When and how did Parliament really become powerful? more so than the monarchy?

Question

what is the history of this evolvement?

for example Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were really at the mercy of Parliament , why was this?

Answer 1

This was when William and Mary Started ruling and there was a constitutional monarchy in other words its poqers were limited thats the case for England.

Answer 2

I don't think Britain has ever had an absoloute monarchy to be honest. However if you're looking for a defined turning-point, then I think it's 1660. Charles II was restored at the invite of Parliament who could not find someone to fill Cromwell's shoes as Lord Protector. They invited him back under conditions that restricted the monarchy and thus effectively ending the potential of another Personal Rule as under his father, Charles I.

This was further compounded by the way James II (Charles II's Catholic brother) was hounded into abdication by Parliament who promptly invited William and Mary to reign under the condition that the monarchy served the people and not vice versa.

Kez

Answer 3

The begining of this (in my opinion ) was the Magna Carter signed at Runneymede England in 1215 .

Shifting the ability to vote from just the Nobles to any common man who owned property .

As well the magna Carter gave rights in perpatuity to the peoples garenteeing the public from harrassment etc.

It was the forst documant of it's time that defined the Monarchy - others followed of course and it has been a protracted battle but I believe there is you start .

The concept of a constitutional Monarchy with defined powers has become an interesting one and it is still in an evolutionary process (in my opinion) . Technically the Monarch holds a lot of power they dare not use - so the symbolisim is backed up by quite the stick - A stick they cannot swing .

For instance all laws are inacted in Canada by the authority of Queen Elizabeth - but When Mulrooney was about to loose a vote in the Upper Chamber which would have ended his government he flew to England to ask Elizabeth is he could appoint 8 extra senators in order to win the vote over an unfair tax in the red or upper chamber - The Queen allowed the request citeing her opinion that she should not interfere with elected governments .

That said I believed then as I do now that she should have done nothing and denied Mulrooney the senators - She should have felt as her father did that we being her people - can and must ocasionally interefere with the government when that government is out of line with the public interest .

It was a power she had but felt she could not use

Answer 4

The moment Charles' head hit the bottom of the basket.

Answer 5

good old olly cromwell and all that

Answer 6

Read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England#English_Civil_War