| From: | Paul Collins paulcollins@*******.com |
|---|---|
| Subject: | FYI Aust's constitutional Monarchy. WasRe: UCAS - How would it happen? |
| Date: | Sat, 7 Oct 2000 20:33:03 +1000 |
From: "Wagner, Jordan" <findlerman@****.carrollsweb.com>
To: <shadowrn@*********.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2000 11:47 AM
Subject: UCAS - How would it happen?
> > > ...I don't understand how the Brittish Gov't.
> > > has any say in the matter.
> >
> > Its a bit complicated, and I'm not sure if the
> > situation's changed since 1982 or not. I'm know that the
> > British Queen (or King) is still the official head of
> > state of Canada. They don't have a say in the day-to-day
> > running of the country, but I'm fairly sure that they do
> > for a change in the Bill of Rights or any of the other
> > bills that define Canada as a country. This would include
> > joining the United States or adding new territory.
> >
> > --Nick Pilon
> > --Life is code; Everything else is just preprocessing.
Ok, from memory, I'll do the Australian version, thinking that the Canadian
version will be similar.
Australia is what we like to call a constitutional monarchy, in that, our
constitution has the Queen of England as the head of state. (Well, actually
the ruler, but currently it's the Queen). The queen has a representive who
is known as the Govenor General. (The states also have a State Govenor)
I'm sure there is more, and I think NZ has similar, though no State
Govenors.
basically very little power, but several cerimonial functions.
He opens parliment, closes parliment, and basically acts as a referee for
the elections. He gives permission for a party to form a Government.
(Usually the party with the most seats in the lower house, not neccesarily a
majority what with the independant's and all). He also has the power to
sack a government. Basically to close parliment and force an election.
(This happened in 1975 or so, when a majority lower house government had
it's suply bill {Money to pay the Governmentrs bills} blocked in the upper
house, where the opposition had the majority. The then GG's name, Sir John
Kerr, is still considered a curse word by a large proportion of the
population today)
The GG is also supposed to keep the Queen informed of happenings in the
Government down here, and express her wishes to the parliment. (Not that
she ever does these days.)
Paul Collins
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----"Well may they say 'God save the Queen' because nothing will save the
Govenor General!"
-----Gough Whitlam, Prime Minister of the just sacked labour Government,
1975
------------------------------------------------
-----"Ah! He has become one with his inner self!"
-----"He's passed out."
-----"That too."
------ Vir and Garibaldi
