The United Kingdom（Period 6 Reading and Writing）
the monarch is an integral part of parliament (as the“crown-in-parliament”) and theoretically gives parliament the power to meet and create legislation.an act of parliament does not become law until it has been signed by the queen (been given royal assent), although no monarch has refused to give royal assent to a bill that has been approved by parliament since queen anne did so in 1708.the queen also confers titles and honours to people who have rendered outstanding services to the country, as the fount of honour. the monarch is the head of the executive, as well as being head of state, and the british government is officially known as her (his) majesty’s government of the united kingdom.the prime minister, who is technically appointed by the queen, is the head of the government.all foreign policy, such as the signing of treaties and the declaration of war, is done in her majesty’s name.the monarch is the fount of justice in the uk and all criminal cases are brought forward in the monarch’s name (“rex versus”if a king, “regina versus”if a queen; in scotland, “his”or“her majesty’s advocate v.”).the monarch is also the commander-in-chief of the british armed forces, known as her (his) majesty’s armed forces. the monarchy’s popularity remains strong in the uk, despite a number of recent scandals and debates.it is felt by many in the uk that having a non-political person, despite achieving the position on hereditary principles, as head of state is a better alternative to a political presidential system.currently, support for a republic is 23% (according to a recent poll by the daily telegraph).the british monarch also reigns in 15 other sovereign countries that are known as the commonwealth realms.although the uk has no political or executive power over these independent nations, it retains influence, through long-standing close relations.in some commonwealth realms the privy council is the highest court of appeal.the monarch is forbidden to become or to marry a roman catholic by the act of settlement. the palace of westminster, on the banks of the river thames in westminster, london, is the home of the house of commons and the house of lords parliament is bicameral, composed of the 646-member elected house of commons and the mainly appointed house of lords.the house of commons is more powerful than the house of lords.its 646 members are directly elected from single member constituencies, based on population, from the four parts of the united kingdom.the house of lords, also known as the lords, has currently 706 members.none of these have been elected, and they are all either hereditary peers, life peers, or bishops of the church of england.historically, the house of lords has featured members of nobility who were granted seats by nature of birthright, although this feature has been abolished.furthermore, the house of lords act 1999 severely curtailed the number of the hereditary peers who could sit in the upper chamber—only 92 out of several hundred retain the right, by either being elected by their fellow peers or by holding either of the royal offices of earl marshal or lord great chamberlain.reforms of the house of lords originally called for all of the hereditary peers to lose their voting rights, however a compromise was reached which will allow them to be gradually phased out.