1. United Kingdom
Wood Chapter 2

2. Geography – Political 

3. Geography – Population
63 Million People
53 M England
5 M Scotland
3 M Wales
2 M North Irelad
92% White
4% Asian

4. Geography – Economy GDP $2.86 T $42,106 Per Capita
1.5% Agriculture
19% Industrial
80% Service
Gini coefficient is .32 
Top 10% have 38% of wealth 
15% under government poverty line 

5. History – 1066, 1215, and 1688
British History begins in 1066 with the Norman invasion of the British Isle
William the Conqueror aligns nobility with guarantee to advise them before taxing
Beginnings of the “House of Lords”
King John, desperate for tax revenue, signs the Magna Charta
First document in world to limit a monarchs power
After Civil War, monarchy is restored
William and Mary sign English Bill of Rights
Gives Parliament, not people, rights

6. History – Colonialism and Industrial Revolution
Colonialism spreads the English culture and government around the world
North America, Australia, India, South Africa still have English influence today
Industrial Revolution begins in England due to liberal economic laws and vast amounts of coal
Agrarian sector turns to industry
Rural jobs replaced by urban
Growth of cites leads to increased demands on government at the local level

7. History – 20th Century
Two World Wars solidify Britain's role as a global power
Post WWII leads to an increased role of government in citizen’s lives
Strong social state is replaced by “Thatcherism” in the 1980’s
Blair wins back the country with Labour’s “Third Way”
Blair’s support of US and Bush in Iraq War lead to downfall; Brown 2008
Cameron “Big Society” not government last until “Brexit”

8. Government Institutions – Executive
Unitary government with a Parliamentary System of power
Head of State is the Monarchy
Head of Government is Prime Minister
PM is elected by MPs and appoints members of the cabinet
Cabinet is main policy making body through “collective responsibility”

9. Government Institutions – Bureaucracy
Large, professional bureaucracy
Tend to be apolitical
Does not change when government changes
Has great discretionary power as cabinet usually not experts in field
Merit system of advancement

10. Government Institutions – Legislative
Parliament – bicameral legislative branch
House of Commons – FPTP SMD five year term
Only directly elected part of government
Leader of party with most MPs elects the PM
Usually supportive of the PM, so separation of powers is non-existent
Strict party discipline, or risk vote of no confidence
Party out of power is “loyal opposition” and creates “shadow cabinet”
Question time is only real opportunity for opposition to make a point

11. Government Institutions – Legislative
Parliament – bicameral legislative branch
House of Lords – non elected upper house
Traditional power of the upper class has all but disappeared by end of the 20th century
Can debate bills and make amendments, but House of Commons can veto and pass anyway
Until 2009 contained the Supreme Court of UK, but thanks to EU separate court created
Hereditary peers and life peers

12. Government Institutions – Judicial
Common Law that uses past cases and rulings
Parliamentary Sovereignty limits power of judicial review
2009 a Supreme Court was created
Can nullify government action that exceed powers in an Act of Parliament
Cannot declare an Act of Parliament unconstitutional (no constitution)
Formal Parliament Brexit vote shows growing power of judiciary

13. Political Institutions – Political Parties
Labour Party
Center-left main party in the UK; common man and union members
After WWII and instituted socialist policies “Beveridge Report”
Nationalizing major industries
National Health Service
Granted independence to India
Post-war consensus kept most socialistic policies until the 1980’s

14. Political Institutions – Political Parties
Labour Party
After Thatcher, the party removed Clause 4 of the Charter
Tony Blair’s “Third Way” defines the party post-Thatcher
Blair PM and Brown PM were hampered by Iraq, and respectively
Labour is losing support to third party groups Lib Dems and SNP

15. Political Institutions – Political Parties
Conservative Party
Center-right main party in UK
Elitist party focused on economy and noblesse oblige
Formed most governments in 20th century
Post-war consensus advocated for more social policies (Beveridge Report)
Election of Thatcher pushes party to the right

16. Political Institutions – Political Parties
Conservative Party
Neoliberalism changed many parts of Britain's economy
After 1990 created rift in party between
Traditional Wing – noblesse oblige; support EU
Thatcherite Wing – remove govt controls; tend to be Eurosceptic
David Cameron creates coalition with Lib Dems 2010, then majority in 2015
Theresa May ascends to PM after Cameron resigns due to Brexit vote

18. Political Institutions – Political Parties
Liberal Democrats
Traditionally largest third party
Advocate for Proportional Representation
As part of deal with coalition govt, Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011 passed
Lost many seats in 2015 and is not relevant today
Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein
Regional Parties that have had little impact (SNP in 2015 is exception)
UK Independence Party
Most representatives in EU Parliament; responsible for Brexit

19. Political Institutions – Elections
Open political system that allows multiple parties, but has been dominated by two: Labour and Conservative
First Past the Post Single Member district hurts smaller parties
Plurality voting means that many times 40% can win most elections
No election for any national office, on MPs and MEPs
Devolution created Assemblies in Scotland, Wales, and North Ireland
All use proportional representation

20. Political Institutions – Interest Groups
Interest Group pluralism allows for many groups to compete for power
Quangos tend to be more powerful, working with the government to create policy
Quangos were weakened under Thatcher, and many eliminated by Cameron
Trade Union Congress (TUC) vs Confederation of Business Industries (CBI) is example of pluralism in UK

21. Political Institutions – Media
Ranked 38 out of 180 countries
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) created to educate and inform citizens regulated by government
Today commercial channels compete with BBC
Press generally free to report on anything

22. Civil Society – Cleavages
Social Class – May be most pronounced cleavage; nobles oblige, and political parties fall on social class lines
National Minorities – Although united as Britons, Scotland has held an independence referendum, and with Brexit looming may hold another
Ethnic Minorites – 90% white; many non-whites are immigrants and were partial fuel for Brexit vote

23. Civil Society – Political Beliefs and Values
Decreasing support for labor unions
Violence regarding Northern Ireland
Thatcherism
New Labour
Iraq War
Brexit

24. Civil Society – Voting
Roughly 70% of eligible voters vote in a typical election
Party loyalty has diminished, however social class and region are predictors
Social Class – middle and upper – Conservative; working – Labour
Region – Conservatives win most of England; Labour has done well in country, but has lost some MPs to SNP (56 of 59 seats are SNP in Scotland)

25. Policies and Issues – The Economy
Post WWII, Collective Consensus philosophy led UK to more socialist policies with Keynesianism philosophy about employment
Thatcher reversed this trend with neoliberalism
Privatization of industry and smaller role of government
Blair’s Third Way attempted to show a Labour alternative that wasn’t socialism

26. Policies and Issues – The Economy
Cameron’s “Big Society” put the responsibility back in the private sector
Austerity in 2010 – college tuition triples
VAT increases
National Health Service (NHS)
Budgetary issues led to major overhaul in 2012
Privatization and more doctor control hopes to lower administrative costs

27. Policies and Issues – Foreign Policy
European Union – SMH
USA – Special Relationship
Terrorism – people die in suicide bomb

28. Policies and Issues – Devolution
Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales all have own assemblies
Although still unitary, this devolution has brought questions on unity
Good Friday Agreement led to peace in North Ireland 1998
Scottish Vote for Independence No 55 Yes 44