a speech. The latest CHOGM was held in November 2005 in Malta; the next meeting will be held in 2007 in Uganda.

The Commonwealth Games are a major sporting occasion which brings together young people from all over the world in friendly competition.

The Queen often attends the Commonwealth Games to open or close them - most recently, the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

In all these different ways The Queen, though not part of the machinery of government in the Commonwealth, acts as a personal link and human symbol of the Commonwealth as an international organisation."

Answer 5

To say that Her Majesty has no power in the Commonwealth is not correct.  Under the Australian Constitution, legislative power is vested in a Federal Parliament consisting of The Queen, a Senate and a House of Representatives. Executive power is vested in The Queen and is exercisable by the Governor-General as The Queen's representative. And that power was famously last exercised in 1975 when the Governor-General acting as the Queen's representative, dismissed the Whitlam government.

Also, in New Zealand, The Queen has the power to appoint and dismiss Ministers and other important office holders, summon and dissolve Parliament, assent to Bills passed by the House of Representatives, and agree to regulations and Orders submitted by Ministers through Executive Council. The Queen delegates most of her powers to her representative, the Governor-General. While the Queen and her representative exercise these powers as a matter of law, as a matter of convention, both the Queen and the Governor-General act on the advice of the democratically elected government, in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

Answer 6

depends what countries you mean - the Commonwealth is made up of countries that mostly were part of the British Empire, however many including most African nations are now totally independent, they are members of the Commonwealth of which the Queen is the head but she has no power over them. Other countries ie. Canada, Australia, New Zealand are in the Commonwealth but the Queen is also head of state. This means she has the same theoretical power as she does in the United Kingdom - she could claim any piece of land and all laws in these countries require royal assent. However, if she ever did turn down a law in Canada, Australia etc it is likely they would remove her as head of state, and if she tried it in the UK she would be removed altogether - but in  theory the power is still there. It is also worth noting that not all former British Empire countries joined the Commonwealth; Egypt, Afghanistan and the like choose to associate with Arab countries. Zimbabwe is currently excluded for obvious reasons.

Answer 7

She gets all their money but that's it.

Answer 8

She has NO power at all. The commonwealth countries, although in the past belonged to GB, they are now totally independent. These countries now belong to a club of which the Queen is nothing more than a figure head.