1. 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

2. The United Kingdom

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

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

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

7. The Queen – the head of the state

8. The Queen – the head of the state
executive
legislature
judiciary

9. 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

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

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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. The House of Lords

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. The House of Lords
speaker

21. The House of Lords
woolsack

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

23. The House of Commons

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

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

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

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

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

29. 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

30. The House of Commons
Serjeant-at-Arms

31. The House of Commons

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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

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

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

39. 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

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

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

42. Sources http://britannia.com/gov/ http://en.wikipedia.org/