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Political system of the uk
- 2. Content Political life The Monarchy The Government The Parliament Elections 1. The public attitude to politics 2. The style of democracy 3. The constitution 4. The style of politics 5. The party system 2
- 3. Public attitude to politics However Are unknown 1st rule in politic NEVER BELIEVE ANYTHING UNTIL IT’S BEEN OFFICIALLY DENIED 3
- 4. Style of democracy Have high respect for the law • Little systematic law breaking by large number • Not evading taxation Comparatively unenthusiastic about making new laws • Best to do without them • Few rules and regulations in many aspects (for Government and individuals) Relationship between Individual and the State Both should leave each other alone 4
- 5. Style of democracy Individual Not breaking the law and paying taxes Not having to vote at elections Not having to register their change of address when moving houses Government Having less participation by ordinary citizens in governing and law making N c o nc e p t o f “By the o p e o p le ” Not having to ask the people for a change in law 5
- 6. Style of democracy People choose who is to govern the country and let them get on with it 6
- 7. The constitution Is a constitutional monarchy – governed by a King or Queen – accepts the advice of Parliament However No written law: - Says anything about who can be the MP and what his powers and duties are - asserts people’s rights Doesn’t have a “constitution” at all 7
- 8. The style of politics Political life is still influenced by the traditional British respect for privacy and love of informality Comparatively informal Important decisions are to be taken at lunch, over dinner, or in chance encounters in the corridors of power 8
- 9. The party system A two – party system 9
- 10. The party system The parties choose candidates in elections (independent candidates are rarely elected) The party that wins the majority of seat forms the Gov. and its leaders (= MPs) The largest minority party = opposition (c ritic iz e the p a rty running the c o untry ) Without agreement between the political parties, the British parliamentary system would break down 10
- 11. outline Political life The Monarchy The Government The Parliament Elections 1. The appearance 2. The reality 3. The role of the monarch 4. The value of the monarch 5. The future of the monarch 11
- 12. The appearance In written law, the Queen has absolute power to: Choose the Prime Minister Dismiss ministers and governments Dissolve Parliament Refuse to agree to legislation passed by Parliament Dismiss the governments of other countries of which she is monarch Embody the law in the courts Can do nothing that is legally wrong 12
- 13. The reality In reality: Different Can’t stop the Gov. going ahead with P.M of its politics any Can’t choose anyone she likes to be P.M decides the other government ministers P.M requests a dissolution of Gov. When she opens Parliament each year, The Royal assent to a bill passed by the speech she makes has been written Parliament is automatic for her • she makes no secret of the fact • She reads word for word The Queen has almost Gov. minister to • She might ask the no power at all change the wording 13
- 14. The Role of the monarch People can be as critical as they like about the real Gov without being accused of being unpatriotic The Monarch can refuse the royal assent for a bill to become law and the request of a dissolution of Parliament Symbol of government A final Ceremonial duties check on a Gov The re a l G ha s m o re tim e to g e t o n with the a c tua l jo b o f running the c o untry 14
- 15. The Value of the monarch Important to the economy Popular with the majority of the British people Make up for the lack of colour and ceremony A source of entertainment 15
- 16. Future of the monarchy • Not a burning political issue • The Q= popular • Prestige of Royal family has lowered due to various Future of royal style marital problems a little grand, a little less distant Changing Guard at Windsor Castle 16
- 17. outline Political life The Monarchy The Government The Parliament Elections 1. The Government Structure 2. Collective Responsibility 3. The cabinet 4. The Prime Minister 5. The civil service 6. Central and local 17
- 18. Government structure • The Government includes: – The Prime Minister: most powerful – 20 MPs: • Heads of the Gov. Departments (Minister of...) • Belong to the same political party • Appointed by the monarch (o n the a d vic e o f the PM but are accountable to Parliament ) • Take on various responsibilities of managing Parliament but have COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY 18
- 19. Collective responsibility All share the responsibilities for every policy made by Government No member of the Gov. can criticize Gov. policy in public or must resign to do so Having different opinions, they must keep these private 19
- 21. The Cabinet The committee at the Whic h? centre of the British political system and is the supreme decisionmaking body in Who Prime Minister and all Ministers in ? m in government t r o o the governing eparty bine tre t Ca the ning S In ow D Whe re ? 21
- 22. The Cabinet rsday, ut new lly Thu o ditiona ng ons ab ntation Tra y morni Take decisi impleme Tuesda now s and s, the licie licie Whe n? Wha t? Ho w? ing po e various f exist g of th o unnin partments the r v. De Go po - Cabinet meetings are confidential - The PM chairs the meeting -Who says what is secret - Reports are made and circulated to Gov. Depart. -Gov. Depart. summarizes the topic discussed 22 and decisions taken
- 23. The Prime Minister the leader of his party in the House of Commons Has a great deal of power in reality – Appoints the cabinet and change his cabinet – Makes final decisions on major issues – Decides the agenda for cabinet meetings which he also chairs – Dissolve Parliament Has the power of public image 23
- 24. The civil service Helps run the Government day-to day and implement policies Remains though Governments come and go Knows the secrets of previous Gov which the present minister is unaware of Is reputed for absolute impartiality Top civil servants exercise quite a lot of control over their ministers 24
- 25. The civil service Unknown to the larger public Is a career get a high salary have absolute job security stand a good chance of being awarded an official honour 25
- 26. The civil service Criticism Its efficiency • From the same narrow section of society – Have been toSolutions a public school and then - Doesn’t have enough expertise in matters Oxford and Cambridge such as economics or technology Ministers have their own – Studied history and classical languages - Lives in its closed world, cut off from the political advisers working corners of alongside with their most people in society civil servants 26
- 27. Central and local government Local Government has similar system of national Government – Elected representatives = councilors ≈ MPs – Meet in council chamber in the Town Hall or County Hall ≈ Parliament – Make policy implemented by local Government officers ≈ Civil Servants 27
- 28. Central and local government Local Government authorities (= councils) only have powers given by the Central Government Most people have far more direct dealings with local Gov. – Manage nearly all public services – Employ 3 times as many people 28
- 29. outline Political life The Monarchy The Government The Parliament Elections 1. The House of Lords 2. House of Commons 3. The Atmosphere of Parliament 4. The Stages of legislation 5. Parliamentary business 29
- 30. Parliament Activities Like parliament in other western democracies: – Make new laws – Give authority for the Government to raise and spend money – Keep - Committee roomsa close eye on Government activities and - Restaurants discuss these activities - Bars - Libraries Palace of Place of - Some places of residence Westminster working offices - 2 larger rooms: - House of Lords - House of Commons 30
- 32. House of lords • The upper chamber • No fixed number of members, now 747 – Historically most members = hereditary peers undemocratic Labour Government abolished the right of all Now 92 – Almost all = life peers = no fixed number but the current one is 629 (senior politicians + distinguished figures) – The rest = 26 Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England. • Its main job is to 'double check' new laws, but not on Money Bills • Is a forum for public discussion 32
- 33. House of commons • The lower chamber • Chaired by the Speaker • Currently 646 seats, each seat = geographical constituency (60,000 rural– 80,000 urban voters) • Sits most days of the week for about half of the weeks of the year 33
- 34. House of commons Design and layout US House of British House Representatives of Commons 34
- 35. Facing each other Speaker chairs the debate between two rows Government benches Opposition benches Either For or Against (N o p p o rtunity fo r a re fle c tio n o f o a ll va rio us s ha d e s o f p o litic a l o p inio ns ) • Encourage confrontation between Gov and opposition • Reinforce the reality of the British two-party system • 35
- 36. House of commons Other features 1. Has no front 2. Has no desks for MPs 3. Is small MPs are encouraged to co-operate MPs speak in a conversational Creates fairly informal atmosphere don’t tone and normally speak for long 36
- 37. The atmosphere of parliament MPs are forbidden to address one another directly or use personal names • All remarks and questions must go “through the chair” • Use “the honourable Member of Winchester” or “my right honourable friend” Take the “heat” out of debate and decrease the possibility that violence may break down 37
- 38. The Stages of legislation 38
- 39. Parliamentary business • Much of the work is done in Committees (no t o n the flo o r o f the c ha m be r) – Select Committees: lifetime of a Parliament; conduct investigations, and issue reports – General Committees: temporary bodies; examine the detail of a particular piece of legislation and consider amendments to the Bill • MPs have to vote for or against by walking through one of 2 corridors at the side of the house (page 91) – Aye: agree – No: disagree 39
- 40. Parliamentary business • Prime Minister's Question Time on any subject for 30 minutes every Wednesday • Easy accessibility for the press The committees are becoming • There are also permanent committees to a more and activities of government in investigate the more important part of the field particularbusiness of the Commons – include 40 members – have power to call certain people such as civil servants to come and answer their questions 40
- 41. MP’s way of working MPs nearly vote the way that their party tells them to do WHIP • Each of the 2 major parties has several MPs who perform this role • Those make sure MPs do this by informing all MPs in their party how they should vote 41
- 42. MP’s life • Traditionally, MPs weren’t supposed to be specialist politicians should be ordinary people ideally come from all walks of life • MPs weren’t paid until early 20th supposed to do a public service, not making a career only rich people could afford to be MPs • MPs have incredibly poor facilities: s ha re with a t le a s t m o re tha n 2 M Ps an office a secretary 42
- 43. However MP’s life Politics in Britain in the last 40 years has become professional Most MPs = full-time politicians and do another part-time job (if at all) Spend more time at work than any other professional in the country 43
- 44. A busy life MP’s life • Mornings are taken up with committee work,busy that they have littlespeeches So research, preparing time for • dealing with the problems of andpursuing another career • for families constituents (hig he r ra te o f d ivo rc e ) • Afternoons = meetings in the house • Weekends are not free: – Visit their constituencies – Listen to the problems of anybody who wants to see them 44
- 45. The system • The electoral system used in Britain doesn’t seem to add up The “first-past- the-post” system E.g.: General Election in May 2005 - Labour party = 355 seats - Conservative Party = 198 seats - Liberal Democrat Party = 62 seats - Other small parties= 31 • Nearly everybody votes for a candidate on the basis of the party (s)he represents, not on the qualities or political opinions of the candidate 46
- 46. Voters However • Voters can choose only one candidate; otherwise, the ballot paper is “spoiled” and not counted • Voters ≥ 18 years old and on the electoral register Nobody is obliged to vote 47
- 47. Time for New Election • It is the Government which decides when to hold an election • An election has to take place at least every five years usually shorter 48
- 48. Comparatively quiet affairs The campaign – Local newspapers give coverage to the candidates – Candidates hold meetings – Party supporters stick up posters in their windows – Local party workers spend their time canvassing no large rallies or parades like in USA 49
- 49. the campaign Strict regulations on the campaign Limited amount of money have to submit detailed accounts for their expenses for inspection Any attempt to influence voters improperly is outlawed 50
- 50. the real campaign • Takes place at a national level • The parties spend millions of pounds advertising on hoardings and newspapers Emphasis is on the • They don’t buy party on TV= USA but given a national time personalities number of strictly local candidates rather than timed “party election broadcasts” • Each party also holds a daily televised news conference 51
- 51. Process of Election The country is divided into a number of areas of roughly equal population = constituencies Anyone wishing to become an MP must declare himself belonging to one of these constituencies (a fte r d e p o s iting £5 0 0 with the Re turning O ffic e r) 52
- 52. Process of election The date of general election (polling day) is fixed - always on Thursday - not a public holiday On polling day, voters go to polling stations and put a cross next to the name of one candidate on a ballot paper 53
- 53. Process of election After the polls close, the marked ballot papers are taken to a central place in the constituency and counted The Returning officer makes a public announcement for the votes cast for each candidate and declares the winner to be the MP for the constituency 54
- 54. Process of election At the election night, TV start their programmes By midnight, experts will be making predictions about the composition of the newly elected House of Commons By 2 in the morning, ≥ ½ of the constituencies will have declared their results. 55
- 55. validity of election Fairly conducted Candidates are entitled to demand as many recounts as they want until the result is beyond doubt Exception In Northern Ireland “Vote early, vote often” 56
- 56. By- election Whenever a sitting MP can no longer fulfill his duties, there has to be a special new election in the constituency which he represents No system of ready substitutes By elections can take place at any time 57
- 57. Suggestions for further reading 1. Conservative party and labour party – which is better for the British 2. Stages of legislation: how a bill becomes law 3. British judiciary system 4. British general election 58
Notes de l'éditeur
- British people consider politics as a dirty business politicians make sure that they do not appear too keen to do the job
- They don’t use ID, don’t have to bring driving license
- Constitution (merriam-webster dictionary): the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it There is no single written document. Procedures and principles have been built up bit by bit over the centuries Some are written down in laws agreed by Parliament (Official Secret Act- not tell anyone about the details of their work). Some have been spoken and written down (judgments made in a court). Some have never been written down
- - Being good friends - Little fighting about how political business is to be conducted fairly
- 1979_1997: conservative (Margaret Thatcher) 1997-now: labour (Tony Blair) 1922-now: either of the two
- The Opposition: responsible for criticizing the Government offering an alternative form the Shadow Cabinet (take over the Government with little advance notice since elections in Britain can be called at any time) keeping itself informed offering an alternative programme to the current Government at the next election to appeal to voters who are unsatisfied with the current government.
- has to choose some one who has the support of the Though officially the P.M “advices” the monarch who to choose When he/she wants to hold an The monarch doesn’t bother to prevent a bill to become law
- Tourists want to see the British royal family and their events - a symbol of continuity - expression of national pride 3. State opening of parliament Trooping of the color The Q’s official birthday Royal wedding The changing of the guard 4. Become characters of a TV soap opera
- -1. Few people in Britain could be described as either “monarchists” or “anti- monarchists” 3.- the Q = richest woman in the world should pay for her own cost (the repair of her castle - British people start protesting how much the royal family was costing the country The Q should pay for her own private income Buckingham palace was first opened to public visits to raise money to help pay for the repairs to Windsor Castle
- Ministers = Members of the House of Commons or Members of the House of Lords Accountable = Responsible
- Gordon Brown moved it to Tuesday There are also: The Cabinet Office Board - keeping ministers in touch - Drawing up the agendas for cabinet meetings - Monitor and improve the Department's performance - Ensure that risks are identified and effectively managed The Cabinet Committe - Appointed by the cabinet and not necessarily be politicians - Look into various matters in more details (having more time and knowledge) - Decisions taken in Committee have full Cabinet authority and may not be brought to full Cabinet
- Not fixed term parliaments. A General Election is held when the Prime Minister calls it, but the election cannot be more than five years after the last one and it is usually around four years after the last one. Prime Minister = In practice the most important political office in the United Kingdom 1. Great power of patronage: Changing the cabinet: - quite often- at least once every 2 years - A few cabinet members are dropped or brought in - Existing members are shifted around Power of patronage: the appointment of junior ministers (who will go further politically only if they impress the Prime Minister), senior civil servants, bishops and judges if he is certain that they will support his policies and not present a challenge to his power. such as whether a referendum should be held on an issue such as the Euro or whether Britain should join a potential American attack on Iraq. Those not discussed can be decided by the Prime Minister The cabinet committees usually report directly to him, not to the cabinet as a whole, so he knows more about what is going on cabinet office and can thinks about Government policy as a whole 2. Power of public image: Everybody can recognize the Prime Minister thanks to his constant appearing on TV and in newspaper``
- - Each Minister is able to appoint a couple of political advisers – formally known as Special Advisers – to serve him or her. But Special Advisers are simply advisers. Besides these tiny number of Special Advisers, Government Departments are run by civil servants who are recruited in a totally open manner and serve governments of any political parties. The independence and professional of the British civil service is a fundamental feature of the British political system. Their power depends on their staying out of politics and on their being absolutely loyal to their present minister Top civil servants are said to really govern the country (there is some truth in that)
- Many work for about 20 years
- Political advisers even compete with the civil servants
- Are allowed to collect one kind of tax on property called “rates” depending on size and location of property 1990s: = “community charge” = poll tax (the same to everyone in the area) Then = “Council tax” based on the estimated value of property and the # or people living in it There are more laws governing the way councils can conduct their affairs Recent Gov have imposed upper limits on the amount of council tax that council can charge and they now collect taxes on business properties themselves over half of local council’s income is given to Central Government unable to have enough money to provide the services the Central Government has told them to do. The services include: Public hygiene Environment health inspection Collecting of rubbish Cleaning and tidying of all public places Public swimming pools (charged) Free public parks Children’s playgrounds and playing fields for sports Public libraries (well-known services – Br pe0ple buy few books – library card is the most common means of identification)
- to make sure they are fair and will work. Members are not elected and come from many different backgrounds. They are the holder of an inherited aristocratic title or distinguished retired politicians who no longer wish to be busy MPs, but still wish to voice their opinions in a public forum have expertise in political life It can do this because bills must go through both Houses before they become 'Acts' (laws). However, after 6 months, the proposal become law anyway, whether or not the Lords agree The forum discusses important matters ignored by the House of Commons and proposals for new laws in great detail
- Years ago a king or queen nominated a member of the aristocracy to be a member of the House and, since then, the right to sit in the House has passed through the family from generation to generation. Clearly this is totally undemocratic and the current Labour Government has now abolished the right of all but 92 of these hereditary peers to sit in the House. This means that they have been chosen by the Queen, on the advice of the Government, to sit in the House for as long as they live, but afterwards no member of their family has the right to sit in the House. There is no fixed number of life peers, but the current number is 629. Many are former senior politicians or distinguished retired politicians who no longer wish to be busy MPs, but still wish to voice their opinions in a public forum. Others are very distinguished figures in fields such as education, health and social policy. Archbishops: Tong giam muc; bishops: giam muc Does not have the power to stop a new law that the Commons wants, but it can delay it. It can do this because bills must go through both Houses before they become 'Acts' (laws). However, after 1 year, the proposal become law anyway, whether or not the Lords agree The forum discusses important matters ignored by the House of Commons and proposals for new laws in great detail
- The speaker is Non-political Constituency: khu vuc bau cu. The number of voters depend mainly on whether it is an urban or rural constituency the number varies slightly from time to time to reflect population change
- US= semi-circleUK= rectangular
- - There are no benches for those belonging to neither. These sit on the opposition benches (furthest from Speaker’s chair) - The House of Lords alone has cross-benches for independent peers.
- No obvious place from which an MP can address everybody there, no place to put their notes simply stand up and speak from wherever they happen to be sitting 2. Has only benches like those in a church easy for them to drift in and out of the room during debates (it’s quite frequent) 3. MPs have no “own” place to sit no benches are maked with names sit wherever they can find room
- In the British political system, almost all legislation is proposed by the Government and much of it comes from promises made in the manifesto of the relevant political party at the last election. At the beginning of each annual session of the Parliament, the main Bills to be considered are announced by the Queens in a speech opening that year's session of Parliament. Still, all legislation has to be approved by both Houses of Parliament.
- The House of Lords only has Select Committees (it does not need Standing Committees because the details of Bills are considered on the floor of the chamber) Accepting or rejecting a resolution by walking through one of 2 corridors at the side of the house (See the Plan of the Palace of Westminster in the book page 91)
- The press is present all the time and live audio and visual broadcasting can take place at any time
- WHIP: a member of a legislative body appointed by a political party to enforce party discipline and to secure the attendance of party members at important sessions MPs owe their position to their party If the Government loses a vote in Parliament on a very important matter, the WHIP has to resign Frontbenchers: the leading members of the governing party (= Ministers) and of the main opposition Backbenchers: those who don’t hold a Government post or a post in the shadow cabinet Thanks to the WHIP: Rebillions among a group of a party’s MPs are very rare. However, sometimes the major parties allow a “free vote”: MPs vote according to their own beliefs, not according to party policy (E.g. abolition of death penalty and decision to allow TV cameras into the Commons were decided in this way)
- As a result of their belief in amateurism (Ordinary people give some of their time to representing the people) - Coming from all walks of life, they can bring their experience of everyday world into Parliament Even now, they don’t get paid much in comparison with other EU counterparts
- MP’s life = not easy
- The constituents = the people they represent
- All votes cast for losing candidates are simply ignored. Small parties = those in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Total 646 seats -Though it’s not necessary to belong to a party to be a candidate - Voting is not based on the qualities or political opinions of the candidate
- The electoral register is compiled every year for each constituencies separately. In the last General Election of June 2005, 61.3% of the electorate actually voted. In Australia = compulsory, In Vietnam= encouraged - If someone moves his house and hasn’t been on the electoral register of the new constituency, he can vote by post
- E.g: In 2001 election, Labour Government called the election after only 4 years
- - Quiet affairs = no large rallies or parades like in USA (election is known via media) - A different campaign takes place in each constituency - Canvassing = a kind of election ritual if voter = undecided the party candidate might later attempt to pay a visit transport can be offered to those who claim to be supporters awful lot of work for very little benefit However, few people attend candidates’ meetings Most people don’t read local newspapers candidates can’t meet most voters
- Not a public holiday, but children get a holiday since polling stations (usually at schools) are open from 7am to 10pm to give everybody the opportunity to vote.
- 6. The declaration is one of the few occasions during the election process when shouting and cheering may be heard
- The 1st excitement of the night is the race to declare and it is the local pride for some consituencies to be the 1st to announce their result (usually just after 11pm) 7. millions of people watch and continue right through the night 9. - Some constituencies (in rural areas) are not able to declare their results well into Friday afternoon as it is difficult to bring all ballot papers together. - Experts on TV will be able to predict with confidence which party will have a majority in the House of Commons and the Prime Minister
- The recounting is clear demonstration of the ironies of the British system “Vote early,vote often” = try to vote as many times as you can by impersonating the others (due to political tensions for so many years)