THE BRITISH MONARCHY AND US REPUBLIC TODAY•

I. UK parliamentary monarchy today (docs 1, 2 & 3)

• Government buildings
Buckingham Palace: represents the executive power held by Queen Elizabeth II ;
Number 10 Downing St: represents the executive power held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson ;
Westminster Palace: represents the legislative power held by Parliament

• A democracy
In 1689, the UK wasn’t a democracy because the House of Commons was elected by less than 5% of the population : it was a restricted franchise.
In 1928, the UK became a democracy as women got the vote ; today everyone votes : it’s a universal franchise.

• The Queen’s role
Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state. The prime minister (PM) is the head of government and holds power, he/she governs/rules. The monarch reigns but doesn’t rule, the queen has no real/actual power but she is a symbol of stability for the British people.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand are former British colonies which belong to the Commonwealth headed by the Queen. They are parliamentary monarchies with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state (she reigns) and their PMs as head of government (they rule/govern).

II. The US republic today (docs 1, 4 & 5)

• Government buildings
The White House : represents the executive power held by president Donald Trump ;
The Capitol : represents the legislative power held by Congress

• A democracy
In 1787 the USA wasn’t a democracy because US voters had to be white, male and free owners so Blacks slaves, women and non-owners were excluded : it was a restricted franchise.
African-Americans were emancipated by President Lincoln in 1865 but they struggled to actually get the right to vote one century later in 1965. Today the US is a democracy, everyone votes : it’s a universal franchise.

• The president’s role
The president of the USA is both the head of state and of government, so there is no prime minister in the USA. It’s called a presidential regime

Notions & vocabulary
• democracy: when the people is sovereign and exercise power through the vote ; government of the people, by the people, for the people.
• franchise: the right to vote. Can be restricted (in French: suffrage censitaire) or universal (in French: suffrage universel).
• Commonwealth: current association between the UK and its former colonies, its former empire.
• a voter: un électeur, à ne pas confondre avec an elector: un grand électeur dans un suffrage indirect.