Advice (constitutional) facts for kids

In many countries, especially those with a constitutional monarchy or a parliamentary system, there's a special kind of instruction called "Advice." This isn't like asking your friend for advice on a game; it's a very formal and important instruction given by one high-ranking government official to another. When this "Advice" is given, the person receiving it usually has to follow it.

What is "Advice" in Government?

"Advice" in government is a formal instruction that one important person or group gives to another. It's often about how the country should be run or what decisions should be made. This "Advice" is usually binding, meaning the person who gets it must act on it. It's a key part of how power is shared and used in a country's rulebook.

Who Gives and Gets Advice?

Usually, the "Advice" is given by the government (which includes the Prime Minister and their team of Ministers) to the Head of state. A Head of state is the highest-ranking person in a country, like a President or a Monarch (a King or Queen). The people giving the "Advice" are often called "constitutional officers" because their roles and powers are set out in the country's constitution.

Why is "Advice" Important?

This system of "Advice" helps make sure that decisions are made by the people who are elected by the public, even if the Head of state isn't elected. For example, in a country with a King or Queen, the monarch might be the official who signs laws or appoints people to important jobs. However, they usually do this only after receiving "Advice" from the elected Prime Minister and their government. This means the real power to make decisions rests with the elected officials, who are accountable to the people.

Real-Life Examples

A famous example is in the United Kingdom. The Queen of the United Kingdom (or now the King) formally appoints people to be Ministers of the Crown. These are important government jobs, like the Minister of Education or the Minister of Health. But the monarch doesn't just pick anyone they like. They make these appointments "on the advice" of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This means the Prime Minister tells the monarch who should get the job, and the monarch then officially appoints them. It's a way of showing how the different parts of government work together.