Case Study: Politics in Britain Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Country Bio: United Kingdom Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Policy Challenges Facing Britain  General Election of no party won majority in House of Commons.  Conservative Party of David Cameron seats  Labour Party of Gordon Brown seats  Liberal Democratic Party of Nick Clegg - 57 seats.  Conservatives, Liberal Democrats formed coalition  Government’s offices divided between Cameron as prime minister and Clegg as deputy prime minister  General Election of no party won majority in House of Commons.  Conservative Party of David Cameron seats  Labour Party of Gordon Brown seats  Liberal Democratic Party of Nick Clegg - 57 seats.  Conservatives, Liberal Democrats formed coalition  Government’s offices divided between Cameron as prime minister and Clegg as deputy prime minister Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Policy Challenges Facing Britain  British Empire = Commonwealth  Antigua and Australia to India, Pakistan, Zambia differ in wealth, culture, commitment to democracy.  Special relationship with U.S.  Britain’s world position has declined  European Community (1957) – now EU  Britain did not join until 1973  Created more policy challenges  British Empire = Commonwealth  Antigua and Australia to India, Pakistan, Zambia differ in wealth, culture, commitment to democracy.  Special relationship with U.S.  Britain’s world position has declined  European Community (1957) – now EU  Britain did not join until 1973  Created more policy challenges Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Structure of Government  Crown rather than a constitution symbolizes the authority of government.  Monarch only ceremonial head of state.  What constitutes the Crown?  Government  Government officials  Whitehall  Downing Street  Parliament  Collectively referred to as Westminster  Crown rather than a constitution symbolizes the authority of government.  Monarch only ceremonial head of state.  What constitutes the Crown?  Government  Government officials  Whitehall  Downing Street  Parliament  Collectively referred to as Westminster Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

What the Prime Minister Says and Does  Political Leader  Ambiguous Duties  Imperatives of the Prime Minister:  Winning elections  Campaigning through the media  Patronage  Parliamentary performance  Making and balancing policies  Political Leader  Ambiguous Duties  Imperatives of the Prime Minister:  Winning elections  Campaigning through the media  Patronage  Parliamentary performance  Making and balancing policies Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Cabinet and Cabinet Ministers  Cabinet is senior ministers appointed by prime minister  Must be members of House of Commons or House of Lords  Remain important as department heads  Major Whitehall departments differ greatly from each other  Political reputation of ministers depends on success in promoting interests of their department in parliament, in media, in battles within Whitehall  Cabinet is senior ministers appointed by prime minister  Must be members of House of Commons or House of Lords  Remain important as department heads  Major Whitehall departments differ greatly from each other  Political reputation of ministers depends on success in promoting interests of their department in parliament, in media, in battles within Whitehall Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Civil Service  Largest number of civil servants are clerical staff with little discretion  Most important group of civil servants is smallest group  Advise ministers, oversee work of their departments  Top civil servants are bipartisan, ready to work for whichever party is winner  Thatcher: focus on making civil service more businesslike  Largest number of civil servants are clerical staff with little discretion  Most important group of civil servants is smallest group  Advise ministers, oversee work of their departments  Top civil servants are bipartisan, ready to work for whichever party is winner  Thatcher: focus on making civil service more businesslike Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Role of Parliament  Principal division in Parliament is between party with majority of seats in House of Commons and opposition party.  If bill or motion is identified as vote of confidence in government, government will fall if it is defeated  MPs from majority party generally vote as party leadership instructs  Whitehall departments draft bills presented to Parliament  Government rather than Parliament sets budget  Principal division in Parliament is between party with majority of seats in House of Commons and opposition party.  If bill or motion is identified as vote of confidence in government, government will fall if it is defeated  MPs from majority party generally vote as party leadership instructs  Whitehall departments draft bills presented to Parliament  Government rather than Parliament sets budget Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Role of Parliament  Functions of MPs:  weigh political reputations  publicize issues  scrutinize legislation  examine how Whitehall departments administer public policies  MPs in the governing party have private access to the government ministers  Functions of MPs:  weigh political reputations  publicize issues  scrutinize legislation  examine how Whitehall departments administer public policies  MPs in the governing party have private access to the government ministers Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Role of Parliament  House of Lords  Unique as second chamber because initially composed of hereditary peers  1999: Labour abolished right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit in House of Lords  Government often introduces noncontroversial legislation in Lords if it deals with technical matters  Uses Lords as revising chamber to amend bills  Lords cannot veto legislation, but can amend or delay passage of government bills  House of Lords  Unique as second chamber because initially composed of hereditary peers  1999: Labour abolished right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit in House of Lords  Government often introduces noncontroversial legislation in Lords if it deals with technical matters  Uses Lords as revising chamber to amend bills  Lords cannot veto legislation, but can amend or delay passage of government bills Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Courts and Abuses of Power  Supreme Court created as highest judicial authority, 2009  Replaced old practice of highest court being committee of House of Lords  Court consists of president and 11 justices  Serves as final appeal on points of law  Limited powers, cannot declare Acts of Parliament unconstitutional  Supreme Court created as highest judicial authority, 2009  Replaced old practice of highest court being committee of House of Lords  Court consists of president and 11 justices  Serves as final appeal on points of law  Limited powers, cannot declare Acts of Parliament unconstitutional Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Government as Network  Within Whitehall network, core set of political figures are important in determining policies  Prime Minister  Cabinet Ministers  In coalition government major decisions cannot be made by single politician  Within Whitehall network, core set of political figures are important in determining policies  Prime Minister  Cabinet Ministers  In coalition government major decisions cannot be made by single politician Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Culture and Legitimacy  Trusteeship Theory of Government: leaders take initiative  Collectivist Theory of Government: government balances competing demands  Individualist Theory of Government: parties represent people not geoups  Trusteeship Theory of Government: leaders take initiative  Collectivist Theory of Government: government balances competing demands  Individualist Theory of Government: parties represent people not geoups Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Culture and Legitimacy  Evidenced by readiness of British people to comply with basic political laws  Not related to economic calculations  Symbols of common past as major determinants of legitimacy  Habit and tradition  Evidenced by readiness of British people to comply with basic political laws  Not related to economic calculations  Symbols of common past as major determinants of legitimacy  Habit and tradition Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Socialization  Socialization influences the division between those who do and do not participate  Family and Gender: create youthful identification with party  Education: more educated not as likely to be conservative as once were  Class: Conservative = middle class, Labour = working class  Mass Media: only a few papers, TV is primary source of news  Socialization influences the division between those who do and do not participate  Family and Gender: create youthful identification with party  Education: more educated not as likely to be conservative as once were  Class: Conservative = middle class, Labour = working class  Mass Media: only a few papers, TV is primary source of news Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Organizing Group Interests  Civil society institutions flourished in Britain for centuries  Confederation of British Industries: big business, direct contacts with Whitehall  Trades Union Congress: labor  Voluntary/Charitable Associations  Civil society institutions flourished in Britain for centuries  Confederation of British Industries: big business, direct contacts with Whitehall  Trades Union Congress: labor  Voluntary/Charitable Associations Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Party System and Electoral Choice  General election must occur at least once every five years  Prime minister is free to call election any time  Winner is candidate who is first past the post (plurality)  Winner nationally is party that gains most seats  Two party system vs. multiparty system  Distribution of seats in House of Commons different from distribution of share of votes  General election must occur at least once every five years  Prime minister is free to call election any time  Winner is candidate who is first past the post (plurality)  Winner nationally is party that gains most seats  Two party system vs. multiparty system  Distribution of seats in House of Commons different from distribution of share of votes Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Why Public Policy Matters  Government relies on three major resources to produce benefits of public policy:  Laws – unique resource of government; contracts are only effective if enforced  Money – taxes on incomes and consumption and stealth taxes  Personnel – public employees are needed to administer laws and deliver services  Social security most costly program of British government  Government relies on three major resources to produce benefits of public policy:  Laws – unique resource of government; contracts are only effective if enforced  Money – taxes on incomes and consumption and stealth taxes  Personnel – public employees are needed to administer laws and deliver services  Social security most costly program of British government Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.