Tory call to strip the queen of powers

New Conservative Party leader David Cameron has called for the Queen to be stripped of many of her traditional powers.

Although the Queen still legally retains many "prerogative" powers, many of these are now exercised on her behalf by the elected government.

However the Queen retains a number of powers that she exercises personally. These include
- the power to dissolve Parliament
- the power to appoint a Prime Minister
- the power to award some honours

Mr Cameron has recently formed a "democracy task force" which will exam the use of some of these powers by the monarch, as well as the use of other prerogative powers (such as the power to declare war) by ministers.

More information:
The Guardian - Queen's powers should be removed, says Cameron