The constitution, the monarchy, and the development of democracy

The opening section of Chapter 5 sets up the rest of the chapter. Three big ideas: the British constitution is unwritten, the franchise was gradually expanded over the 19th and 20th centuries, and the monarchy is constitutional — the monarch reigns but does not rule.

The unwritten constitution

A constitution is a set of principles governing how a country runs and how its institutions are kept in check. The British constitution is not written down in a single document — it is described as unwritten. The handbook explains why: the UK, unlike France or the United States, has never had a revolution that produced a single new system of government. Instead, institutions evolved over centuries.

Some people argue that having a written constitution would be clearer; others argue that the unwritten version allows for more flexibility and adapts more easily. The test sometimes asks the reason the British constitution is unwritten — the answer is “no revolutionary break.”

Constitutional institutions (the parts of government)

The handbook lists eight parts of government you should be able to name:

1. The monarchy
2. Parliament — the House of Commons and the House of Lords
3. The Prime Minister
4. The cabinet
5. The judiciary (the courts)
6. The police
7. The civil service
8. Local government

Plus the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which have power to legislate in defined areas.

The development of British democracy

The franchise — the right to vote — expanded in stages.

Where it started

At the turn of the 19th century, only a small group could vote: men over 21 who owned a certain amount of property. Most adults had no vote.

The Chartists

In the 1830s and 1840s, a movement called the Chartists campaigned for six reforms:

1. Every man to have the vote
2. Elections every year
3. All regions equal in the electoral system
4. Secret ballots
5. Any man able to stand as an MP
6. MPs to be paid

The campaign was seen as a failure at the time, but the handbook is clear that by 1918 most of these reforms had been adopted. (Election frequency is the one that didn’t stick — Parliaments still last up to five years, not one.)

The franchise milestones

The three modern franchise dates are heavily tested as a sticky-pair cluster:

Year	Change
1918	Women over 30 get the vote (and most adult men).
1928	Women get the vote at 21, on the same terms as men. The handbook calls this the moment Britain becomes “fully democratic”.
1969	Voting age lowered to 18 for both men and women.

“Fully democratic” — that exact phrase — is anchored to 1928. If a question quotes “fully democratic,” the year is 1928. The 1918 act was a half-step (women had to be 30 and meet a property qualification); 1928 removed that asymmetry.

The monarchy

The UK has a constitutional monarchy. The handbook is careful to distinguish reigning from ruling:

• Queen Elizabeth II has been head of state since her father’s death in 1952.
• She celebrated the Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) in 2012.
• Her husband is Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
• Her eldest son, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is the heir to the throne.

The handbook used at the time these figures were tested still has Elizabeth II as head of state. If a current test paper still treats Elizabeth II as monarch, that is the answer it is looking for.

What the monarch actually does

• Appoints the government — invites the leader of the largest party (or coalition) to become Prime Minister.
• Has regular meetings with the Prime Minister and can advise, warn, and encourage.
• Government policy is decided by the Prime Minister and cabinet, not the monarch.
• Performs ceremonial roles — opens each parliamentary session with a speech summarising the government’s agenda.
• All Acts of Parliament are made in her name.
• Represents the UK to the rest of the world (foreign ambassadors, state visits).
• Provides stability and continuity as governments come and go.

The national anthem and the citizenship oath

• The national anthem is “God Save the Queen”.
• New citizens swear or affirm allegiance to the Queen at the citizenship ceremony.
• The two forms — oath (religious) and affirmation (non-religious) — both pledge to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Queen and her heirs.

Parliamentary democracy in one paragraph

The system is a parliamentary democracy. The country is divided into parliamentary constituencies. Voters in each constituency elect their Member of Parliament (MP) at a General Election. All MPs together form the House of Commons. The party with the majority of MPs forms the government. If no party has a majority, two parties may form a coalition.

What to take from this section

1. The British constitution is unwritten — there has been no revolution that produced a single new document.
2. Eight parts of government: monarchy, Parliament (Commons + Lords), PM, cabinet, judiciary, police, civil service, local government — plus devolved governments.
3. Chartists in the 1830s–40s asked for six reforms; most were adopted by 1918.
4. 1918 (women 30+) → 1928 (women 21+, “fully democratic”) → 1969 (voting age 18).
5. Elizabeth II — Queen since 1952; Diamond Jubilee 2012; Charles, Prince of Wales, heir.
6. Constitutional monarchy: monarch reigns, PM and cabinet rule. Acts of Parliament are made in the monarch’s name; she opens each parliamentary session.
7. National anthem: “God Save the Queen”. Citizenship ceremony: oath or affirmation of allegiance.