British
Political
System
Form of Government
The Monarchy
The Government
The Parliament
Elections
How a Bill becomes a Law
- The party system
- The style of democracy
- The constitution
- Fusion of powers
The parties choose candidates
The party winning the majority of seats = the Gov. and its leaders = MPs
The largest minority party = opposition
Without agreement between parties => parliament system would break down
- Have high respect for the law
- Comparatively unenthusiastic about making new laws
- Relationship between Individual and State
Both should leave each other alone
No concept of "By the people"
Have less participation by ordinary citizens in governing and law making
Not having to ask the people for a change in law
Constitutional Monarchy
(Governed by a King or Queen)
Parliament Democracy
(Governed by Parliament)
No written law
Doesn't have a "constitution" at all
Elected Legislature
and the Executive
Appointed Legislature
Judiciary
The Crown
The House of Common
HM Government
The House of Lord
The UK Courts of Law
The Monarch
- The appearance
- The reality
- The role of the monarch
- The value of the monarch
In written law, the Queen
has absolute power to
Choose PM
Dismiss ministers and Gov.
Dissolve Par.
Refuse to agree to legislation passed by Par.
Dismiss the Gov. of other countries of which she is monarch
Embody the law in the courts
Can do nothing that is legally wrong
Personal embodiment of the Gov.
A final check on Gov.
Plays practical role
Important to the company
Popular to the majority of the British people
make up for the lack of color and ceremony
- The Gov. structure
- Collective Responsibility
- The Cabinet
- The PM
The PM (most powerful)
20 PMs
From the House of Common
Same political party
Heads of the Gov. Department (Minister of...)
Appointed by the Monarch
COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
No member of the Gov. can criticize Gov.
policy in public or must resign to do so
Having different opinions,
they must keep these private
Which?
Who?
Where?
When?
What?
How?
The committee at the center of the British political system
The supreme decision making body in the Gov.
Leading politicians in the Gov. party
Downing Street
Every Thursday
Take decisions about new policies,
the implementation of existing policies
and the running of the various Gov. department
The PM chairs the meeting
Secret
Reports are made and circulated to Gov. Department
Gov. Depart, summarizes the topic discussed and decisions taken
The leader of his party in the House of Commons
Has a great deal
of power in reality
Has the power of public image
Appoint the cabinet and change his cabinet
(power of patronage)
Make the final decisions on major issues
Decisions the agenda for cabinet meetings which he also chairs
- The civil service
Helps run the Gov. day to day and implement policies
Remains through the Gov. come and go
Knows the secrets of previous Gov which the present minister is unaware of
Is repute for absolute impartiality
Top civil servants exercise quite a lot of control over their ministers
Unknown for the larger public
Is a career
get high salary
Have absolute job security
Stand a good chance of being awarded an official honor
- The House of Commons
- The Atmosphere of Par.
- the House of Lords
Activities
Place of working offices
Palace of Westminster
Make new laws
Give authority for the Gov.
to raise and spend money
keep a close eye on Gov. activities
and discuss these activities