Democratic government is irrelevant if the monarch can simply dissolve it on a whim (which they are fully capable of doing). Not only is the monarch an inherently unfair institution (being limited to one family), the monarch is also head of the Church of England, thereby enforcing a national religion of Christianity in a country that is becoming less and less religious. A freedom of information request nearly ten years ago shed light on just how much power the monarch actually has:
Domestic Affairs
The appointment and dismissal of ministers;
The summoning, prorogation and dissolution of Parliament;
Royal assent to bills;
The appointment and regulation of the civil service;
The commissioning of officers in the armed forces;
Directing the disposition of the armed forces in the UK;
Appointment of Queen's Counsel;
Issue and withdrawal of passports;
Prerogative of mercy. (Used to apply in capital punishment cases. Still used, eg to remedy errors in sentence calculation)
Granting honours;
Creation of corporations by Charter;
Foreign Affairs
The making of treaties;
Declaration of war;
Deployment of armed forces overseas;
Recognition of foreign states;
Accreditation and reception of diplomats.
I don't know about you, but I think that is a ridiculous amount. I wouldn't entrust any single one of those powers to one specific person, even if they were elected. Better to abolish the monarchy and spread the powers around various levels of government.
Domestic Affairs
The appointment and dismissal of ministers;
The summoning, prorogation and dissolution of Parliament;
Royal assent to bills;
The appointment and regulation of the civil service;
The commissioning of officers in the armed forces;
Directing the disposition of the armed forces in the UK;
Appointment of Queen's Counsel;
Issue and withdrawal of passports;
Prerogative of mercy. (Used to apply in capital punishment cases. Still used, eg to remedy errors in sentence calculation)
Granting honours;
Creation of corporations by Charter;
Foreign Affairs
The making of treaties;
Declaration of war;
Deployment of armed forces overseas;
Recognition of foreign states;
Accreditation and reception of diplomats.
I don't know about you, but I think that is a ridiculous amount. I wouldn't entrust any single one of those powers to one specific person, even if they were elected. Better to abolish the monarchy and spread the powers around various levels of government.
