Politics & Government
Constitutional Conventions and the Royal Prerogative
Quick fact
The royal prerogative powers of the British monarch—such as summoning Parliament or appointing judges—are formally held by the Crown, but a set of unwritten constitutional conventions dictates that the monarch must follow the advice of the prime minister, effectively transferring real power to elected officials.
Why this is interesting
Every time a British prime minister decides to declare war, dissolve Parliament, or sign an international treaty, they are exercising powers that technically belong to the Queen. How is it that the monarch never actually vetoes these decisions, yet the system still works?