1. STUDENT NOTES 2 CH. 2 THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

2. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: HALLMARKS OF “CONSTITUTION” Constitutional monarchy – “Her Majesty’s Government” Unitarism – Power centralized; all regional/local units controlled by center – Devolution Parliamentary sovereignty (Parliamentary democracy) – Legislative gov. - Has the right to make or unmake any law – Westminster model – Westminster model - democracy rests on supreme authority of the legislature – KEY POINT: Concept of parliamentary sovereignty undermines judicial power! – This means that parliament’s decisions are final Cabinet government – Control legislative agenda (collective responsibility) Judiciary – Subordinate to Parliamentary laws

3. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: SOURCES OF AUTHORITY Social compacts and Constitutionalism –No written Constitution –“Constitution of the Crown” Documents, common law, legal codes, customs –Magna Carta (1215), Bill of Rights (1688) Tradition primary source of stability “The British Constitution has always been puzzling and always will be.”

4. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: LEGITIMACY The government of Great Britain has developed gradually; tradition is a primary source of stability Great Britain’s constitution is unwritten (de facto) having evolved from different documents (Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights), common law, legal codes, and customs The UK has rational legal legitimacy, stemming from its democratic constitution and government

5. Parliament Act of 1911 Supremacy of House of Commons; HOL can only delay bills for 1 year; 5 year terms for HOC 16281688-91830-8419111215 1941 Magna Carta: protection against absolute power and arbitrary acts; trial by jury, due process, protection of private property (often ignored) Bill of Rights and Glorious Revolution: Consent of Parliament for most acts of monarch; free elections, right to petition king Petition of Right Trial by jury, rule of law, tax only w/Parliament’s consent, no martial law during peace Great Reform Acts Increased size of electorate and reformed election procedures Beveridge Plan - Five Giant Evils: Want Squalor Ignorance Disease Idleness Britain’s Evolutionary Democracy

6. Evolutionary Democracy Shaping of Monarch – From absolute power to symbolic role Parliament’s Rise in Power – Gradualism Gradual Extension of Voting Rights – Spurred by Industrial Revolution – Great Reform Act of 1832 – 300,000+ men gained right to vote – 1867 – working class people – 1918 – Women age 28+, men 21+ – 1928 – Women 21+

8. 19791979-901990-19971997-20071945-1979 2007-10 Collective Consensus: Establishment of welfare state (NHS) and commitment to Keynesian economics and state intervention; Dismantling of British Empire Margaret Thatcher: Conservative Party ; Iron Lady; Neoliberalism Tony Blair “New Labour”/Third Way Winter of Discontent: Widespread strikes lead to Thatcher’s victory John Major: Lost majority through defections and by- elections; He who hesitates…. Gordon Brown Economic Crisis Decline in industrial production, Loss of colonies, Oil Prices, Labor Union Demands (1970s ) Britain’s Evolutionary Democracy David Cameron (PM): Hung Parliament, Coalition government with Nicholas Clegg, Deputy PM (Liberal Democrat)

9. Structure of British Government

10. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS parliamentary sovereigntyCore of British system is parliamentary sovereignty – Parliamentary sovereignty – Parliamentary sovereignty—the doctrine that grants the legislature the power to make or overturn any law and permits no veto or judicial review.

11. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS FUSION OF POWER Executive: Prime Minister (PM) –Queen head of state; PM head of government Legislative: Parliament –Legislative, executive, and judicial supremacy –House of Commons, House of Lords, Cabinet (PM) –The majority party IS the government Judiciary: Supreme Court of UK

12. Parliament: Big Idea Although British government consists of three branches, little separation of powers exists between the cabinet and the parliament. Like most parliamentary systems, the executive and legislative branches are fused, largely because the leaders of the majority party in parliament are also cabinet members. Bicameral Legislature: – House of Commons: All Power – House of Lords: Ceremonial

13. House of Commons (Lower House) House of Lords (Upper House) Bicameral Legislature: Two Houses Parliament

14. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS The House of Commons Lower house Palace of Westminster 650 members elected democratically Members of Parliament (MPs) Single-member, plurality districts Do NOT have to live in district –Party leaders run in “safe” districts Elections at least every 5 years at PM’s discretion Driven by majority party; seconded by the “loyal opposition”

15. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: HOUSE OF COMMONS Majority holds ALL of the power Question time (PMQ) – hour when PM must answer questions from opposition –Check on PM power Speaker of the House presides – not necessarily a member of majority

16. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: PRIME MINISTER  Speaks for all Members of Parliament  Chooses cabinet ministers  Makes decisions in cabinet, with agreement of the ministers  Campaigns for and represents the party in parliamentary elections  Dissolves Parliament and sets date for next election

17. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: COLLECTIVE CABINET Cabinet = PM and ministers (cab secretaries) Head a major bureaucracy of the gov Either members of the House of Commons or of the House of Lords. Center of policy-making in British political system and the Prime Minister has the responsibility of shaping their decisions into policy Do not vote; unity represents collective responsibility for policymaking PM is “first among equals”

18. Three line whip: In the UK a three-line whip is an instruction given to Members of Parliament by the leaders of their party telling them they must vote in the way that the party wants them to on a particular subject.

19. THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Bills must be introduced in House of Commons and House of Lords. Approval of House of Lords is not required. Bill comes to the floor three times: –First: formally read at introduction, printed, debated in general terms, and after interval, given a second reading –Second: Undergoes detailed review by standing committee; then report stage during which new amendments may be introduced. –Third reading: bill is considered final form (and voted on) without debate. Follows parallel path in the Lords Finally, it receives royal assent (which is only a formality) and becomes an Act of Parliament.

20. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: HOUSE OF COMMONS PM would dissolve Parliament if: 1) The life of Parliament is about to reach the statutory limit of five years 2) party in power unable to muster majority of support b/c has most seats BUT lacks majority vote for key issues (loss of confidence) 3) majority party wishes to capitalize on its popularity and seeks to gain more seats before five year limit

21. –Head of minority party is the shadow cabinet.

22. III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: BACKBENCHERS