2. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Where Big Ben is the only thing marking forward progress

4. Summary of Britains Significance First country with a limited monarchy First country with a limited monarchy Early 20 th century, undoubtedly the worlds greatest superpower Early 20 th century, undoubtedly the worlds greatest superpower Empire is lost, but still retains global significance and influence Empire is lost, but still retains global significance and influence Part of EU, yet not fully embracing being European Part of EU, yet not fully embracing being European

5. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Sources Sources –Long, very gradual tradition Original belief in Divine Right of a family to rule gave monarchs power over people Original belief in Divine Right of a family to rule gave monarchs power over people –Constitutionalism No written constitution, but a long series of compacts and acts of Parliament has formed an understood Constitution of the Crown No written constitution, but a long series of compacts and acts of Parliament has formed an understood Constitution of the Crown

6. Components of British Constitution Rational-Legal Authority Rational-Legal Authority –Magna Carta (1215) – limited power of the monarch, guaranteed trial by jury, consent of Parliament to raise taxes –The Bill of Rights (1688) – expanded policymaking power of Parliament relative to the crown –Common Law – (opposite of code law) customs and precedent have strong bearing on the law in addition to written rules

7. Historical Evolution of Political Traditions The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial

8. Oh, woe is me!

9. Historical Evolution of Political Traditions The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial The Parliament The Parliament –English Civil War (1640) –Glorious Revolution (1688) –Prime Minister becomes firm Chief Executive in the 18 th Century Challenges of the Industrial Revolution (18 th and 19 th Century) Challenges of the Industrial Revolution (18 th and 19 th Century) Diminishing Empire in the 20 th and 21 st Century Diminishing Empire in the 20 th and 21 st Century –Strong welfare state became a burden, led to backlash of Thatcherism

10. Political Culture Geography Geography –Island –Small - Little fertile soil and short growing seasons –Temperate climate, but cold, chilly, and rainy –No major geographical barriers Nationalism – great deal of pride in being English, or Scottish, or Welsh Nationalism – great deal of pride in being English, or Scottish, or Welsh Insularity – feeling of separation from the rest of Europe Insularity – feeling of separation from the rest of Europe

11. Political Culture Cleavages Cleavages –Social Class Not as strong as in the past, but still very significant Not as strong as in the past, but still very significant

12. This photo was taken outside of Lords cricket grounds in 1937, and came to symbolize the class divide in England

13. Political Culture Cleavages Cleavages –Social Class Not as strong as in the past, but still very significant Not as strong as in the past, but still very significant Noblesse Oblige – a term for the upper classes willingness to embrace the welfare state and support the poor Noblesse Oblige – a term for the upper classes willingness to embrace the welfare state and support the poor –Formerly duty of lords to care for serfs –Multi-Nationalism Lots of cultural homogeneity, but there are Scots, English, Welsh, Irish, Protestant, and Catholic living together and insisting on some local sovereignty Lots of cultural homogeneity, but there are Scots, English, Welsh, Irish, Protestant, and Catholic living together and insisting on some local sovereignty

14. Political Culture Cleavages Cleavages –Ethnic Minorities (comprise less than 10% of British population) Largely young, increasingly Muslim Largely young, increasingly Muslim Tight restrictions on immigration imposed by Thatcher kept in place by Labour Party Tight restrictions on immigration imposed by Thatcher kept in place by Labour Party Many reports of unequal treatment by police, most minorities are disaffected and unemployed Many reports of unequal treatment by police, most minorities are disaffected and unemployed Poorly integrated into British society Poorly integrated into British society

15. Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process –Political Parties Originally Liberal (Whigs) vs. Conservative (Tories) Originally Liberal (Whigs) vs. Conservative (Tories) Emergence of voting rights for commoners gave rise to Labour vs. Conservative (still Tories) Emergence of voting rights for commoners gave rise to Labour vs. Conservative (still Tories) Liberal Democrats emerged as a third party to compromise between Thatcher Conservatives on the right and Labour on the Left Liberal Democrats emerged as a third party to compromise between Thatcher Conservatives on the right and Labour on the Left –Undermined by Blairs New Labour movement

16. Ed Miliband Nick Clegg David Cameron

18. Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process –Elections 646 constituencies each elect an MP (Member of Parliament) 646 constituencies each elect an MP (Member of Parliament) –Party leaders run in safe constituencies, MPs often arent from their district Winner-take-all, First-Past-The-Post – only winner gets to take office Winner-take-all, First-Past-The-Post – only winner gets to take office Plurality – no majority necessary Plurality – no majority necessary Party with Parliamentary majority chooses the Prime Minister, who forms a government Party with Parliamentary majority chooses the Prime Minister, who forms a government

21. Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process –Regional Elections Devolution – Blair policy under Good Friday Agreement allowing regional parliaments to exercise some local authority Devolution – Blair policy under Good Friday Agreement allowing regional parliaments to exercise some local authority Proportional representation in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales respective parliaments Proportional representation in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales respective parliaments Mayor of London is now directly elected for the first time Mayor of London is now directly elected for the first time

22. Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process –Interest Groups Pluralist system with some patterns of neo- corporatism Pluralist system with some patterns of neo- corporatism –Quangos – gov. agencies act as interest advocates and policy advisors in many cases, fusing the relationship between interest group and state

23. Institutions Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process –Media Available media outlets reflect social class divisions in readership/viewership Available media outlets reflect social class divisions in readership/viewership BBC was created during the collectivist era to educate citizens on politics BBC was created during the collectivist era to educate citizens on politics Heavily regulated by government (ex. – no ads can be purchased for parties or candidates) Heavily regulated by government (ex. – no ads can be purchased for parties or candidates)

24. Institutions State Institutions State Institutions –Unitary state, power concentrated in London No separation of powers No separation of powers

25. Institutions Cabinet and Prime Minister, The Executive Cabinet and Prime Minister, The Executive –Cabinet members are MPs chosen by Prime Minister, who is first among equals –Collective responsibility – cabinet members all share policy responsibility, and members resign if they do not support decisions of the PM

26. Institutions Parliament, The Legislature Parliament, The Legislature –House of Commons, the Lower House Holds all meaningful power in Britain Holds all meaningful power in Britain Majority party chooses PM, makes all policy Majority party chooses PM, makes all policy Minority becomes loyal opposition, sitting directly across the aisle during debate Minority becomes loyal opposition, sitting directly across the aisle during debate –Shadow Cabinet – group of minority party MPs who would be in cabinet if they were the majority –Backbenchers – MPs who are less influential sit further back in Parliament

27. Backbenchers Speaker of the House Prime Minister and Cabinet Shadow Cabinet Other minority parties

28. And now… Question Time for the Prime Minister!

29. Institutions Parliament, The Legislature Parliament, The Legislature –House of Commons, the Lower House Vote of Confidence Vote of Confidence –If a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by tradition –The House of Lords, the Upper House The original parliament, now nearly meaningless The original parliament, now nearly meaningless Can delay legislation, debate technicalities, and add amendments Can delay legislation, debate technicalities, and add amendments –Amendments may be deleted in Commons by a majority vote

30. Institutions Parliament, The Legislature Parliament, The Legislature –House of Commons, the Lower House Vote of Confidence Vote of Confidence –If a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by tradition –The House of Lords, the Upper House 567 life peers, appointed by PM for achievement and service to Britain 567 life peers, appointed by PM for achievement and service to Britain 92 hereditary peers, whose seats were passed down through family connections 92 hereditary peers, whose seats were passed down through family connections –Blair and Labour substantially reduced number of hereditary peerages

31. The Sovereign Supporters of the government Supporters of the Opposition Party Neutral Members

32. Institutions The Bureaucracy The Bureaucracy –Powerful force in policy formation, implementation –Bureaucrats are experts, ministers are likely not, so ministers take direction from top bureaucrats informally –Bureaucrats stay in place from government to government

33. Institutions The Judiciary The Judiciary –Limited in authority compared to U.S. Parliamentary sovereignty – principle that Parliament has the final say Parliamentary sovereignty – principle that Parliament has the final say Courts can strike acts of government that violate common law or previous acts of Parliament, but rule very narrowly Courts can strike acts of government that violate common law or previous acts of Parliament, but rule very narrowly May not impose judicial review on Parliament, PM, or cabinet May not impose judicial review on Parliament, PM, or cabinet Judges are usually independent, apolitical Judges are usually independent, apolitical Expected to resign at age 75 Expected to resign at age 75 Highest court formerly the Law Lords, but a new Supreme Court has been created (2009) Highest court formerly the Law Lords, but a new Supreme Court has been created (2009)

34. 3 Major Steps in the British Judiciary District Courts High Courts Supreme Court Appeals