The United Kingdom of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Great Britain and Northern

IrelandIrelandWhere Big Ben is the only thing

marking forward progress

Summary of Britain’s Summary of Britain’s SignificanceSignificance

First country with a limited monarchyFirst country with a limited monarchy Early 20Early 20thth century, undoubtedly the century, undoubtedly the

world’s greatest superpowerworld’s greatest superpower Empire is lost, but still retains global Empire is lost, but still retains global

significance and influencesignificance and influence Part of EU, yet not fully embracing Part of EU, yet not fully embracing

being “European”being “European”

Sovereignty, Authority, and Sovereignty, Authority, and PowerPower

SourcesSources– Long, very gradual traditionLong, very gradual tradition

Original belief in Divine Right of a family to Original belief in Divine Right of a family to rule gave monarchs power over peoplerule gave monarchs power over people

– ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism No written constitution, but a long series of No written constitution, but a long series of

compacts and acts of Parliament has formed compacts and acts of Parliament has formed an understood “Constitution of the Crown”an understood “Constitution of the Crown”

Components of British Components of British “Constitution”“Constitution”

Rational-Legal AuthorityRational-Legal Authority– Magna Carta (1215) – limited power of Magna Carta (1215) – limited power of

the monarch, guaranteed trial by jury, the monarch, guaranteed trial by jury, consent of Parliament to raise taxesconsent of Parliament to raise taxes

– The Bill of Rights (1688) – expanded The Bill of Rights (1688) – expanded policymaking power of Parliament policymaking power of Parliament relative to the crownrelative to the crown

– Common Law – (opposite of code law) Common Law – (opposite of code law) customs and precedent have strong customs and precedent have strong bearing on the law in addition to written bearing on the law in addition to written rulesrules

Historical Evolution of Political Historical Evolution of Political TraditionsTraditions

The monarchy – once powerful, then The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and limited, now powerless and ceremonialceremonial

Oh, woe is me!

Historical Evolution of Political Historical Evolution of Political TraditionsTraditions

The monarchy – once powerful, then The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremoniallimited, now powerless and ceremonial

The ParliamentThe Parliament– English Civil War (1640)English Civil War (1640)– Glorious Revolution (1688)Glorious Revolution (1688)– Prime Minister becomes firm Chief Executive in Prime Minister becomes firm Chief Executive in

the 18the 18thth Century Century Challenges of the Industrial Revolution Challenges of the Industrial Revolution

(18(18thth and 19 and 19thth Century) Century) Diminishing Empire in the 20Diminishing Empire in the 20thth and 21 and 21stst

CenturyCentury– Strong welfare state became a burden, led to Strong welfare state became a burden, led to

backlash of “Thatcherism”backlash of “Thatcherism”

Political CulturePolitical Culture

GeographyGeography– IslandIsland– Small - Little fertile soil and short growing Small - Little fertile soil and short growing

seasonsseasons– Temperate climate, but cold, chilly, and Temperate climate, but cold, chilly, and

rainyrainy– No major geographical barriersNo major geographical barriers

Nationalism – great deal of pride in being Nationalism – great deal of pride in being “English”, or “Scottish”, or “Welsh”“English”, or “Scottish”, or “Welsh”

Insularity – feeling of separation from the Insularity – feeling of separation from the rest of Europerest of Europe

Political CulturePolitical Culture CleavagesCleavages

– Social ClassSocial Class Not as strong as in the past, but still very Not as strong as in the past, but still very

significantsignificant

This photo was taken outside of Lord’s cricket grounds in 1937, and came to symbolize the class divide in England

Political CulturePolitical Culture CleavagesCleavages

– Social ClassSocial Class Not as strong as in the past, but still very Not as strong as in the past, but still very

significantsignificant Noblesse Oblige – a term for the upper Noblesse Oblige – a term for the upper

classes’ willingness to embrace the welfare classes’ willingness to embrace the welfare state and support the poorstate and support the poor

– Formerly duty of lords to care for serfsFormerly duty of lords to care for serfs

– Multi-NationalismMulti-Nationalism Lots of cultural homogeneity, but there are Lots of cultural homogeneity, but there are

Scots, English, Welsh, Irish, Protestant, and Scots, English, Welsh, Irish, Protestant, and Catholic living together and insisting on Catholic living together and insisting on some local sovereigntysome local sovereignty

Political CulturePolitical Culture CleavagesCleavages

– Ethnic Minorities (comprise less than Ethnic Minorities (comprise less than 10% of British population)10% of British population) Largely young, increasingly MuslimLargely young, increasingly Muslim Tight restrictions on immigration imposed by Tight restrictions on immigration imposed by

Thatcher kept in place by Labour PartyThatcher kept in place by Labour Party Many reports of unequal treatment by Many reports of unequal treatment by

police, most minorities are disaffected and police, most minorities are disaffected and unemployedunemployed

Poorly integrated into British societyPoorly integrated into British society

InstitutionsInstitutions Linkage Institutions – provide people Linkage Institutions – provide people

with a connection to government and with a connection to government and the political processthe political process– Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Originally Liberal (Whigs) vs. Conservative Originally Liberal (Whigs) vs. Conservative (Tories)(Tories)

Emergence of voting rights for commoners Emergence of voting rights for commoners gave rise to Labour vs. Conservative (still gave rise to Labour vs. Conservative (still Tories)Tories)

Liberal Democrats emerged as a third party to Liberal Democrats emerged as a third party to compromise between Thatcher Conservatives compromise between Thatcher Conservatives on the right and Labour on the Lefton the right and Labour on the Left

– Undermined by Blair’s “New Labour” movementUndermined by Blair’s “New Labour” movement

Ed Miliband

Nick Clegg

David Cameron

InstitutionsInstitutions Linkage Institutions – provide people Linkage Institutions – provide people

with a connection to government and with a connection to government and the political processthe political process– ElectionsElections

646 constituencies each elect an MP (Member 646 constituencies each elect an MP (Member of Parliament)of Parliament)

– Party leaders run in “safe” constituencies, MPs Party leaders run in “safe” constituencies, MPs often aren’t from their districtoften aren’t from their district

Winner-take-all, “First-Past-The-Post” – only Winner-take-all, “First-Past-The-Post” – only winner gets to take officewinner gets to take office

Plurality – no majority necessaryPlurality – no majority necessary Party with Parliamentary majority chooses the Party with Parliamentary majority chooses the

Prime Minister, who “forms a government”Prime Minister, who “forms a government”

InstitutionsInstitutions Linkage Institutions – provide people Linkage Institutions – provide people

with a connection to government and with a connection to government and the political processthe political process– Regional ElectionsRegional Elections

Devolution – Blair policy under Good Friday Devolution – Blair policy under Good Friday Agreement allowing regional parliaments to Agreement allowing regional parliaments to exercise some local authorityexercise some local authority

Proportional representation in Northern Proportional representation in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales respective Ireland, Scotland, and Wales respective parliamentsparliaments

Mayor of London is now directly elected for Mayor of London is now directly elected for the first timethe first time

InstitutionsInstitutions Linkage Institutions – provide people Linkage Institutions – provide people

with a connection to government and with a connection to government and the political processthe political process– Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Pluralist system with some patterns of neo-Pluralist system with some patterns of neo-corporatismcorporatism

– Quangos – gov. agencies act as interest Quangos – gov. agencies act as interest advocates and policy advisors in many advocates and policy advisors in many cases, fusing the relationship between cases, fusing the relationship between interest group and stateinterest group and state

InstitutionsInstitutions Linkage Institutions – provide people Linkage Institutions – provide people

with a connection to government and with a connection to government and the political processthe political process– MediaMedia

Available media outlets reflect social Available media outlets reflect social class divisions in readership/viewershipclass divisions in readership/viewership

BBC was created during the collectivist BBC was created during the collectivist era to educate citizens on politicsera to educate citizens on politics

Heavily regulated by government (ex. – Heavily regulated by government (ex. – no ads can be purchased for parties or no ads can be purchased for parties or candidates)candidates)

InstitutionsInstitutions

State InstitutionsState Institutions– Unitary state, power Unitary state, power

concentrated in concentrated in LondonLondon No “separation of No “separation of

powers”powers”

InstitutionsInstitutions Cabinet and Prime Cabinet and Prime

Minister, The ExecutiveMinister, The Executive– Cabinet members are Cabinet members are

MPs chosen by Prime MPs chosen by Prime Minister, who is “first Minister, who is “first among equals”among equals”

– Collective responsibility Collective responsibility – cabinet members all – cabinet members all share policy share policy responsibility, and responsibility, and members resign if they members resign if they do not support decisions do not support decisions of the PMof the PM

InstitutionsInstitutions Parliament, The LegislatureParliament, The Legislature

– House of Commons, the “Lower House”House of Commons, the “Lower House” Holds all meaningful power in BritainHolds all meaningful power in Britain Majority party chooses PM, makes all policyMajority party chooses PM, makes all policy Minority becomes “loyal opposition”, sitting Minority becomes “loyal opposition”, sitting

directly across the aisle during debatedirectly across the aisle during debate– Shadow Cabinet – group of minority party Shadow Cabinet – group of minority party

MPs who would be in cabinet if they were MPs who would be in cabinet if they were the majoritythe majority

– Backbenchers – MPs who are less Backbenchers – MPs who are less influential sit further back in Parliamentinfluential sit further back in Parliament

Backbenchers Backbenchers

Speaker of the House

Prime Minister and

CabinetShadow Cabinet

Other minority parties

And now… Question Time And now… Question Time for the Prime Minister!for the Prime Minister!

InstitutionsInstitutions Parliament, The LegislatureParliament, The Legislature

– House of Commons, the “Lower House”House of Commons, the “Lower House” Vote of ConfidenceVote of Confidence

– If a key issue is brought up for a vote and If a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by traditionfor new elections immediately by tradition

– The House of Lords, the “Upper House”The House of Lords, the “Upper House” The original parliament, now nearly The original parliament, now nearly

meaninglessmeaningless Can delay legislation, debate technicalities, and Can delay legislation, debate technicalities, and

add amendmentsadd amendments– Amendments may be deleted in Commons Amendments may be deleted in Commons

by a majority voteby a majority vote

InstitutionsInstitutions Parliament, The LegislatureParliament, The Legislature

– House of Commons, the “Lower House”House of Commons, the “Lower House” Vote of ConfidenceVote of Confidence

– If a key issue is brought up for a vote and If a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by call for new elections immediately by traditiontradition

– The House of Lords, the “Upper House”The House of Lords, the “Upper House” 567 “life peers,” appointed by PM for 567 “life peers,” appointed by PM for

achievement and service to Britainachievement and service to Britain 92 “hereditary peers,” whose seats were 92 “hereditary peers,” whose seats were

passed down through family connectionspassed down through family connections– Blair and Labour substantially reduced Blair and Labour substantially reduced

number of hereditary peeragesnumber of hereditary peerages

The Sovereign

Supporters of the

government

Supporters of the

Opposition Party

Neutral Members

InstitutionsInstitutions

The BureaucracyThe Bureaucracy– Powerful force in policy formation, Powerful force in policy formation,

implementationimplementation– Bureaucrats are experts, ministers are Bureaucrats are experts, ministers are

likely not, so ministers take direction likely not, so ministers take direction from top bureaucrats informallyfrom top bureaucrats informally

– Bureaucrats stay in place from Bureaucrats stay in place from government to governmentgovernment to government

InstitutionsInstitutions The JudiciaryThe Judiciary

– Limited in authority compared to U.S.Limited in authority compared to U.S. Parliamentary sovereignty – principle that Parliamentary sovereignty – principle that

Parliament has the final sayParliament has the final say Courts can strike acts of government that Courts can strike acts of government that

violate common law or previous acts of violate common law or previous acts of Parliament, but rule very narrowlyParliament, but rule very narrowly

May not impose “judicial review” on May not impose “judicial review” on Parliament, PM, or cabinetParliament, PM, or cabinet

Judges are usually independent, apoliticalJudges are usually independent, apolitical Expected to resign at age 75Expected to resign at age 75 Highest court formerly the Law Lords, but a Highest court formerly the Law Lords, but a

new Supreme Court has been created new Supreme Court has been created (2009)(2009)

3 Major Steps in the British 3 Major Steps in the British JudiciaryJudiciary

District Courts

High Courts

Supreme Court

Appeals

Appeals