Quote from: CindyJames on May 07, 2010, 05:14:52 AM
Hi Al
But is it law in the UK that the sitting side has first choice? It will be interesting to me if the monarchy has to decide who is the ruling government. I think it was the last Charles who (don't remember my UK history 
) who precipitated a civil war.
the latest Charles appears to be as intelligent as the last.
Sounds fun
Cindy
The UK government is built on a number of ancient traditions, which have evolved over the years.
The government is, technically run by the monarch. The monarch appoints ministers to advise her and act on her behalf.
Because of a settlement which started with King John in the 12th century and confirmed later, before the monarch can raise any taxes, she must get the conscent of those that pay them. Parliment.
The ministers, acting on behalf of the monarch, need to deal with Parliment to get its agreement.
Parliment is an elected house made up of those that pay taxes, so, when a new Parliment is electd, the monarch will appoint ministers who can command most support in the new Parliment.
By a settlement in the 18th century, when the monarch was a German who spoke little English and had little knowledge of English traditions, the ministers, after being appointed, generally run the affairs of state. They consult the monarch, telling her what they intend. But the monarch, generally, doesn't interfere. In exchange, the ministers ensure that the monarch and her family are provided for financially and are given sufficient protection.
But the ministers are crown appointees. By custom, the Prime Minister is a member of Parliment, but there is no specific constitutional reason for him to be. There have been Prime Ministers who were members of the House of Lords.
More-over, other ministers tend to be members of Parliment, but often there will be several who are members of the house of Lords. By convention, ministers will always be members of one or other house, but technically, there is no reason, other than that non-members will have difficulity in accessing the house to do their work.
When a general election is called, all MPs stop being MPs and become ordinary citizens. But the ministers are crown appointees. Those that are MPs will stop being MPs, but still be ministers.
All the government ministers will remain in office until they resign. If the Prime Minister and therefore the other ministers cannot command support of the majority of the house of commons, they will resign. When that happens, the monarch will ask whoever can command the support of the majority of the commons to become Prime Minister and for their government.
Until 1963, Tory Prime ministers were chosen by the monarch. The last of these was Douglas Home. Labour Prime Ministers are always whoever has been elected by the party to be the leader of the party.
