This lecture is devoted to the British Political system. It explains basic notions like the division of powers, the role of the monarchy, the bi-cameral system, and major political parties in the US.

1. BRITISH INSTITUTIONS

2. Politics of the United Kingdom
 A constitutional monarchy
 Monarch is head of state
 Prime Minister is head of government.
 Executive power is carried out by HM's Government,
on behalf of and by consent of Monarch

3. • The Legislative Power: makes the law (ie.
Debates, votes and passes new laws)
• The Judicial Power: interprets the law (ie.
Decides what punishment should be given for
those that break the law)
• The Executive Power: implements and enforces
the law (ie. Makes sure that the decisions of the
legislature are carried out)
The division of powers

4. The division of powers
• The Legislative Power : Parliament
(House of Commons, House of Lords,
the Monarch)
• The Executive : the government
(the party or coalition with a
majority in the Commons)
• The Judiciary : the judges and
especially the Supreme Court

5. Monarch
(Representative
Function)
Supreme Court
(since 2009)
House of
Lords
House of
Commons
Government
Prime
Minister
Nation
(electorate)
Partiament
elects
elects
can
dissolve
appoints aristocrats
can dissolve appoints
appoints justices
Legistative
Executive
Judiciary
Separation of powers
appoints
Parliamentary monarchy in the United Kingdom

6. The Queen
Her picture appears on postage
stamps, but her personal mail is
franked.

7. What the Queen Can Do
She can drive as
fast as she likes
in a car which
needs no license
number.

8. What the Queen Can Do
She can confer Britain’s highest civilian
decoration, the Order of Merit—one
honour in which the Sovereign retains
freedom of choice.

9. What the Queen Can’t Do
Her Majesty cannot vote.
Nor can she express her political
opinion in public.
She cannot sit in the House of
Commons (building royal property).
She cannot write her own speech.
She cannot refuse to sign a bill, and
she cannot appear as a witness in
court.

10. The Queen’s role
Constitutional Arbitration – In times of
Crisis
Stability –1,000 years of Sovereignty
Continuity –helps to bridge the discontinuities
of party politics
Experience –reading state papers, meeting
heads of state and ambassadors, and weekly
audiences with Prime Ministers
Uniting the Nation with the State –
combination of the role as Head of State and Head
of the Nation.

11. The Queen’s role (2)
Unity: Party politics = disagreement and
confrontation. (rich vs poor, north vs south,
management vs unions, Catholic vs Protestant…)
Moral Leadership & Model Behaviour
Custodianship of the Past – Through its
ceremony, pageantry and ritual, the monarchy
preserves the link with Britain’s history

12. Coronation ceremony

13. QUEEN’s DIAMOND JUBILEE
1952- 2012

14. The British Constitution
A constitution is a set of laws on how a
country is governed.
The British Constitution is unwritten
It is referred to as an uncodified
constitution.
Amendments to constitution are made
by a majority support in both Houses of
Parliament to be followed by the Royal
Assent.

15. Sources of the Constitution:
Statutes such as the Magna Carta of
1215 and the Act of Settlement of
1701.
Laws and Customs of Parliament;
Political conventions
Decisions in a court of law
Constitutional experts who have
written on the subject such as Walter
Bagehot and A.V Dicey.

16. Principles of the Constitution
Two basic principles govern the
Constitution:
The Rule of Law
The Supremacy of Parliament

17. For or Against
Pros: Flexibility and change
Cons: no public access– Only
constitutional experts know where to
look and how to interpret it.
 chambers

19. The House of Lords
Parliament's second chamber.
Role: 'double check' new laws.
About 800 members. Not elected.
No power to stop a new law but can
delay it (veto lost in 1911)
Bills must go through both Houses
before becoming 'Acts' (laws).

20. House of Commons
The most powerful of the two houses.
659 elected members.
Members are called MPs.
The Commons is the most important
place for discussing policies and
making laws.
There are only 427 green leather seats
so when it's full a lot of politicians
have to stand!

21. House of commons
ON A PASSAGE OF A BILL

22. PASSAGE OF A BILL
House of Commons
House of Lords
House of Lords
House of Lords
3RC21
1 2 C R 31 2 C R 3
3RC21
Royal Assent
Bill starting in the
House of Lords
Bill starting in the
House of
Commons
Royal AssentA
A
Britain

23. And politics

24. Two-party system
majority of MPs in the House of
Commons belong to
The Conservative party (the tories), or
The Labour Party
Power has always alternated between
the two major parties.

25. The Labour Party
traditionally gathers its support from
the trade unions, the working class,
the middle-class . Its electorates have
always been in south Wales, Scotland,
and the Midland and northern English
industrial cities.

26. Political Parties
the Conservative Party
the party's support comes mainly from
business interests and the middle and
upper classes
the party's strongholds tend to be in
southern England

27. Public
vs Private
 1783
 Individuals should
own and control
businesses and
profits;
 The government
should not
interfere.
 1900
 The government
should provide good
public services such
as schools &
hospitals.
 The government
should help close
the gap between
rich and poor

28. Money
 Tax should be low.
 Private businesses
will provide services
which will improve
their quality.
 Different levels of
tax depending on
earnings.
 taxes used to
provide services for
everybody, rich and
poor.

29. Community
 Traditional values
should be
encouraged to build
strong communities
and families.
 Strict discipline and
respect will cut
crime and criminals
should be treated
harshly.
 Communities need
to be strong by
promoting tolerance
and respect for all.
Everyone should
enjoy their
individual while
aware of their
responsibilities

30. The
Future
 Traditions (monarchy
and House of Lords)
are an essential part
of Britain's history (no
change)
 little involvement or
interference from the
European Union. The
UK must stand strong.
 Britain has a very
important part to
play in Europe &
should play a
leading role.
 Cease arms exports
to countries
accused of violating
humanitarian law.
 The end

31. They are laughing…
Shall I tell them there
will be a quiz next
week?