The British system of government The United Kingdom The British constitution The Queen – the head of the state The three branches of Government Devolution Criticism

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England 60 million people 646 constituencies

The United Kingdom Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England 60 million people 646 constituencies one of the oldest democrasies of the world constitutionally Monarchy

The British constitution no single written document combination of common laws and practices constitutional Monarchy Westminster System

The Queen – the head of the state

The Queen – the head of the state executive legislature judiciary

The Queen – the head of the state many theoretical powers: appoints the Prime Minister can dissolve the parliament her agreement is necessary to pass laws in reality the Queen has only a representative role

The Queen – the head of the state but: she can avoid laws she commands the army final check on executive power stability of democracy

The legislature The legislature Queen Queen The House of Parliament The House of Lords The House of Commons

The legislature The legislature Queen Queen The House of Parliament The House of Lords The House of Commons The agreement of all 3 is necessary to pass laws

The House of Parliament maximum legislative period of 5 years legislative period is divided into sessions

The House of Parliament Functions: to pass laws to debate about issues to control the government

The House of Parliament Functions: to pass laws to debate about issues to control the government Authorities legislates for the whole United Kingdom can prolong its legislative period Members may not be arrested statements may not be used as evidence

The House of Lords

The House of Lords consists of: bishops, Law Lords, hereditary peers and life peers House of Lord Acts (1999) Constitutional Reform Act (2005) 731 members: 603 life peers 92 hereditary peers 24 bishops 12 law lords

The House of Lords Functions: control laws passed by the give advice control the government Authorities: delay laws for one year

The House of Lords Restrictions: may not delay money bills for longer than a month may not change laws which passed parliament may not vote or campaign for the House of Commons no salaries

The House of Lords speaker

The House of Lords woolsack

The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod The House of Lords The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

The House of Commons

The House of Commons consits of 646 members England : 525 Wales : 40 Scotland : 59 Northern Ireland : 18 each member represents a constituencie

Elections for the House of Commons elections have to be at least every five years

Elections candidate: nomination paper 500 pounds caution money voter: British resident citizen of the United Kingdom or another Commonwealth state

Elections voter: British resident citizen of the United Kingdom or another Commonwealth state first-past-the-post system: safe majorities discrimination against small parties

The House of Commons Rights and authorities: motion of no confidence question time privilege on money bills exclude public the more powerful chamber

The speaker of the House of Commons leads the conversation protects minorities rights: can exclude Members of Parliament can stop irrelevant debates is allowed to close the sitting

The House of Commons Serjeant-at-Arms

The House of Commons

Members of Parliament have to declare their financial interests The House of Commons Members of Parliament have to declare their financial interests

all seats in the House of Commons Parties the Labour Party, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats own 95% of all seats in the House of Commons

Parlamentarian Bills three types of bills Public Bills: affect general law Private Bills: concern rights of individuals Hybrid Bills: Public Bills that could affect individuals They are debated in committees and in the cabinet

The executive - the government Prime Minister: appointed by the queen usually the leader of the strongest party Unique position of authority: holds several ministirial positions can appoint and remove ministers can choose the time of dessolution

The executive - the government Unique position of authority: holds several ministirial positions can appoint and remove ministers can choose the time of dessolution he is also controlled by parliament, but the control is weak

The executive - the government Ministers: about 20 ministers the House of Commons can impeach them earn 45000 to 65000 punds

The Privy Council The Prime Minister und his ministers have to belong to the Privy Council

Judiciary no single judicial system some courts have the authority for the whole united Kingdom at present the House of Lords is the highes court of appeal there are criminal and civil courts

Devolution process of decentralisation Since 1999: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own parliaments The House of Parliament can exptend or restrict rights

Disadvantages power is concentrated not much political diversity the nobility has too much influence

Sources http://britannia.com/gov/ http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.parliament.uk/ http://www.google.de