U NITED K INGDOM

I NTRODUCTION Kesselman chooses to start his analysis of the United Kingdom with a “tough week” for then Prime Minister Tony Blair (January 2004). What was he able to illustrate using this example? Public opinion Limitations of Prime Minister (vote of no confidence would force a resignation of the government and new elections would take place) Democratic Process in Public Policy making Transparency in decision making

G EOGRAPHIC S ETTING Great Britain – England, Wales and Scotland United Kingdom – Great Britain and Northern Ireland

S UMMARY OF B RITAIN ’ S S IGNIFICANCE First country with a limited monarchy Early 20 th century, undoubtedly the world’s greatest superpower Empire no longer exists, but still retains global significance and influence Part of EU, yet not fully embracing being “European”

T HEMES UK’s role in the world World Power to second-tier status Global Economic Influence Industrial Revolution comparative advantage to today’s “less is more” laissez-faire approach Democratic Ideal Parliamentary democracy Collective Identity Imperial legacy Multiracial society

S OVEREIGNTY, A UTHORITY, AND P OWER Sources Long, very gradual tradition 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”

C OMPONENTS OF B RITISH “C ONSTITUTION ” 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 Combination of Parliamentary acts, common law and judicial interpretation.

H ISTORICAL E VOLUTION OF P OLITICAL T RADITIONS The monarchy – once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial 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) Diminishing Empire in the 20 th and 21 st Century Strong welfare state became a burden, led to backlash of “Thatcherism”

I NSTITUTIONS State Institutions Unitary state, power concentrated in London No “separation of powers” “Fusion of Powers”

D EVOLUTION – GIVING POWER TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES Scottish and Welsh assemblies created when local referenda’s passed. Taxation, education and economic planning Mayor of London elected not appointed Scottish Independence 2013 – voting age lowered to 16 and 17 yrs old National referendum on independence decided in Scottish Parliament for Sept. 18, 2014

O N THE EVE OF THE S COTTISH VOTE …

J UNE 23 “B REXIT ” VOTE 2016

UK I NSTITUTIONS 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

H OUSE OF C OMMONS Passes Laws Authorizes taxation Public administration and government policy

Parliament, The Legislature House of Commons, the “Lower House” Holds all meaningful power in Britain Majority party chooses PM, makes all policy 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

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

I NSTITUTIONS Parliament, The Legislature House of Commons, the “Lower House” Vote of “No-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 Last occurred in 1979 with James Callghan’s government “Winter of Discontent” Creation of Thatcher’s Conservative gov’t in 1979

I NSTITUTIONS Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process Political Parties Originally Liberal (Whigs) vs. Conservative (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 Undermined by Blair’s “New Labour” movement 2010 part of Coalition gov’t with Tories under David Cameron 2015 – Conservatives have a majority (324+)

Ed Miliband Nick Clegg David Cameron

A FTER 2015 M AY E LECTION …

A FTER 2016 J UNE “B REXIT ” E LECTION …

I NSTITUTIONS Elections 646 constituencies each elect an MP (Member of Parliament) Need 324 seat to control H of C Party leaders run in “safe” constituencies, MPs often aren’t from their district Winner-take-all, “First-Past-The-Post” – only winner gets to take office Plurality – no majority necessary Party with Parliamentary majority chooses the Prime Minister, who “forms a government”

2015 E LECTIONS

I NSTITUTIONS Regional Elections Devolution – Blair policy allowing regional parliaments to exercise some local authority Proportional representation in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in their respective parliaments Mayor of London is now directly elected for the first time

I NSTITUTIONS Interest Groups 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

I NSTITUTIONS Media Available media outlets reflect social class divisions in readership/viewership 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)

I NSTITUTIONS Parliament, The Legislature The House of Lords, the “Upper House” The original parliament, now nearly meaningless Can delay legislation, debate technicalities, and add amendments Amendments may be deleted in Commons by a majority vote 567 “life peers,” appointed by PM for achievement and service to Britain 92 “hereditary peers,” whose seats were passed down through family connections Blair and Labour substantially reduced number of hereditary peerages

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

I NSTITUTIONS 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 (regime)

I NSTITUTIONS The Judiciary Limited in authority compared to U.S. 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 May not impose “judicial review” on Parliament, PM, or cabinet Judges are usually independent, apolitical Expected to resign at age 75 Highest court formerly the Law Lords, but a new Supreme Court has been created (2009)

3 M AJOR S TEPS IN THE B RITISH J UDICIARY District Courts High Courts Supreme Court Appeals

P OLITICAL C ULTURE 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” Insularity – feeling of separation from the rest of Europe

P OLITICAL C ULTURE Cleavages – when national, ethnic, linguistic and religious divisions affect political allegiances and policies. Cumulative – when same people are against each other on may different issues. Cross-Cutting – groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be on the opposite sides on a different issue Example: Northern Ireland (Cumulative) and Netherlands (cross- cut) Class and Religion

P OLITICAL C ULTURE Cleavages Social Class 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 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

This photo was taken outside of Lord’s cricket grounds in 1937, and came to symbolize the class divide in England

P OLITICAL C ULTURE Cleavages Ethnic Minorities (comprise less than 10% of British population) Largely young, increasingly Muslim 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 Poorly integrated into British society