The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland CH. 2-3

III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: BUREAUCRACY Implement policy 15-16 departments; ~140 executive agencies/regulatory bodies “Whitehall” Politically neutral

III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: QUANGOS Civil servants act as administrators, not policy makers. Regulatory agencies oversee newly privatized companies. Quangos: quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations created by Parliament to incorporate gov and private interest into policy-making QUANGOs make a great deal of policy and regulation.

III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM The Judiciary Role limited by parliament sovereignty No judicial review; i.e., no prerogative of high court to nullify actions by the executive and legislative branches that it deems violate the constitution. Limited to determination of violation of common law or act of Parliament Jurists participate in political issues outside of court. In 2009, creation of UK Supreme Court Removed authority from House of Lords Abides by European Court of Justice (ECJ) Passage of Human Rights Act in 1998

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES Two-party system…in Parliament; multi-party system Historically Whig and Tory Tories supported King Charles II; Whigs opposed Whigs: Scottish bandits Tories: Irish bandits Whigs = Liberal Party Tories = Conservative Party Industrial Revolution led to Labour Party

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES The Conservative Party: Party in Power The largest party on the right Key Figures: David Cameron: PM (not currently; Theresa May Margaret Thatcher: Prime Minister 1979-1990 John Major: Prime Minster 1990-1997 Dates back to 18th century and traditionally represents the “middle class”- middle = rich class in UK Has been dominant party in Britain since World War II, holding power for all but sixteen years.

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES Pragmatic rather than ideological Hardcore austerity 1980s – supported market controlled economy, privatization, few social welfare programs, oppose devolution PM John Major moved more to center

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES Characterized by Noblesse Oblige Power centered in London Party organization viewed as elitist Weakened by division of party in late 1990s: Traditional Wing(one-nation Tories) – values noblesse oblige and elitism, supports Britain’s membership in EU Thatcherite Wing – strict conservatives, support full free market, known as “Euroskeptics”, feel EU threatens British sovereignty

Noblesse Oblige Tradition in British politics The duty of the upper classes to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes Legacy of feudal times (Lords protected serfs) Reflected in willingness of British citizens to accept a welfare state

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: THATCHERISM Margaret Thatcher (Reagan in a dress) Conservative PM 11 years “Iron Lady” – capable and firm Privatized business/industry, cut social welfare, strengthened nat’l defense Resigned 1990

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: THATCHERISM Reforms instituted by Margaret Thatcher in 1980s Privatized business and industry Cut back on social welfare programs Strengthened national defense (staunch anticommunist) Got tough with labor unions in response to Labour Parties’ distinct movement left, which had strengthened labor unions politically Returned to market economy Resisted complete integration into the European Union Froze income tax increases Foreign policy dominated by securing British interests internationally

DAVID CAMERON Conservative leader since 2005, PM until last year More moderate than predecessors Voted in favor of benefits to same sex couples Euroskeptic Won in 2010 b/c electorate sick of Labour

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: IN SUMMATION Dominant party in Great Britain between WWII and late 1990s Main party on the right Traditionally pragmatic as opposed to ideological Historically has supported a market controlled economy, privatization, and fewer social welfare programs – symbolized by Margaret Thatcher in 1980s Under Prime Minister John Major (1990-1997) and David Cameron (2010-present) gravitated towards center and away from Thatcherism Demographic: Upper classes Suburban middle class Upper middle class Traditionalists among working class

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES The Labour Party: Loyal Opposition The largest party on the left Controlled the British government from 1997-2010 Key Figures: Tony Blair (PM 1997-2007) Won Elections of 1997, 2001, 2005 Gordon Brown (PM 2007-2010) Created in 1906 to represent rights of working class Move toward center allowed it to win back Parliament in 1997 on centrist platform and Blair’s “New Labour” platform

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES Largest leftist party 1900 - Alliance of trade unions and socialist groups; working class Public ownership of industries Gov. intervention in economy Redistribution of wealth Welfare state Publicly funded healthcare and education

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES Early history of the party was defined by controversial Clause 4 that called for nationalization of the “commanding heights” of British industry Trade Union Council (TUC) – a coalition of trade unions generally associated with the Labour Party, has traditionally been a force in British politics Growing moderation of the Labour Party was reflected by removal of Clause 4 in early 1990s

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES “New Labour” - Modernized and centered by PM Tony Blair from 1997-2010 Rebranding – accept market economy “Third Way” Right wing economic policy with left wing social policy

BLAIR’S LEGACY Created “New Labour” Tied UK with US foreign affairs in Iraq Led to demise under Brown Reduced House of Lords hereditary positions Devolved power Created government in London (mayor) Attracted more women to party

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: LABOUR DEMOGRAPHICS Urban middle class Upper middle classes Unionized working class Progressives

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: 2010 ELECTION LABOUR 255 (2010) Urban Unionized Working class progressive CONSERVATIVES 303 (2010)…(326 makes a majority, awk) Upper class Suburban middle class Traditionalists

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL PARTIES The Liberal Democrats Two parties—the Liberals and the Social Democrats-formed an alliance in the 1983 and 1987 elections Parties formally merged in 1989. Goal of party was to establish a strong party in the middle as a compromise to the politics of the two major parties. Key Figures: Nick Cleg: Current Party Leader Paddy Ashdown: Party Leader 1992-1999 Power declined in 1990s as both major parties moved toward center. In 2005, Liberal Democrats won 62 seats in Parliament, even though they won 22% of the vote. Lib Dems Progressive tax, environmentalism, civil liberties, bank reform, devolution, dismantle big gov,

HAPPENED IN 2010! 2010 elections created coalition majority in Parliament Conservative-Liberal Democrat Conservative David Cameron (PM) Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg (Dep. PM)

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: COALITION GOVERNMENT Coalition core principles Two parties together for partnership government Attempted to blend Conservative commitment to the dynamism of free markets with the Liberal Democrat commitment to decentralization

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru – Welsh nationalist party Sinn Fein – political arm of the IRA Democratic Unionist Party N. Ireland – led by Protestant clergymen National Front-considered racist and nationalist UKIP - Eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: INTEREST GROUPS Lobby leaders and bureaucrats NOT MP’s Sway public opinion STANDOUTS: Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Associated with Tories Trade Union Congress (TUC) Associated with Labour

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: POLITICAL CULTURE Nationalism Multi-nationalism – English dialects; Catholic v. Protestant Insularity - Euroskepticism Geography: island, small, limited land, no major barriers Individual rights Representative government – deference to Parliament Rule of law Political traditions

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: SOCIAL CLEAVAGES Cross – cutting Political Social class Race and ethnicity Religion National identity Coinciding – regional/political (England v Scotland independence/referendum

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: VOTING Electoral Register 18, citizen, no criminal record or mental incapability Partisan alignment and/or class alignment Voter turnout ~55-65% Lower turnout: PP centralized Polling indicates conclusion Low efficacy/ignorance

IV. SOCIETY, STATE AND CITIZENS: ELECTIONS Election Policy – ***Fixed Term Parliament Act (2011) elections must be held every 5 years on a fixed date 1/legislative district (over 650)/~95,000 constituents No residency requirements or primary elections Plurality (First Past the Post) Campaigns 4-6 weeks/first Thursday in May PM may dissolve parliament where elections would be held. (2017 Teresa May called for elections)

U.S. vs British Elections United States Parties are less powerful Members must live in districts Party leaders run in their respective districts Individual votes for four officials on national level Between 30 and 60 percent of the eligible voters actually vote First-past-the-post, single-member districts; virtually no minor parties get representation Great Britain Party determines who runs where Members usually don’t live in their districts Party leaders run in “safe districts” Individual votes for only one official on the national level About 70 to 80 percent of the eligible voters actually vote (number was less in 2001 & 2005) First-past-the-post, single-member districts; some representation from minority parties, but still less than if they had proportional representation