1. COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MPA503
ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OF GREAT BRITAIN

2. THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION OF UK AND NORTHERN IRELAND
OLDEST CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF THE WORLD AND OLDEST DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
KNOWN AS “MOTHER OF CONSTITUTIONS”
IT IS A BLEND OF MONARCH, ARISTOCRACY AND DEMOCRACY

3. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION
UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION: IT IS UNWRITTEN AND PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE DISTRIBUTION AND EXERCISE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL POWERS ARE NOT DEFINED
IT IS AN EVOLVED CONSTITUTION NOT AN ENACTED ONE
IT IS A BLEND OFFORMAL LAWS,PRECEDENTS AND TRADITION

4. SOURCES OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
Conventions
The well known conventions in Britian are;
King or Queen should exercise their legal powers on the advice of Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister
King appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons as the PM.
He should dissolve the lower house of Parliament on the advice of PM

5. SOURCES OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
He should give assent to all bills passed by the parliament
Cabinet is collectively and individually responsible to the House of Commons

6. SOURCES OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
GREAT CHARTERS
CALLED CONSTITUIONAL CHARTERS OR LAND MARKS.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS WHICH DEFINE THE POWERS OF THE CROWN AND LIBERTIES OF THE CITIZENS.
IMPORTANT CHARTERS ARE MAGNA CARTA (1215), PETITION OF RIGHTS (1689)

7. STATUES Law made by British parliament
They define and regulate the principles, structure and functions of British Political Institution
The important statues among them are Habeas Corpus Act (1679), Statute of Westministers (1931), Minister of the Crown Act (1937) and others

8. COMMON LAW JUDGE MADE LAWS.
DEFINES THE RULES RELATED TO THE POWERS OF THE GOV. AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CITIZENS
DR. OGG DEFINES IT AS “THE VAST BODY OF LEGAL PRECEPT AND USAGE, WHICH THROUGH THE CENTURIES HAS ACQUIRED BINDING AND ALMOST IMMUTABLE CHARACTER”
LEGAL COMMENTARIES

9. THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION
FLEXIBLE CONSTITUTION
FLEXIBLE IN NATURE.
NO SPECIAL PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENT.
CONSTITUTIONAL AND ORDINARY LAW ARE SAME

10. THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION
UNITARY CONSTITUTION
POWER OF THE GOV. ARE VESTED IN A SINGLE SUPREME CENTRAL GOV.
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE LOCAL GOV. ARE CREATED UNDER THE CONTROL OF CENTRAL GOV.
CAN BE ABOLISH AT ANY TIME

11. PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT
KING IS THE HEAD OF STATE AND THE PRIME MINISTER IS THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
PARTY WITH MAJORITY SEATS FORMS THE GOVERNMENT.
THE LEADER OF THE PARTY IS APPOINTED AS PM BY THE KING/QUEEN

12. PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT
MINISTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR THEIR ACTS AND THEY ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH PARLIMENT TO AVOID THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE FOR BETTER COORDINATION.
KING CAN DISSOLVE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE ADVICE OF PM.

13. SOVEREIGNTY OF PARLIAMENT
SUPREME POWER WITHIN THE STATE WHICH LIES WITH THE PARLIAMENT.
THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLE IMPLIES
BRITISH PARLIAMENT CAN MAKE, AMEND, SUBSTITUTE OR REPEAL ANY LAW.
DE LOLME SAID, “ THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT CAN DO ANYTHING EXCEPT MAKE A WOMAN MAN AND A MAN WOMAN.”
III. NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CONSTITUENT AUTHORITY AND LAW MAKING AUTHORITY OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT

14. SOURCES OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
RULE OF LAW
GOVERNMENT MUST ACT ACCORDING TO LAW AND WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE LAW.
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
GREAT BRITAIN IS MONARCHICAL STATE.
THE CROWN IS THE VISIBLE SYMBOL OF THE SUPREME EXECUTIVE POWER.
KIND OR QUEEN ONLY REIGNS, BUT DOES NOT RULE.

15. SOURCES OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CROWN AND KING IS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN MONARCHY AS AN INSTITUTION AND MONARCH AS A PERSON.
KING IS A PERSON, WHEREAS CROWN IS AN INSTITUTION.

16. SOURCES OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
BICAMERALISM
IT CONSISTS OF TWO HOUSES
HOUSE OF LORDS
UPPER HOUSE, OLDEST SECOND CHAMBER IN THE WORLD.
CONSISTS OF LORDS AND NOBLES
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LOWER HOUSE BUT MORE IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL
CONSISTS OF REPETITIVE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF UNIVERSAL ADULT FRANCHISE.
PRESENT 659 SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND DISTRIBUTED AMONG ENGLAND, WALES, SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND.

17. SOURCES OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
BRITISH CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM O F GOVERNMENT.
CABINET ACT AS THE REAL EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY
CONSIST OF PRIME MINISTER AS HEAD AND HIS SENIOR MINISTERIAL COLLEAGUES
IT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE
CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

18. THE BRITISH CABINET . PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE LORD CHANCELLOR
FIRST LORD OF ADMIRALTY
POST MASTER GENERAL
SECRETARIES OF STATE OF HOME, FOREIGN, DEFENSE, SOCIAL SERVICES, ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

19. THE BRITISH CABINET
MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, HEALTH, PENSION, TRANSPORT AND LABOUR.
SECRETARY OF STATE OF SCOTLAND
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WALES.
NOTE: ATTORNEY GENERAL, SOLICITOR GENERAL, LORD ADVOCATE AND POSTMASTER GENERAL ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE CABINET

20. THE BRITISH CABINET PRIVY COUNCIL:
IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY IT CAME IN TO EXISTENCE AS AN ADVISORY BODY TO THE BRITISH MONARCH.
MOST OF ITS POWER WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE CABINET AS ITS INNER COMMITTEE.
CONSISTS OF 330 MEMBERS INCLUDING INTER ALIA, ALL CABINET MINISTERS
PRESIDED OVER BY LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.

21. THE BRITISH CABINET PRIME MINISTERIAL GOVERNMENT
PRIME MINISTER’S POWER, INFLUENCE AND POSITION HAVE INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY VIS-À-VIS THE CABINET
PM PLAYS AN “DOMINANT” ROLE IN THE BRITISH POLITICO-ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM.

22. SHADOW CABINET
FORMED BY THE OPPOSITION PARTY TO BALANCE TH RULING CABINET AND TO PREPARE ITS MEMBERS FOR FUTURE MINISTERIAL OFFICE.
IT RUNS A ‘PARALLEL’ GOVERNMENT WITH ITS SHADOW CABINET.
IN SHADOW CABINET EVERY MEMBER IN THE RULING CABINET IS ‘SHADOWED ’ BY A CORRESPONDING MEMBER IN THE OPPOSITION CABINET

23. SHADOW CABINET
THE MEMBERS OF THE SHADOW CABINET WATCH CRITICALLY THE WORKING OF THE DEPARTMENT ASSIGN TO THEM.
THE SHADOW CABINET SERVES AS THE ‘ALTERNATIVE CABINET’
ACCORDING TO IVOR JENNNINGS: ‘THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION AS THE ‘ALTERNATIVE’ PRIME MINISTER. HE ENJOYS THE STATUTS OF THE MINISTER AND IS PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT.

24. SECRETARIAT OF BRITISH CABINET
FOLLOWING ARE THE COMPONENTS OF CABINET OFFICE:
CABINET SECRETARIAT
CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE (CREATED DURING THE WORLD WAR-II)
HISTORICAL SECTION
GOVERNMENT’S CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
EFFICIENCY UNIT
OFFICE OF MINISTER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE

25. SECRETARIAT OF BRITISH CABINET
TO ORGANIZE THE BUSINESS OF THE WAR CABINET AND TO SERVE THE COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
CABINET SECRETARIAT HAS GROWN IN SIZE, STRENGTH AND SIGNIFICANCE
MORE UNIT HAVE BEEN ADDED CALLED CABINET OFFICE.

26. SECRETARIAT OF BRITISH CABINET
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CABINET SECRETARIAT ARE:
TO CIRCULATE THE MEMORANDA AND OTHER DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE BUSINESS OF THE CABINET AND ITS COMMITTEES.
TO COMPILE THE AGENDA FOR MEETING OF THE CABINET AND ITS COMMITTEES.
TO ISSUE SUMMONS OF MEETINGS OF THE CABINET AND ITS COMMITTEE.

27. SECRETARIAT OF BRITISH CABINET
To take down and circulate the conclusions of the cabinet and its committee.
To prepare the reports of cabinet committee
To keep the cabinet papers and conclusion

28. SECRETARIAT OF BRITISH CABINET
IT OPERATES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PRIME MINISTER.
HEADED BY THE CABINET SECRETARY
IT IS THE ‘NERVE CENTRE’ AND THE MAIN CO-ORDINATING AGENCY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
IT ACTS AS A STAFF AGENCY TO THE BRITISH CABINET AND ITS COMMITTEES.
IT MONITORS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CABINET DECISIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT

29. DEPARTMENTS OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT
GENERAL DEPARTMENTS:
THE TREASURY
THE HOME OFFICE
THE SCOTTISH OFFICE

30. DEPARTMENTS OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT
ECONOMIC DEPARTMENTS:
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
BOARD OF TRADE
THE BOARD OF C USTOM AND EXCISE.

31. DEPARTMENT OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT
GENERAL DEPARTMENTS
i. The Treasury
Ii. The Home Office
Iii. The Scottish Office

32. DEPARTMENT OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT
ECONOMIC DEPARTMENTS
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS
IMPERIAL AND FOREIGN DEPARTMENTS
DEFENCE DEPARTMENTS