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Revision as of 12:30, 11 October 2009

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom, that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It is the largest empire in history and, for over a century, is still the foremost global power.

The British Empire includes over 2.229 billion people, which is almost a third of the world's population.

Here is a map of the British Empire as it stands in 2009: Map of the British Empire

Government

The British Empire is composed of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Dominions, the Indian Empire (British Raj), Crown Colonies, and Protectorates. All have different governing arrangements and different relationships with the United Kingdom. They are all however under the soverignty of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Empress of India. The British Cabinet has four posts directly related to the day-to-day administration of the Empire:

• Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (certain protectorates)
• Secretary of State for India
• Secretary of State for the Colonies
• Secretary of State for the Dominions

United Kingdom

see main article Government of the UK

The UK is governed by its Parliament (consisting of the Queen, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons). Its laws are carried out by the civil service.

Dominions

The Dominions are "autonomous Communities within the British Empire," and essentially equal to the United Kingdom in most matters. The Dominions have a separate crown with the same Queen (i.e. Elizabeth II is separately the Queen of the United Kingdom, and the Queen of Australia). A colony (or federation of colonies) can become a dominion if it achieves 'responsible government'. They must be peaceful, have a parliamentary government (of their own creation), financially independent of the UK, capable of defending themselves. For this reason, only Eire and the former-settler colonies of Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand have achieved dominion status.

Indian Empire

The Indian Empire, consisting of 8 provinces, and 5 minor provinces is the largest and most prosperous part of the British Empire. Within those provinces, there are approximately 565 Princly States. The Indian Empire is under the control of the Secretary of State for India, and the India Council (which advises the India Secretary). Ordinarily the Secretary must consult the Council, but in emergencies, he can rule unilaterally. The Council is composed of twenty people, five British and fifteen Indians (currently). The Viceroy and Governor-General of India is both the Queen's representative to the princly states and the head of the administration in India. He governs through the Executive Council of India, and the Imperial Legislative Assembly. These bodies advise the Viceroy in executive and legislative matters respectively.

Crown Colonies

Crown colonies are ruled by a governor appointed by the Queen. They have varying degrees of autonomy

Protectorates

Protectorates have indigenous governments, and wide autonomy in internal affairs. All protectorates differ in the treaties that establish them. In all cases, foreign affairs are under British control, and defence forces, while often locally raised, are under British command.

Demographics

The most common ethnicity in the British Empire is Indian.

Flags

Union Flag

The Union Flag is not only the flag of the United Kingdom, it is the flag of the Empire. As such, it has precedence over all Colonial and Protectorate flags, but is equal to Dominion flags (but together the Union Flag has precedence). It is incorporated into most British Empire flag designs. It is normally in the canton, however South Africa has a Union Flag in the middle of its flag. Eire and Gibraltar do not use the Union Jack.

Union Flag

British Flags

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Dominion Flags

Commonwealth of Australia

Irish Free State

Dominion of New Zealand

Union of South Africa

Indian Empire Flag

Flag of the Indian Empire

Crown Colony Flags

Colony of Aden

British Antarctic Territory

Bahamas

Colony of Barbados

Basutoland

Bermuda

Burma

British Cameroons

Ceylon

Falkland Islands

Fiji

British Gambia

Gibraltar

Gillbert and Ellice Islands

Colony of Gold Coast

British Guiana

British Honduras

Hong Kong

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jamaica

Colony of Kenya

British Leeward Islands

New Hebrides

Colony of Nigeria

North Borneo

Northern Rhodesia

Pitcairn Island

Saint Helena

Samoa

Sierra Leone

Crown Colony of Singapore

Colony of the Solomon Islands

British Somaliland

Southern Rhodesia

Suez Canal Zone

Tanganyika

Turks and Caicos Islands

Colony of Tuvalu

British Windward Islands

Protectorate Flags

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Bechuanaland Protectorate

Protectorate of Brunei Darussalam

Egypt

Federated Malay States

Maldives

Muscat and Oman

Nyasaland

Swaziland Protectorate

Tonga

Trucial States

Uganda Protectorate

Zanzibar Protectorate