London has evolved into the nation's sovereign power,
while the monarchy remains sovereign in name only. Technically,
it consists of the Monarch, the House of Commons, and
the House of Lords, but the term usually refers only
to Commons, a democratically elected body of 651 members.
The House of Lords is composed of peers and Anglican
prelates. Since 1911 its powers have been negligible.
The House of Commons is presided over by a non-partisan
speaker elected by Commons, which also elects the Prime
Minister – currently Tony Blair from the Labour party
(the officeholder is the leader of the party with a
majority of members in the legislature. If support is
lost in the legislature, the prime minister is expected
to resign); the executive head of government, by modern
tradition, must be a member of Commons. The rest of
the government's ministers, the Cabinet, may be selected
from either house. Thus, the executive branch is, in
effect, a committee of the legislature.
Elections must be held every five years; the prime
minister may call elections earlier, although no more
frequently than once a year. If the party in power fails
to obtain a parliamentary majority on an important issue,
it must call a general election. The major parties in
Parliament are Conservative (Tory), Labour, and the
coalition of Social Democrats and Liberals.
The origins of Parliament go back to the medieval Curia
Regis, or great council, a body of noble and ecclesiastical
advisers to the monarch that evolved into the House
of Lords. Quasi-legislative, it was primarily a judicial
and executive body. In the 13th century representatives
of the knights and burgesses were also assembled to
approve royal acts. Parliamentary power grew slowly
in relation to that of the monarchy. During the English
civil war (1642-48) and its aftermath Parliament gained
legislative supremacy over taxation and expenditures.
Parliamentary sovereignty was permanently affirmed by
the glorious revolution (1688). Demands for representation
by the new classes created by the industrial revolution
led in the 19th century to passage of reform bills that
greatly extended male suffrage; universal male and female
suffrage was granted in the 20th cent.
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