Democracy

What is Democracy? Is democracy in the eye of the beholder? Soviets said they had “true democracy” No social classes, guaranteed employment, etc. U.S. and Europe had a ruling elite which competed to dominate the populace The West criticized Soviet style one-party control and lack of civil liberties

Democracy “Political power resides with the people” How? Direct or indirect participation in policymaking Direct – people may vote on policies and governing decisions Indirect – people may elect representatives in government, but do not vote on policy (also called republicanism) Participation (elections, pluralism, etc.) Competition Liberty Emphasis on rights has led to the creation of a new more specific term – liberal democracy

Democracy Social democratic regimes vs. liberal democratic regimes Social democrats emphasize collective welfare over individual rights Both are still democracies, since both hold the basic tenets (i.e., participation, competition, liberty)

Democracy Rule of Law Participation Concept originated in England with Magna Carta (1215 AD) All individuals are subject to the political system regardless of their position of power Participation Suffrage rights are open to all adult citizens with few restrictions

Electoral Systems How to divide constituencies Single-Member District system (also called plurality system or first-past-the-post system) Used in U.S., United Kingdom, Nigeria Country is drawn into geographic constituencies Election chooses one person to represent that constituency Only the candidate/party with the plurality receives representation All losing candidates/parties receive no representation for votes they received, no matter how much or little they lose by

Electoral Systems How to divide constituencies Single-Member District system (also called plurality system or first-past-the-post system) Variation of SMD – Majority SMD system Used in France First round determines top 2 finalists for the office 2nd round is a “runoff” to ensure the winner receives a majority of the vote

Electoral Systems How to divide constituencies Proportional Representation system (also called Multimember District system) Used in most democracies Voters cast a ballot for a party, not a candidate Whatever % of the vote the party receives, the party will win that % of seats in the legislature Party publishes a ranked list of candidates ex. If they win 70 seats, the top 70 names on the list go into the legislature

Electoral Systems How to divide constituencies Mixed System Used in Mexico, Germany Legislature is chosen partially by SMD, partially by PR Voters are given two ballots, one to elect a candidate for an SMD seat, one to elect a party for the PR seats

Direct Democracy Some elements of direct democracy appear in some societies Referendum – public vote on a particular policy issue ex. European countries held referendum votes on whether to ratify the EU constitution or not Initiative – referendum initiated by the public ex. Propositions in Arizona can be written by voters Plebiscites – nonbinding referendum just to get the public’s opinion on an issue

Political Parties Necessary? Functions of parties in modern democracy Bring together diverse groups and ideas to create majority rule (called interest aggregation) Express those ideas in a way the public and political system can understand (called interest articulation) Prevent tyranny of majority, since factions can exist within parties Means to hold politicians accountable by the electorate and fellow elites in the party Political symbol, or shorthand to identify basic values tied to a candidate

Separation of Powers Head of State vs. Head of Government Head of State – symbolizes and represents the people Head of Government – handles day to day tasks of governing the state Could be the same person, or separate

Head of State Head of Government United Kingdom Monarch Prime Minister Russia President China Mexico *President* Iran Supreme Leader Nigeria

Separation of Powers Presidential vs. Parliamentary System Voters choose chief executive by direct vote Separate legislative and executive institutions (including “checks and balances”) Usually unite head of state and government Used in U.S., Mexico, Nigeria, Iran (if you believe in Iranian “elections”) Parliamentary Voters elect parliament, majority party in parliament elects prime minister Prime minister and cabinet control most legislation, though parliament retains the right to remove the executive through a vote of confidence Can separate head of state and government Used in United Kingdom

Separation of Powers Presidential vs. Parliamentary System Semipresidential System Legislature elects a prime minister who serves as head of government Voters separately elect a president who holds certain powers (ex. foreign affairs, power to dismiss prime minister, call national referenda) Question of who is in control depends on each issue (or who currently occupies each post…) Used in Russia (Ha! Really?), France

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Where Big Ben is the only thing marking forward progress

Summary of Britain’s Significance First country with a limited monarchy Early 20th century, undoubtedly the world’s greatest superpower Empire is lost, but still retains global significance and influence Part of EU, yet not fully embracing being “European”

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Sources Long, very gradual tradition Original belief in Divine Right of a family to rule gave monarchs power over people Constitutionalism No written constitution, but a long series of compacts and acts of Parliament has formed an understood “Constitution of the Crown”

Components of British “Constitution” Rational-Legal Authority Magna Carta (1215) – limited power of the monarch, guaranteed trial by jury, consent of Parliament to raise taxes The Bill of Rights (1688) – expanded policymaking power of Parliament relative to the crown Common Law – (opposite of code law) customs and precedent have strong bearing on the law in addition to written rules

Historical Evolution of Political Traditions The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial

Oh, woe is me!

Historical Evolution of Political Traditions The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial The Parliament English Civil War (1640) Glorious Revolution (1688) Prime Minister becomes firm Chief Executive in the 18th Century Challenges of the Industrial Revolution (18th and 19th Century) Diminishing Empire in the 20th and 21st Century Strong welfare state became a burden, led to backlash of “Thatcherism”

Political Culture Geography Island Small - Little fertile soil and short growing seasons Temperate climate, but cold, chilly, and rainy No major geographical barriers Nationalism – great deal of pride in being “English”, or “Scottish”, or “Welsh” Insularity – feeling of separation from the rest of Europe

Political Culture Cleavages Social Class Not as strong as in the past, but still very significant

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

Political Culture Cleavages Social Class Multi-Nationalism Not as strong as in the past, but still very significant Noblesse Oblige – a term for the upper classes’ willingness to embrace the welfare state and support the poor Formerly duty of lords to care for serfs Multi-Nationalism Lots of cultural homogeneity, but there are Scots, English, Welsh, Irish, Protestant, and Catholic living together and insisting on some local sovereignty

Political Culture Cleavages Ethnic Minorities (comprise less than 10% of British population) Largely young, increasingly Muslim Tight restrictions on immigration imposed by Thatcher kept in place by Labour Party Many reports of unequal treatment by police, most minorities are disaffected and unemployed Poorly integrated into British society

Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Political Parties Originally Liberal (Whigs) vs. Conservative (Tories) Emergence of voting rights for commoners gave rise to Labour vs. Conservative (still Tories) Liberal Democrats emerged as a third party to compromise between Thatcher Conservatives on the right and Labour on the Left Undermined by Blair’s “New Labour” movement

Ed Miliband David Cameron Nick Clegg

Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Elections 646 constituencies each elect an MP (Member of Parliament) Party leaders run in “safe” constituencies, MPs often aren’t from their district Winner-take-all, “First-Past-The-Post” – only winner gets to take office Plurality – no majority necessary Party with Parliamentary majority chooses the Prime Minister, who “forms a government”

Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Regional Elections Devolution – Blair policy under Good Friday Agreement allowing regional parliaments to exercise some local authority Proportional representation in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales respective parliaments Mayor of London is now directly elected for the first time

Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Interest Groups Pluralist system with some patterns of neo-corporatism Quangos – gov. agencies act as interest advocates and policy advisors in many cases, fusing the relationship between interest group and state

Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Media Available media outlets reflect social class divisions in readership/viewership BBC was created during the collectivist era to educate citizens on politics Heavily regulated by government (ex. – no ads can be purchased for parties or candidates)

Institutions State Institutions Unitary state, power concentrated in London No “separation of powers”

Institutions Cabinet and Prime Minister, The Executive Cabinet members are MPs chosen by Prime Minister, who is “first among equals” Collective responsibility – cabinet members all share policy responsibility, and members resign if they do not support decisions of the PM

Institutions Parliament, The Legislature House of Commons, the “Lower House” Holds all meaningful power in Britain Majority party chooses PM, makes all policy Minority becomes “loyal opposition”, sitting directly across the aisle during debate Shadow Cabinet – group of minority party MPs who would be in cabinet if they were the majority Backbenchers – MPs who are less influential sit further back in Parliament

Prime Minister and Cabinet Shadow Cabinet Speaker of the House Backbenchers Backbenchers Prime Minister and Cabinet Shadow Cabinet Other minority parties

And now… Question Time for the Prime Minister!

Institutions Parliament, The Legislature House of Commons, the “Lower House” Vote of Confidence If a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by tradition The House of Lords, the “Upper House” The original parliament, now nearly meaningless Can delay legislation, debate technicalities, and add amendments Amendments may be deleted in Commons by a majority vote

Institutions Parliament, The Legislature House of Commons, the “Lower House” Vote of Confidence If a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by tradition The House of Lords, the “Upper House” 567 “life peers,” appointed by PM for achievement and service to Britain 92 “hereditary peers,” whose seats were passed down through family connections Blair and Labour substantially reduced number of hereditary peerages

Supporters of the Opposition Party The Sovereign Supporters of the Opposition Party Neutral Members Supporters of the government

Institutions The Bureaucracy Powerful force in policy formation, implementation Bureaucrats are experts, ministers are likely not, so ministers take direction from top bureaucrats informally Bureaucrats stay in place from government to government

Institutions The Judiciary Limited in authority compared to U.S. Parliamentary sovereignty – principle that Parliament has the final say Courts can strike acts of government that violate common law or previous acts of Parliament, but rule very narrowly May not impose “judicial review” on Parliament, PM, or cabinet Judges are usually independent, apolitical Expected to resign at age 75 Highest court formerly the Law Lords, but a new Supreme Court has been created (2009)

3 Major Steps in the British Judiciary Supreme Court Appeals High Courts Appeals District Courts