Great Britain

Great Britain

When British Kings first began to call on a Parliament of citizens, it was simply because the kings were in need of advice. Some monarchs did not wish to be overburdened with the daily administration of the Empire. Ultimately the decisions were left to the King or Queen. Today, royalty such as Prince Charles, play a social role within society. [JG] {CH}

In 1782, parliamentary reform was introduced in order to reduce the Crown's power and, in 1832, the monarch lost influence over Parliament. Presently, in the United Kingdom and Canada, there are two houses. The House of Lords was comprised of the upper echelon citizens while the House of Commons held the suburban middle class representatives. In 1867, all adult males were given the right to vote. The Queen Mother is given an honourary position. [JG] {CH}