Limits began to be placed on the powers of the monarch as far back as 1215 when the barons forced King John to recognise in the Magna Carta that they had certain rights. The constitutional monarchy we know today developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, as day-to-day power came to be exercised by Ministers in Cabinet, deriving their authority from Parliaments elected from a steadily widening electorate.
" Queen in Parliament" is the formal title of the British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Commons, a majority of whom normally support the government of the day, has the dominant political power.
As constitutional monarch, the Sovereign is required, on the advice of Ministers, to assent to all Bills. The Royal Assent (that is, consenting to a measure becoming law) has not been refused since 1707. The role of the Sovereign in the enactment of legislation is today purely formal, although The Queen has the right to be consulted, to encourage and to warn.
The Queen in Parliament is most clearly demonstrated in the State Opening of Parliament, when The Queen opens Parliament in person, and addresses both Houses in The Queen's Speech. This speech, drafted by the Government and not by The Queen, outlines the Government's policy for the coming session of Parliament and indicates forthcoming legislation. Each session, therefore, begins with The Queen's Speech, and the Houses cannot start their public business until the Speech has been read.
| Since 1952 The Queen has:
• received some 3 million items of correspondence
• sent almost 100, 000 telegrams to centenarians and more than 280, 000 telegrams to couples celebrating their diamond (60 years) wedding anniversaries
• sent about 37, 500 Christmas cards
• given out some 75, 000 Christmas puddings to staff
• made a Christmas broadcast every year except 1969 when a written message was issued and the film 'Royal Family' was shown
• given Royal Assent to 3135 Acts of Parliament
• conferred 380, 630 honours and awards
• held 459 investitures
• undertaken 251 official overseas visits to 128 different countries
• given 88 State banquets
• launched 17 ships
• sat for over 120 portraits
• attended 46 Royal Maundy services in 35 cathedrals
• owned more than 30 corgis and 8 dorgis (a cross between a corgi and a dachshund)
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