The Role of the British Monarchy

History• Historically, Monarch had absolute authority• After Civil War, this authority was curbed and

controlled• Modern power lies in influence, and is otherwise

ceremonial • http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=rAaWvVFERVA• Current house: House of Windsor (1917,

previously House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 1901)

• Queen Elizabeth coronated in 1953

Queen Elizabeth II

Public Opinion• Most Brits feel a sense of pride in their monarchy• Look to the monarch as a role model• Some see the monarchy as an obsolete and unnecessary institution

The Windsors in Action• Involved in Charity work• Most of the men serve in the armed forces (Harry

Army, William Army/Navy/RAF, etc)• Represent the UK at an International Level• Queen Elizabeth is the head of the Commonwealth• Perform Ceremonial Duties• Play a leadership role

Prince Harry

Lady Diana

The Royal Wedding• Most people in the UK

consider it an exciting and major event

• The last royal wedding was that of Prince Andrew And Sarah Ferguson in 1986

• Some people are speaking out against her “common” blood

Prince William and Kate Middleton

The Welfare State in the U.K.

What services should the government provide to the people?

The Welfare State• Definition: “a system whereby the

government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, esp. those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits.”

This presentation:

1. What it is2. Where it came from3. How people feel about it (the culture)4. Future directions

Why is this important?

• relationship between state & citizen–what people expect from their

government–major contrasts with U.S.

Timeline

…Industrial Revolution

~ 1895: Labour Party Founded

1914-1918: WWI

‘19: Labour adds Nationalization to platform

1939-1945: WWII

’42: Beveridge Report

‘45: Labour comes to power (Clement Atlee, PM); begins implementing Welfare State

’48: National Health Service created

’79-’90: Margaret Thatcher is in power; makes cuts

’97: Tony Blair comes to power, essentially continues Thatcherism

2010: David Cameron elected: Big Society, budget cuts, controversy over welfare state

present

Timeline

…Industrial Revolution

~ 1895: Labour Party Founded

1914-1918: WWI

‘19: Labour adds Nationalization to platform

1939-1945: WWII

’42: Beveridge Report

‘45: Labour comes to power (Clement Atlee, PM); begins implementing Welfare State

’48: National Health Service created

’79-’90: Margaret Thatcher is in power; makes cuts

’97: Tony Blair comes to power, essentially continues Thatcherism

2010: David Cameron elected: Big Society, budget cuts, controversy over welfare state

present

Idea takes shape

implementation & golden age

cuts, reevaluations, and uncertain futureorigins

Contents

• Healthcare– National Health Service: free care for all

• Education– state-funded schools for ages 3-18– state-funded higher education

• ’09-10: £3225 / year max (raised to £9000)

• Employment– National Insurance Act (1911): health & unemployment insurance

• Social Security– Old Age Pensions Act (1908)

Why did it emerge?

• noblesse oblige: nobles’ responsibility to people– reaction to Industrial Revolution

• needs of industry– healthy, educated workforce

• WWII: people became accustomed to state control

Beveridge

Why was it cut back under Thatcher?

• poor performance• high spending• economic troubles• opposition to radicalized Labour• free-market ideology:

– competition is key– similar to Reagan

How do people feel about it?

• Healthcare, education, etc are rights, not privileges

• noblesse oblige: government has obligation to help the common people

• in contrast with U.S.; UK citizens are:– more comfortable w/ government involvement– less fixated on self-reliance– “communist” is not an automatic insult

Current Events: Where is it going now?• challenges:

– financial crisis– debt

• Cameron’s plan:– budget cuts

• ~490k public sector job cuts• increased retirement age• increased college fees• reduced social services

– Big Society• power → local communities (devolution)• volunteerism• support non-governmental aid organizations

– charities, co-ops, social enterprises, etc

Reaction:

A new, empowering type of society, or a glorification of budget cuts?

Positive

Dr Rowan Williams: “The positive side of the big society agenda in the present Government's language is I think not just about saving money or cutting corners - it's about some kind of effort to get hold of a strong sense of civic responsibility”

Negative

many students are not as enthusiastic

http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/networked-protests-in-the-uk-how-old-and-new-tactics-are-being-used-to/

http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/uk-tuition-fee-protests-12355630

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/12/london_tuition_fee_protest.html

December 2010: maximum fee increased to £9000

Elections• UK general elections:

– Held at least every 5 years w/ one-month campaign– 650 constituencies – 326 seats needed to win an overall majority

First Past the Post

• Also known as “single ballot” or “single member plurality”

• Definition: the electoral system in which the person winning the most votes in a constituency is elected.

Other Advocated OptionsAlternative vote: run-off voting w/ multiple rounds

Single transferable vote: proportional representation w/ preferential voting

What Happened Last Year…• Labour Party:

– 29.0% of vote; 47.2% of seats• Conservative Party

– 36.1% of vote; 39.7% of seats• Liberal Democrats

– 23.0% of vote; 0.09% of seats• Others

– 11.9% of vote; 0.04% of seats

Coalition Government?

Gordon Brown, the incumbent Prime Minister from the Labour Party and David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party began wooing Nick Clegg, head of the Liberal Democrats.

New Possible Measures

• Regional and local governments currently use a proportional system, which many say is fairer than the general elections

• Nick Clegg agreed to settle on a referendum for AV, although he wanted STV initially. – He serves as deputy under Cameron, who says

that FPTP is better and simple.– They are saying their disagreement won’t hurt

their relationship.