A democratic government is where the executive, usually the prime minister, gains their democratic legitimacy from free elections and the confidence of parliament. The party who receives the greatest representation in parliament achieves the commandment of the country.
A parliamentary monarchy, on the other hand, is a political system where the power of the head of state culminates in a hereditary or elected monarch. An elected Parliament works with the monarch to determine national policies and oversee the running of the country.
The Glorious Revolution in 1688 finally ended the absolute power of the monarchy, creating a constitutional monarchy. Technically, Britain did not become a democracy until the Representation of the People Acts of 1918 and 1928 that gave the vote to everyone over the age of 21.
There has been lots of turbulence and progression in Britain’s political past, but has the government changed that much? Structurally the British government has undeniably changed. Functionally, however, it can be argued that the government's main purpose: to protect and keep up the welfare of the state, the economy, justice and international relations, have remained much the same.
Written by Coco Clelland
Artwork by Zara Masood
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