1. 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.

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3. 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.

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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

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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.
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6. Queen and Prime Minister
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7. More on Legislative Branch:
House of Commons and House of Lords
Scottish Parliament
Welsh Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
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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

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Suffrage
British subjects and citizens of other Commonwealth countries and the Irish Republic resident in the UK, at 18.
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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
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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.
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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.
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13. 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.
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British Empire 1719
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The Sun Never Sets
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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)
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17. 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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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23. 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
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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
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Tony Blair
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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