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American Morning

Ask CNN: What Is the Governmental Role That Queen Elizabeth Has in England?

Aired June 07, 2001 - 09:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: When you think of British government and the queen of England comes to your mind, it just may prove that you're a Yank. But you ask, what role does the queen play in the political landscape of the country? Just ask CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A CNN viewer wants to know what is the governmental role that Queen Elizabeth has in England.

PATRICK ALLITT, HISTORY PROFESSOR, EMORY UNIVERSITY: The queen has no political power, but she does still have political authority and symbolic power. She's the head of state and plays a ceremonial role comparable to the ceremonial role played by the president.

When Parliament is being called into session, or when it's being dissolved, at the end of a parliamentary session, it's officially she who has to make that decision. The prime minister goes to visit her at Buckingham Palace and announces that he needs a dissolution of Parliament. Or after an election, she invokes a new Parliament.

Every year, when the prime minister has got a set of policies he wants to be introduced, he writes a speech called "The Queen's Speech," and he gives it to the queen and she delivers it before the Houses of Parliament. But she's only at liberty to say exactly what the prime minister has said, so whichever party he comes from, whether it's from the Conservatives or the Labour Party, she reads out "The Queen's Speech," which is really the prime minister's speech, to announce what the priorities are for the legislation that session.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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