Introduction to Great Britain What is the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and England?? *Information in this presentation adapted from “Comparative Government and Politics” by Ethel Wood.

AP Comparative Government - Watkins

Geography Area: 244,820 sq km. (94,525 sq mi); slightly smaller than Oregon. Capital: London (pop. 7.2 million) Climate: Mild and temperate; frequent changes but few extremes of temperature.

AP Comparative Government - Watkins People Nationality: Noun Briton (s) Adjective – British Population (1999 est) 59.1 million Major ethnic groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian Major languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Government Intro Constitutional Monarchy Unwritten Constitution: partly statutes, partly common law and practice. Branches: Executive: Monarch (head of state) Prime Minister (head of gov’t) Legislative: Bicameral Parliament Judicial: magistrates’ courts, county courts, high courts, appellate courts, House of Lords. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

Queen and Prime Minister AP Comparative Government - Watkins

More on Legislative Branch: House of Commons and House of Lords Scottish Parliament Welsh Assembly Northern Ireland Assembly AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Political Parties In Great Britain: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats In Scotland: Scottish National Party Wales: Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) Northern Ireland: Ulster Unionist Party, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Fein, Alliance Party and smaller parties. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Suffrage British subjects and citizens of other Commonwealth countries and the Irish Republic resident in the UK, at 18. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Economy GDP: 1.4 trillion GDP per capita: $24,300 Trade: Exports- manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, food, beverages, tobacco Imports: manufactured goods, machinery, foodstuffs, fuels. Major Markets: US, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Ireland AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins History Norman conquest in 1066 Institutions developed which are characteristic of Britain: political, administrative, cultural and economic center in London; a separate but established church; a system of common law; distinctive and distinguished university education; and representative government. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Union Both Wales and Scotland were independent kingdoms which resisted English rule. 1707 England and Scotland unified as Great Britain. Legislative union of Ireland and Great Britain completed 1801 under name United Kingdom. 1921 Irish Free State established (Republic after WWII) Six northern, predominantly Protestant, Irish counties have remained part of the United Kingdom. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

British Expansion and Empire Foreign trade Sea power protected English trade and opened up new routes British empire = roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of the world’s area and population. Colonies contributed to the UK’s economic growth and strengthened its voice in world affairs as well as developing and broadening its democratic institutions at home. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins British Empire 1719 AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins The Sun Never Sets AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins 20th Century By early 1900’s, UK’s comparative economic advantage had lessened. UK’s preeminent international position eroded Ireland gained independence in 1921. Nationalism grew in other parts of the empire (ex. India, Egypt) AP Comparative Government - Watkins

Commonwealth of Nations Autonomy granted to number of states within the Empire Commonwealth formed British empire dismantled – became independent members of the Commonwealth. 13 colonies have chosen to continue their political links. (UKOT) Benefits of the Commonwealth: AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins UK does not have a written constitution. Body of law is based on statute, common law and “traditional rights.” Changes come through new acts of Parliament, informally through acceptance of new practices and usage, or by judicial precedents. Tradition restrains actions. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Executive Government Rests nominally with the Monarch, but actually is exercised by a Committee of Ministers (Cabinet). Cabinet selected from among members of the House of Commons and, to a lesser extent, House of Lords. Prime Minister is normally the leader of the largest party in the Commons. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Parliament Represents the entire country Maximum parliamentary term is 5 years, but the prime minister may ask the Monarch to dissolve parliament and call a general election at any time. Judiciary is independent of the legislative and executive branches but cannot review constitutionality of legislation. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins House of Commons 659 members Sole jurisdiction over finance. Lower house, but main parliamentary arena for political battle. A Government can only remain in office for as long as it has the support of a majority in the House of Commons. Debates new primary legislation as part of the process of making an Act of Parliament The House also scrutinizes the work of the Government. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins House of Lords Reduced power Can review, amend, or delay temporarily any bills except those related to budget. Debates public issues Current house consists of appointed life peers who hold their seats for life and 92 hereditary peers. 176 members AP Comparative Government - Watkins

Principal Government Officials Head of State: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Head of Government (Prime Minister) – The Honorable Tony Blair MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – The Honorable Robin Cook AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Political Conditions Tony Blair – Current Labour Prime Minister elected May 1, 1997. 176 seat majority in House of Commons Labour’s victory ended an 18 year run of Conservative (Tory) Party rule in UK UK’s participation in EU AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Tony Blair AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins US – UK Relations Close ally of US Common language, ideals, and democratic practices Allied during both World War’s and founding members of NATO. UK permanent member of UN Security Council AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Terms to know United Kingdom The Commonwealth Labour Party New Labour Party Liberal Democrats Conservative Party Monarchy Prime Minister Parliament Constitution Unwritten constitution Cabinet Whitehall Thatcherism Industrialization First-past-the-post electoral system Central political roles Party discipline The Alliance Collective responsibility Official secrets Council housing Northern Ireland IRA *Information in the above presentation adapted from “Comparative Government and Politics” by Ethel Wood. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Discussion Questions 1 Why does the author call England a ‘deviant case’ in comparative politics? What were the major reasons for popular disillusionment in the 1960’s and 1970’s? Compare the leadership styles of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Discussion Questions 2 Was Mrs. Thatcher a leader of women or a Prime Minister who incidentally happened to be a woman? What is the difference between ‘isolation’ and ‘insularity’? England is often accused of failing to identify a role for itself in the EU. Discuss contemporary trends and provide future scenarios based on those trends. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Discussion Questions 3 Should the US adopt an ‘Official Secrets Act’? Why or not? Why was the poll tax so controversial? Compare the British cabinet and the United States cabinet with regard to recruitment and responsibilities AP Comparative Government - Watkins

AP Comparative Government - Watkins Discussion Questions 4 Compare the basic assumptions regarding the responsibilities of government held by the British and American publics and their effects on process and policy. Trace the changes in Britain’s world role. What are the contributing causes of those changes? What might be Britain’s future role in NATO? In EU? AP Comparative Government - Watkins