Final answer:
The laws passed by Parliament with the monarch’s direction serve to establish uniform governance and ensure democratic rule by including representatives in the lawmaking process. Parliament also handles tax regulation, religious orthodoxy, and commerce regulation, reflecting its significant legislative power and role in balancing monarchy authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the laws that the monarch gets Parliament to pass is to establish uniform rule across the kingdom. Under the guidance of monarchs like Edward I, who called the first Parliament in 1275, laws had to be approved by Parliament, effectively making them the laws of England, and not just the king’s laws. This ensured that the nobles, clergy, and wealthy commoners had a say in these laws. The majority rule principle in democratic societies, such as the one in which the monarchical and parliamentary system operated, required that a majority of legislators vote in favor of a bill for it to become law. Additionally, the Settlement with William and Mary established that Parliament was the source of law, calling it into session every three years and denying a monarch the power to suspend Parliamentary laws once they were passed.
Historically, Parliament’s powers were extensive, approving tax increases and passing acts like the Test Act which defined religious orthodoxy and the Navigation and Trade Acts that sought to regulate colonial commerce. Over time, the Parliamentary system grew to provide a balance of power between the monarchy and the representatives of the people, ensuring a democratic approach to governance and lawmaking in the United Kingdom.