REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION

Power shifted from Parliament to Civil Service The Legislature In the 1830’s, the Parliament collaborated on policy making, accepting and rejecting legislation. The Voting act of 1835 Power shifted from Parliament to Civil Service

House of Commons Members are elected 3 legislative functions Pass Laws Taxation Reviewing government policies Governing party has the plurality of seats

House of Lords Used to amend/delay legislation, and now only provide redrafting legislation 1999, Tony Blair appointed Wakeham Commission and the House of Lords Act was passed Are not elected Hereditary Peers Life Peers Law Lords (NOW SUPREME COURT – outside Parliament)

Behavioral and Structural Changes Backbench Dissent Parliamentary Committees Watchdog Committees

Political Parties and the Party System Appears to be a Two-Party System The New Labour The Conservative Party But watch out for the Coalition Players!! (Prominent Contending Parties) Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party (Scotland) Plaid Cymru (Wales)

The Labour Party Launched by trade union representatives and socialist societies Adopted the collectiveness consensus in the 1950’s-60’s Mid 1970’s – lost power due to disputes over trade unions Moderate center-left

The Conservative Party (The Tories) Began in the eighteenth century Economic and social elite Divisions over Britain’s role in the E.U. Contributing to the fall of Thatcher and Major Moderate center-right party

Liberal Democrats 1983 – Alliance between Social Democratic Party and the Liberals (forming the Liberal Democrats) Nick Clegg They opposed the war in Iraq Moderate center-left party

The Electoral System Elected officials are known as Members of Parliament (MPs) Elections are Winner-Take-All 2005 – Women held 128 seats as MPs (19.8%) 2005 – Ethnic Minorities held 15 seats (2.3%)

Trends in Electoral Behavior Geographical and regional division between parties Conservative Party competes with Labour Party for urban north Conservative Party dominates the rural south Scotland – Labour vs. Scottish National Party 2005 election very interesting…

Social Class New Labour diminished the importance of social classes Decolonization of Britain More diverse country

Citizenship and National Identity Doubts about British identity Race and nationality Blair is trying to revitalize a sense of community 9/11 – blame on minority groups

Ethnicity 8 % African, African-Caribbean, or Asian Many disadvantages Police insensitivities Housing Accusations about heritage Employment Sporting events

Gender Women’s chief concerns Child care Domestic violence Equal pay Labour gained support by listening to women’s concern Women now vote for Labour instead of Conservatives

Interests, Social Movements, and Protest Recent rise in number of protest Environmental activism in the 1990s Genetically Modified Crops GMO’s High fuel prices sparked protests in 2000 Many anti-war rallies 2003 - 750,000 demonstrators in London

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