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

3. Summary of Britain’s Significance
First country with a limited monarchy
Early 20th century, undoubtedly the world’s greatest superpower
Empire is lost, but still retains global significance and influence
Part of EU, yet not fully embracing being “European”

4. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
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”

5. Components of British “Constitution”
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

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

7. Oh, woe is me!

8. Historical Evolution of Political Traditions
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 18th Century
Challenges of the Industrial Revolution (18th and 19th Century)
Diminishing Empire in the 20th and 21st Century
Strong welfare state became a burden, led to backlash of “Thatcherism”

9. Political Culture 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

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

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

12. Political Culture Cleavages Social Class Multi-Nationalism
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

13. Political Culture 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

14. Institutions
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

15. Ed Miliband
David Cameron
Nick Clegg

17. Institutions
Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process
Elections
650 constituencies each elect an MP (Member of Parliament)
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”

20. Institutions
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
Proportional representation in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales respective parliaments
Mayor of London is now directly elected for the first time

21. Institutions
Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process
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

22. Institutions
Linkage Institutions – provide people with a connection to government and the political process
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)

23. Institutions State Institutions
Unitary state, power concentrated in London, devolved to regional parliaments in 1997
No “separation of powers” in central government

24. Institutions 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

25. Institutions 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

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

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

28. Institutions Parliament, The Legislature
House of Commons, the “Lower House”
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
Can delay legislation, debate technicalities, and add amendments
Amendments may be deleted in Commons by a majority vote

29. Institutions Parliament, The Legislature
House of Commons, the “Lower House”
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
92 “hereditary peers,” whose seats were passed down through family connections
Blair and Labour substantially reduced number of hereditary peerages

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

31. Institutions 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

32. Institutions 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)

33. 3 Major Steps in the British Judiciary
Supreme Court
Appeals
High Courts
Appeals
District Courts