UK AP Gov

Describe how interest groups function in the UK, including quangos

Interest groups can play a very large role in politics and policy making of the United Kingdom. Notable Interest Groups include the Trades Union Congress, National Farmers Union, British Medical Association.Quangos stand for quasi-non-governmental organizations; they are non elected bodies outside traditional governmental departments or local authorities. Quangos perform a specific function of government (education, housing, etc.).

No walls =

no max Brexit

Problems with Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland

they share a border - Good Friday agreement means no border between them and hard Brexit violates that

If Northern Ireland reunited with Ireland....

end of UK

How is Scotland different than most of UK

Scot citizens pay no tuition to attend university and less for healthcare and prescription drugs than other UK citizens

common law

a system based on local customs and precedent rather than formal legal codes

Conservative party

"Tories" identified with democratization of UK and origins of British welfare state post WWII. divided among advocates of traditional pragmatism, of a limited welfare state, and of radical or neoliberal free market reforms. Educated and middle to upper class tend to vote for this party. Southern England.

English Civil war

(1642-51) It pitted the defenders of Charles I against the supporters of Parliament. Won struggle and executed Charles I in 1649

Why has the TUC been weakened over the past Decades?

1. Shrink in industrial democracies and blue collar workers. 2. Margaret Thatcher reduced political power of TUC by passing laws designed to restrict union activity. 3. reforms within the Labour Party since 1990 have eroded the TUC's control over that party

Why has there been a decline in UK economy

1. downside to early industrialization. 2. burden of empire - although industrialization helped fuel imperialism, British empire became a financial drain rather than beneficial. 3. Collective consensus blocked era and focused on social expenditures, taking focus away from need to modernize economy

Northern Ireland and religion

48% Protestant and 45% Catholic. religious conflict. Catholics were discriminated against in employment and education. The troubles - 3 decade longer period that claimed 4,000 casualties on both sides. Ended in Good Friday agreement

vote of no confidence

A process in a parliamentary system where a majority of parliament members vote to remove the Prime Minister from office. In some instances, entire cabinet must resign and be replaced or a new election must be called

Based on what you know so far, why do you think Pakistani Muslims have faced more discrimination than other ethnic minorities?

Attacks on 9/11 & 7/7 Largest group of British Muslims come from Pakistan Muslims have an identity of being a minority distinct form a well-established majority Many British Muslims are disaffected and unemployed Lack of integration into British culture Cleavage is coinciding! Ethnicity, Religion, Social Class

Wales

Became subject to the King of England in 16th century Plaid Cymru - Welch national political party Strong sense of national pride reflected in their flag and in their own language Signage in Welsh and English Granted their own assembly in 1998

Why might a PM put his rivals within the party in the cabinet?

Because of "collective responsibility" - rivals won't speak out against PM

Hegemonic Power

Britain rule as a hegemonic power, controlling alliances and international economic order and shaping domestic political developments in countries throughout the world

Brexit

British exit from the EU. idea of sovereignty

Magna Carta

British nobles obliged King John to sign in 1215. Became a royal premise to uphold feudal customs and the rights of England's barons. Set an important precedent by limiting the power of the British monarchs and subjecting them to the rule of law. Helped pave the way for public control over the state and government.

foreign office

Conducts foreign policy

collective consensus after WWII

Consensus in politics - most Britons and all major political parties agreed that governments should work to: Narrow gap between rich/poor Led to creation of a Welfare State Set of public policies designed to provide for citizens' needs through provision of pensions, health care, unemployment insurance, & assistance to the poor Included creation of National Health Service (1948) State responsibility for economic growth and full employment

Bill of rights and glorious

Consent of Parliament for most acts of monarch; free elections, right to petition king

Margaret Thatcher

Conservative party leader and the first leader of an industrial democracy to experiment with neoliberal economic policies in an attempt to stem economic decline

Tony Blair and new labor

Devolution to Scotland and Wales Elected Mayor and council for London Removal of voting rights of hereditary peers in House of Lords Incorporates Convention on Human Rights into British law Eliminates part of Clause IV of party's constitution which committed party to seek "the common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange" Freedom of Information Act (passed in 2000)

British Values (according to Ken Wedding)

Devotion to justice and fair play Human and civil rights for all Acceptance of class distinctions and social mobility Equal representation Civilian government Pragmatism and cooperation Tolerance Both community and individual responsibility Honesty and transparency in govt and business Acceptance of activist govt

Why do you think there was collective consensus on the need for a welfare state after WWII?

During WWI & WWII, state involvement in the economy increased to direct the war effort, and to help with the Depression between the wars After WWII: Beveridge Report, need to rebuild, diminishing population, fear of depression and communism, yearnings for a better life

Scotland

History of resistance to English rule Strong sense of national identity Have their own flag Recently granted their own parliament and regional assembly in 1999 Scottish National Party - political party of the region of Scotland

Commonwealth

Includes the UK and 54 of its former colonies and serves to maintain at least some of the economic and cultural ties during its long imperial rule

Labour Party constitution

It was rewritten to weaken the ability of trade unions to control party policy

England

Largest region of Great Britain Makes up 2/3 of the land mass Contains about 80% of UK's Population English have dominated the other nationalities historically, and still hold a disproportionate share of political power

Northern Ireland

Long history of conflict between England and Ireland, particularly over religion Home rule was granted largely because of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) which used guerrilla tactics against British forces to secure independence Sinn Fein - political party of the IRA In 1949 the bulk of Ireland officially became independent Northern Ireland remains under British control Their continues to be a great deal of conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland

Trade Union Congress (TUC)

Most important British interest group

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Most important business organization in UK. main counterweight to the TUC

Is it a contradiction that a member of the Conservative Party followed a policy of neo-liberalism? Explain!

No because liberalism has a different meaning in the UK (and the rest of the world) than it does in the U.S. Liberalism supports minimal government interference. Our Republican party would be more likely to follow liberal/neo-liberal policies than our Democratic Party

snap elections in 2017

On 29 March 2017, the UK government formally began the withdrawal process by invoking Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union with permission from Parliament. May called a snap general election in June 2017 The governing Conservative Party lost its majority resulting in the formation of a minority government with a confidence and supply arrangement with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland. Stage set for a nasty Brexit

life peers

One way to be appointed to the House of Lords. distinguished citizens appointed for life by the crown upon recommendation of the prime minister.

UK Independence Party

Opposes EU. Capitalizes on growing "Europhobia" in Britain and rising unease to immigration

Idk what to call this but he talked ab this

PM - cabinet - civil service advises over the cabinet. Interest groups can go over to "lobby" PM or civil service who will go and lobby the cabinet

quangos

Quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations. Policy board advisory boards or other entities appointed or approved by the gov that bring government officials and affected interest groups together to help develop policy.

Who voted to stay in EU and who voted to leave

Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay, England and Wales voted to leave

In house of commons

Shadow Government referred to as "Loyal Opposition" Backbenchers: not in government or shadow government Speaker: Non-Partisan MP Decides who speaks during debate And PM Question Time Keeps order Votes only in the case of a tie

electoral system in UK

Single-member district (SMD). First past the post (FPTP). Plurality. Winner-take-all.

social cleavages some examples

Social Class Distinctions Historically - working class vs middle-class Education (most important portal to elite classes is through Oxford & Cambridge) Geographic-Economic South England vs North England, Scotland, and Wales Wealth and high tech industry centered in South England

Chief judicial body

Supreme Court

democratic unionist party

The Protestant Party in Northern Ireland that is for keeping Northern Ireland in the UK

What impact does the current SMD system have on UK party system?

The single-member system favors a major two-party division, where the seats in Parliament are not representative of the actual voters' political affiliations. Smaller parties with substantial voter percentages, like the Scottish National and the Green party, are overshadowed by the "main" two parties.

identify the major political parties and explain their beliefs

The three major political parties in the UK are the Labour and Conservative parties. The Labour Party is a central right party of moderate democratic socialization that supports Keynesian economics and increased social services/government spending. The Conservative Party is a central right party that focuses on economic liberalization and privatization of companies, reduction of taxation and government spending as well.

After David Cameron resigned....

Theresa May came in // snap election

What version of a voting system would third parties prefer? And WHY?

They would prefer a proportional voting system because it enables smaller parties to have a say similar to the amount of votes they received. They dominant party would lose seats and the different parties would have seats proportional to the votes they received.

How has devolution impacted social cleavages: Weakened or strengthened them? How?

UK devolution created: national Parliament in Scotland (national flag, currency, referendum!) national Assembly in Wales (Welsh language, flag) national Assembly in Northern Ireland (Good Friday Agreement in 1998)

Unitary or federal division of power?

Unitary

formal name for UK

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Parliament

When the Catholic Church failed to give Henry VIII a divorce, he used parliament to pass laws that effectively took England out of the catholic church and replaced Catholicism with a protestant church that could be controlled by the English state instead of by Rome.

quangos represent....

a move towards neocorpratist and model of public policy making

Good Friday Agreement

an agreement to end the conflict in Northern Ireland signed in 1998 by Protestants and Catholics

importance of 2008 financial crisis

anger towards EU and immigration grew. 2016 Brexit 52% to 48% referendum

Conservative + Duke party

anti Brexit and pro UK

devolution

central gov giving more power to other gov's. ex. give Scotland sense of power and autonomy in hopes of keeping it loyal

What is the biggest distinction in British history

class

British political values are influenced by....

development of classical liberalism and conviction that gov's influence over individual ought to be limited

1707 act of union

fused Scotland and England to make Great Britain

Labour Party

initially sough to give the working class a voice in parliament. Considers socialism its dominant ideological characteristic. Influenced by Fabianism. Championed strong welfare state and some state ownership of industry. Party is divided between radical socialists and moderates.

House of Lords

legislative. upper house and represented aristocracy . has to read bills and has power to amend bills. To delay legislation To debate technicalities of proposed bills Lords may add amendments to legislation, but House of Commons may delete their changes by a simple majority vote The House of Lords includes five law lords who serve as Britain's highest court of appeals, but they cannot rule acts of Parliament unconstitutional

House of Commons

lower house and represented the interests of the lower nobility and the merchant class. can approve or deny bills. Makes laws and passes bills. Conducts votes of no confidence. Debates policy issues. Represents the people. Appropriates funds and makes budgets. Approves/elects (NOT selects) the prime minister

David Cameron

made Brexit happen, apologized then resigned

exchequer

minister, called the chancellor, oversees financial policy

Steps leading to Brexit

new eu(10 countries) more immigration -- more taxes "paying for immigrants" - what people thought

hereditary peers

most controversial component of the House of Lords. members of the aristocracy, who until recently, has been able to bequeath their seats to their offspring

British state and society

multi national and ethnic. British society reveals *class* religious and linguistic divisions

What increased financial inequality in Europe?

neoliberal economic policies and Uk south is growing faster than the north

Switzerland and the EU

no regulatory autonomy and financial contributor to the EU

political regime of UK

notable among the world's democracies because of its highly majoritarian features

Crown

one of the main branches of government. British crown = head of state. embodied by the monarch and Is the symbolic representative of the continuity of the British state

home office

oversees the judiciary

Third Way

political compromise between the right and the left that also informed the improbable coalition from 2010-2015. Free market policies with ambitious constitutional reform. *Tony Blair*

pragmatism

practical / not super ideological / cooperative

cabinet

preside over their individual government departments and are responsible for answering to parliament during question time about actions of the bureaucracies they oversee.

Liberal Democrats

range of values. Ideology is a mixture of classical liberalisms emphasis on both individual freedom and social democracy's emphasis on collective equality. Greatest victim of coalition conflicts

electoral system for lower house:

single member districts with plurality

Celtic fringe

the areas on Britains northern and western perimeter

Prime minister

the head of government and must be an elected member of the legislature

legitimacy is based on

tradition (crown) and Rational-Legal Authority

collective responsibility

unwritten rule of cabinet behavior. even when individual cabinet members oppose a given policy, the entire cabinet must appear unified and take responsibility for the policy. Cabinet members who cannot support a decision must resign and return to legislature

EU

when a country joins the EU, they give up part of their sovereignty. UK relies on EU for trade deals. EU started as a trade arrangement - as it grew, Britain gave more sovereignty into UK institutions.

hung parliament

where no party obtains a majority of the seats in parliament