Texto elaborado por los/las alumnos/as: Raquel Sánchez & Miguel A.

Gutiérrez* 1
Grupo: 2º Bachillerato B; CURSO 2009/10

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF ENGLISH MONARCHY

The origins of constitutional monarchy in Britain go back a long way. Until the end of the seventeenth century,
British monarchs were executive monarchs, which means that they had the right to make and pass legislation. But
even in early times there were occasions when the Sovereign had to act in accordance with the law and take into
account the will of his people. With the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, for example, the leading noblemen of
England succeeded in forcing King John to accept that they and other freemen had rights against the Crown.
In the seventeenth century, the Stuart kings propagated the theory of the divine right of kings, claiming that the
Sovereign was subject only to God and not to the law. Widespread unrest against their rule led to civil war in the
second half of the seventeenth century. In 1688-9 Parliamentarians drew up a Bill of Rights, which established basic
tenets such as the supremacy of Parliament.
The constitutional monarchy we know today really developed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as day-to-
day power came to be exercised by Ministers in Cabinet, and by Parliaments elected by a steadily-widening
electorate. One of the most important writers on the subject of constitutional monarchy was a Victorian economist
and writer called Walter Bagehot (1826-77). His book, 'The English Constitution', first published in 1867, provided an
analysis of the role of monarchy which remains relevant today. For example, Bagehot describes the way in which
monarchy symbolises the unity of the national community. He wrote: "The nation is divided into parties, but the
crown is of no party. Its apparent separation from business is that which removes it both from enmities and from
desecration, which preserves its mystery, which enables it to combine the affection of conflicting parties...."
Bagehot also noticed the importance of the Royal Family. "A family on the throne is an interesting idea also. It
brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life." From the point of view of political power, according to
Bagehot, the main influence of the Sovereign was during a political ministry, for the Sovereign had three rights: "the
right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn". According to Bagehot, a Sovereign would, over the
course of a long reign, accumulate far more knowledge and experience than any minister. Bagehot's views of how
monarchy works proved influential, and by the reign of King George V, the principle of constitutional monarchy was
firmly established in Britain.
Source: http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/HowtheMonarchyworks/History%20and%20background.aspx

I COMPREHENSION (4 points)
ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-3 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.
(1 point per answer)
1 Which are the main steps undergone by the British Monarchy to finally become constitutional?
2 Which was the reason of the Civil War?
3 Mention three ideas exposed by Bagehot that support the role of the constitutional monarch.
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES
FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points per answer)
4 The monarch was not obliged to assume anybody’s rule but God’s until 1215.
5 Bagehot’s work continues being currently relevant.

II USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

6 FIND IN THE TEXT ONE SYNONIME FOR “principle” (0.25 points)
7 GIVE ONE SYNONIME FOR “unrest” (noun) (0.25 points)
8 FIND IN THE TEXT ONE OPPOSITE FOR “friendship” (0.25 points)
9 WHICH WORD DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME MEANING? (0.25 points)
“throne”, ”crown”, ”sovereign”, ”monarchy”.
10 (0.5 points)

11 (0.5 points)
Bagehot's views about the crown proved influential” “The principle of constitutional
monarchy was firmly established in Britain.”
12 : "A family on the throne is an interesting idea also. (0.5 points)
It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life." Bagehot said
13 “A Bill of Rights established basic tenets such as the (0.5 points)
supremacy of Parliament”.

III PRODUCTION (3 points)

14 WRITE A COMPOSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 120 WORDS. CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS, AND
FOCUS STRICTLY ON IT. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
A) What is your opinion about monarchy in your country?
B) Advantages and disadvantages of being a Monarch nowadays. Discuss

*Supervisado por José Antonio Romero Tena, profesor del Departamento de Inglés. IES Miguel Servet. Sevilla