Constitutional Government

2000-8-19 02:40:00

JJ wrote:
All of the constitutional monarchies and the remaining republics in the Common Market have constitutions patterned after the Constitution of the United States.

Mark
"I may be wrong on this, JJ, but I was under the impression from something I had read once that Great Britain does not have such a Constitution. Perhaps some of our friends in the United Kingdom could clear this up?"

JJ:
I probably should reword the above mentioned paragraph to make it technically accurate, but it is correct in principle. England's government corresponds to that of the U.S. in many ways. The house of Lords corresponds to the Senate with the exception they are appointed and not elected. However in the beginning of the United States, Senators were not elected. The House of Commons was designed to represent the common people similar to the House of Representative and they are both elected by popular vote. Both countries have a judiciary to interpret the laws. The Prime Minister corresponds to the President with the exception that the election process is different.

The Monarchy in England is basically a figurehead that most of the British would like to dissolve but used to wield ultimate power.

Before the U.S. defeated Britain in the Revolutionary War there was little similarity between our current constitutional government and Britain, but now there are many.

"Excuses satisfy those who make them."