The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandWhere Big Ben is the only thing marking forward progress

Summary of Britains SignificanceFirst country with a limited monarchyEarly 20th century, undoubtedly the worlds greatest superpowerEmpire is lost, but still retains global significance and influencePart of EU, yet not fully embracing being European

Sovereignty, Authority, and PowerSourcesLong, very gradual traditionOriginal belief in Divine Right of a family to rule gave monarchs power over peopleConstitutionalismNo written constitution, but a long series of compacts and acts of Parliament has formed an understood Constitution of the Crown

Components of British ConstitutionRational-Legal AuthorityMagna Carta (1215) limited power of the monarch, guaranteed trial by jury, consent of Parliament to raise taxesThe Bill of Rights (1688) expanded policymaking power of Parliament relative to the crownCommon Law (opposite of code law) customs and precedent have strong bearing on the law in addition to written rules

Historical Evolution of Political TraditionsThe monarchy once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonial

Oh, woe is me!

Historical Evolution of Political TraditionsThe monarchy once powerful, then limited, now powerless and ceremonialThe ParliamentEnglish Civil War (1640)Glorious Revolution (1688)Prime Minister becomes firm Chief Executive in the 18th CenturyChallenges of the Industrial Revolution (18th and 19th Century)Diminishing Empire in the 20th and 21st CenturyStrong welfare state became a burden, led to backlash of Thatcherism

Political CultureGeographyIslandSmall - Little fertile soil and short growing seasonsTemperate climate, but cold, chilly, and rainyNo major geographical barriersNationalism great deal of pride in being English, or Scottish, or WelshInsularity feeling of separation from the rest of Europe

Political CultureCleavagesSocial ClassNot as strong as in the past, but still very significant

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

Political CultureCleavagesSocial ClassNot as strong as in the past, but still very significantNoblesse Oblige a term for the upper classes willingness to embrace the welfare state and support the poorFormerly duty of lords to care for serfsMulti-NationalismLots of cultural homogeneity, but there are Scots, English, Welsh, Irish, Protestant, and Catholic living together and insisting on some local sovereignty

Political CultureCleavagesEthnic Minorities (comprise less than 10% of British population)Largely young, increasingly MuslimTight restrictions on immigration imposed by Thatcher kept in place by Labour PartyMany reports of unequal treatment by police, most minorities are disaffected and unemployedPoorly integrated into British society

InstitutionsLinkage Institutions provide people with a connection to government and the political processPolitical PartiesOriginally 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 LeftUndermined by Blairs New Labour movement

Ed MilibandNick CleggDavid Cameron

InstitutionsLinkage Institutions provide people with a connection to government and the political processElections646 constituencies each elect an MP (Member of Parliament)Party leaders run in safe constituencies, MPs often arent from their districtWinner-take-all, First-Past-The-Post only winner gets to take officePlurality no majority necessaryParty with Parliamentary majority chooses the Prime Minister, who forms a government

InstitutionsLinkage Institutions provide people with a connection to government and the political processRegional ElectionsDevolution Blair policy under Good Friday Agreement allowing regional parliaments to exercise some local authorityProportional representation in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales respective parliamentsMayor of London is now directly elected for the first time

InstitutionsLinkage Institutions provide people with a connection to government and the political processInterest GroupsPluralist system with some patterns of neo-corporatismQuangos gov. agencies act as interest advocates and policy advisors in many cases, fusing the relationship between interest group and state

InstitutionsLinkage Institutions provide people with a connection to government and the political processMediaAvailable media outlets reflect social class divisions in readership/viewershipBBC was created during the collectivist era to educate citizens on politicsHeavily regulated by government (ex. no ads can be purchased for parties or candidates)

InstitutionsState InstitutionsUnitary state, power concentrated in LondonNo separation of powers

InstitutionsCabinet and Prime Minister, The ExecutiveCabinet members are MPs chosen by Prime Minister, who is first among equalsCollective responsibility cabinet members all share policy responsibility, and members resign if they do not support decisions of the PM

InstitutionsParliament, The LegislatureHouse of Commons, the Lower HouseHolds all meaningful power in BritainMajority party chooses PM, makes all policyMinority becomes loyal opposition, sitting directly across the aisle during debateShadow Cabinet group of minority party MPs who would be in cabinet if they were the majorityBackbenchers MPs who are less influential sit further back in Parliament

BackbenchersBackbenchersSpeaker of the HousePrime Minister and CabinetShadow CabinetOther minority parties

And now Question Time for the Prime Minister!

InstitutionsParliament, The LegislatureHouse of Commons, the Lower HouseVote of ConfidenceIf a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by traditionThe House of Lords, the Upper HouseThe original parliament, now nearly meaninglessCan delay legislation, debate technicalities, and add amendmentsAmendments may be deleted in Commons by a majority vote

InstitutionsParliament, The LegislatureHouse of Commons, the Lower HouseVote of ConfidenceIf a key issue is brought up for a vote and the PM and cabinet lose, they resign and call for new elections immediately by traditionThe House of Lords, the Upper House567 life peers, appointed by PM for achievement and service to Britain92 hereditary peers, whose seats were passed down through family connectionsBlair and Labour substantially reduced number of hereditary peerages

The SovereignSupporters of the governmentSupporters of the Opposition PartyNeutral Members

InstitutionsThe BureaucracyPowerful force in policy formation, implementationBureaucrats are experts, ministers are likely not, so ministers take direction from top bureaucrats informallyBureaucrats stay in place from government to government

InstitutionsThe JudiciaryLimited in authority compared to U.S.Parliamentary sovereignty principle that Parliament has the final sayCourts can strike acts of government that violate common law or previous acts of Parliament, but rule very narrowlyMay not impose judicial review on Parliament, PM, or cabinetJudges are usually independent, apoliticalExpected to resign at age 75Highest court formerly the Law Lords, but a new Supreme Court has been created (2009)

3 Major Steps in the British JudiciaryDistrict CourtsHigh CourtsSupreme CourtAppealsAppeals