MovieChat Forums > Johnny English (2003) Discussion > Does the Queen Really Have That Much Pow...

Does the Queen Really Have That Much Power?

posted 15 years ago by aquaprincess
14 replies | jump to latest

I'm American so I don't know a lot about this so here's what I've been wondering. In the film Savage kind of lists off some of the Queen's powers which include being able to declare war and confiscating any property which catches her fancy. He goes on to say that she never uses those powers. Well let's say for argument's sake she does decide to use it. Could she really order everyone to move out of a certain part of the country or even the WHOLE country so she could turn it into a prison? I know she never WOULD but COULD she do it? And if she decided to would anyone actually listen to her in this day and age? Thanks for your time in advance if you answer. :)

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[–] JohnnyFrench 15 years ago

Certainly not. The effective political power in UK belongs to the Parliament and the Prime Minister, and even their powers are limited by the law (habeas corpus, et cetera). The whole Sauvage's plan is pure silly fun. Although I'm French myself, I found Malkovich's performance hilarious "so you see, zen-tle-men...". By the way, he lives himself in France.

[–] highschoolkiller 15 years ago

uhuh

[–] ants_man88 15 years ago

i belive that the only thing the queen can do now is declare war.
everything else is in the hands of parliament.

[–] Mike_DeLittle 15 years ago

Technically, not true, every law that is passed has to go through the Queen and she has the power to disagree, but it hasnt been used for years in order not to break tradition, so theoretically, if she wanted to, she could stop laws being passed

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And what's so stinking about it!?

Hammersmith Hardman #18

[–] choward06 14 years ago

"Technically, not true, every law that is passed has to go through the Queen and she has the power to disagree, but it hasnt been used for years in order not to break tradition, so theoretically, if she wanted to, she could stop laws being passed"

Whilst technically true (The Monarch must approve a law before it can be implimented, the Monarch must ask the election-winning candidate to form a gorvernment, etc), the reason that the Monarch always passes laws goes back to the Civil War. Because the monarchy was abolished and later reinstated, Parliament has (Since the reinstatement) had the power to again abolish the monarchy if it disagrees.

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"What the heck are those two doing in a tree?"

[–] Obbykins 15 years ago

No, she couldn't. If she did, there would be a pretty big revolt and the monarchy would lose its entire footing.

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Country Roads, take me home,
To the place I belong.

[–] Saucy-Jack 14 years ago

Legally all land in the UK (possibly only England and Wales) belongs to the Crown (which is the legal embodiment of Executive Government, NOT the Queen herself). While the Crown does hold the power to seize any patch of land it sees fit, Crown powers can only be exercised on the advice of the British Cabinet.

The likelihood of a standing Prime Minister advising the Crown to seize the whole of Albion to sell as a huge prison is slim, however, and can seriously damage their chances for re-election.

[–] Gitch28 11 years ago

Obviously you don't understand the word could. That is a repurcussion.

[–] MirrorofReflection 12 years ago

Technically she does, but she's more of a figurehead.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Strazdamonas 12 years ago

Technically she does. But practically any attempt at such would instantly be abolished and she would be removed from power.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] nginx 11 years ago

So what exactly is the use of having such power if it can be overridden? In essence it means The Queen doesn't have absolutely power and authority and is a puppet. In other words technically she doesn't have any power right?

He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither ~ B. Franklin

[–] Strazdamonas 11 years ago

She used to have that power. now she have it on paper. in reality it is gone. Her remainder of "Royalty" is a face of nation. Its preservation of culture, a very expensive one that many people thing should be done away with.
She only has as much power as her charisma could get her. Some people would jump into fire for her, but then those type of people would do it just to touch a famous actor.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

In the film Savage...lists off some of the Queen's powers...

No! She's the head of the Anglican church and the ceremonial head of government (which ever government is in power) in England and non-republics in the Commonwealth.