History concepts and overview

British constitutional history has largely been a slow and deliberate process of evolution over a period of centuries. The following comments of a political scientist are thus largely true:

Nowhere else has the world witnessed a political evolution so relatively free from great civil commotion. Britain has not had a revolution comparable with the French Revolution of 1798 or the Russian Revolution of 1917. It is true that there have been threats of Revolution and so-called revolutions in Britain, but they did not deflect the main current of political development.

In this essay we shall discuss why the above comments are a reasonably accurate observation of the British political history.

Until the Middle Ages, Britain was a feudal kingdom that gradually transformed into a strong centralized monarchy. The monarchy came into its own in the middle ages and the monarchs felt secure enough in their position to seek the advice of their subjects in matters of the state. This resulted in the formation of the great councils that initially consisted of members of the nobility and church leaders. In the meetings of the great councils, the monarchs sought advice, exchanged information, and gathered petitions. (Kishlansky). These councils were the precursor of the present day parliament in Britain, the all-powerful legislative and executive body.

The evolution of the British constitution took place over a long period in two phases. Phase I was a long period in which the Parliament wrested power away from the monarch and established itself as the supreme authority in the kingdom. This was followed by a second period, from1800 to date when the parliament became more democratic by adopting universal suffrage, and establishing the supremacy of the House of Commons over the House of Lords. (Belanger).

During this period several tumultuous events have taken place in the British that saw the kingdom emerge as the most powerful colonial power in the world with an Empire where the 'sun never set.' It saw the start of the 'Industrial revolution' in Britain that resulted in a permanent shift in life-styles of the people from rural to urban societies; and its involvement in two devastating 'World Wars.' All these events, however, did not affect the gradual evolution of its political and constitutional history.

Why has such gradual evolution of politics has taken place in Britain is a many faceted question. One reason is the undoubted love for tradition among the Britons. For example, even though, the monarchy's role has gradually been reduced to that of a ceremonial figurehead, it has not been done away with by the British even in the 21st century. The institution still retains its original functions in theory such as formally summoning and dismissing Parliament and the ministers of the Cabinet. The monarch also serves as head of the judiciary, commander in chief of the armed forces, and Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. In reality, the monarch carries out all these functions at the advice of the elected government. The arrangement reflects the desire for continuity by the British.