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词汇提示

1.monarchies 君主制

2.ceremonial figure 礼仪人物

3.constitutional 宪法的

4.democraticies 民主政体

5.barons 贵族

6.Magna Carta 大宪章

7.parliament 议会

8.abolish 废除

9.ongoing 进行中的

原文

Kings and Queens of England

Today，in the early twenty-first century，most countries no longer have kings and queens.

However，some countries have remained as monarchies，including England and its former colonies.

However，even in these countries，the monarch is a ceremonial figure who no longer has any real power over his or her subjects.

These countries are called constitutional monarchies because they are democracies in which the monarch remained the official head of state.

Many years ago，the kings and queens of England did have real power，but gradually this power was transferred to people and their elected officials.

It is interesting to examine how this transition occurred.

Even in very early times，the kings of England did not have absolute power.

He was the most powerful man in the country，but he could not entirely force his will upon others.

If he became too demanding，he might face opposition from powerful local land-owners.

These men，called the barons，might resist a king who tried to become too strong.

This was exactly what happened in the year 1215.

The king of England had made many unreasonable demands upon the country，and the barons decided to resist.

They force the king to agree a list of rules that would limit his power.

These rules were written in a famous document called the Magna Carta.

This document described not only the rights of the barons，but also of the people of England.

During the next few hundred years，the kings still had much power.

However，the other people，such as the landowners and the richer men of the towns，also had influence.

Their meetings became known as Parliament，and the king had to share power with the parliament.

During the 1640s，one king tried to rule without parliament，and tried to take away the right of parliament.

This led to a civil war，and the king was defeated.

England soon became a monarchy again，but it became clear that parliament would have more power than the king.

Until the twentieth  century，the parliaments of England became more democratic，as more and more people were allowed to vote.

Today，England still has a constitutional monarchy.

But not all English-speaking countries recognize the England queen.

For example，the United States became an independent country over 200 years ago and has been a republic ever since.

In some countries，there is debate about the future of the monarchy.

Canada，Australia and New Zealand still recognize the queen of England as their own queen even though those countries are no longer governed by England.

Many people in those countries want to abolish the monarchy.

They believe that they countries should now have their own head of state.

On the other hand，some people in those countries want to keep the monarchy it reminds them of their country's early history.

This is an ongoing topic of debate for Canadians，Australians and New Zealanders.

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