1. Political System in the United Kingdom

2. What is the political system?
Constitutional Monarchy
A king or queen is head of state
Ability to make legislation lies
with the parliament
Prime minister is head
of government

3. Constitution? Unwritten in one document
An “uncodified” constitution
Comes from a variety of sources
Statute Law
Magna Carta
Human Rights Act 1998
Devolution establishing Scottish
Parliament
Rule of Law

4. Magna Carta video

5. Constitution? Comes from variety of sources Common Law EU Laws
Decisions made by judges
EU Laws
International laws

6. The Role of the Queen No real political or executive role
Opens parliament with a speech
Serves as symbol of national unity, stability
“Royal assent”

7. Parliament Bicameral Role House of Commons House of Lords Making laws
Checking government
Debating current issues

8. House of Commons Publicly elected
After 2010 General Election
650 MPs were elected
Party with largest number of members forms government
Party leader becomes Prime Minister
Sole responsibility for decisions on financial bills

9. House of Lords “Upper House”
Members are appointed by the Queen on advice of the PM
Essentially works to “double check” new laws
Can’t stop a new law but can delay it
Currently 760 members who are eligible to take part in discussions etc.

10. How does a bill become law?
1. A bill (or proposed law) begins in the House of Commons
First reading which is a formal stage
Second reading + debate
2. Committee
Detailed examination of bill
In Commons, outside evidence is presented
Bill is amended

11. How does a bill become law?
3. Report stage
Bill is returned to the floor of the House of Commons
All MPs can suggest changes etc.
4. Third Reading
Right after report stage
Debate is limited to what is actually in the Bill
Vote
5. Goes to House of Lords
All steps happen again

12. How does a bill become law?
6. If amended by House of Lords, returns to House of Commons to be considered
Both Houses must agree on wording!
‘Ping Pong’
A Bill may go back and forth until all amendments are agreed upon
7. Royal Assent
Monarch’s agreement to make the Bill into an Act

13. General Elections Every 5 years in May
Parties and candidates campaign to win votes
UK divided into 650 constituencies
1 MP represents each
First-past-the-post
Political party with most MPs is invited by the Queen to form a government

14. Hung Parliament: What happens?
A hung parliament is when no party wins a majority in the House of Commons
To form Government, party must have the most seats
326 seats
Options
Build a coalition
Govern with a minority
Election in 2010
Hung parliament

15. 2010 election
In 2010 election
The Conservative party won 306 seats
Labour Party won 258
Liberal Democrats 57
Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats form a coalition government

16. The Government/Executive
The Government is responsible for enacting policy
The Government is lead by who?
The Prime Minister!

17. Prime Minister What does he do? Head of Government
Oversees Civil service and government agencies
Appoints members of government
MP in House of Commons

18. The Government

19. Ministerial Departments
Ex: Education, Environment, Transport, Health, Treasury, Justice, Defense
Non-ministerial Departments
Run by Senior Civil Servants
Regulatory or Inspection role
Ex: Charity Commission, Food Standards Agency, Serious Fraud Office -

20. Agencies and public bodies
4 types of Non-departmental public bodies
Executive
Work for government in specific area
Advisory
Independent, provide advice
Tribunal
Part of justice system
Independent monitoring boards
Run prisons

21. Civil Service Does the practical and administrative government work
Paying benefits
Running prisons
Running employment services
Prime Minister is Minister for the Civil Service

22. Judicial System
Different types of cases dealt with in different courts
Ex: Criminal cases start in Magistrates court
More serious may go to Crown Court
Tribunals deal with government decisions and public body decisions
Supreme Court
Hears appeals
Just like the constitution etc. etc. the court system is complicated, has been around for a long time
Supreme court cannot overturn legislation, can declare legislation is incompatible with European Convention of Human Rights, points of law of general importance

23. Political Parties in the UK
3 main parties
Conservative party
Currently leads Government in coalition with Liberal Democrats
Beliefs
Individuals should own and control businesses
No government interference in economy
Low taxes
Monarchy and House of Lords are important
EU less important

24. Political Parties Labour Party Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems)
Support government helping poor
Schools and hospitals should receive public funds
Taxes higher for richer
UK should taking leading role in EU
Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems)
Somewhere between Labour and Conservatives
Free healthcare
No government interference in business
Role in EU should be decided by the people