UK/Britain
Day Two Questions
1. The system in the United Kingdom that serves as the basis for modern legal systems is called... A.Informal Law. B. Law of the land. C. Common Law. D. Celtic Law. C. Common Law 2. In which way does the Labour Party differs from the Conservative party in Great Britain? A. The Labour Party began in strong opposition to unions. B. The Labour Party represents the ideological left. C. The Labour Party represents the ideological right. D. The Labour Party opposed the creation of the welfare state. B. The Labour Party represents the ideological left. 3. Which is true regarding the British Prime Minister? A. They hold less power than chief executives in other types of political systems. B. They can only be removed from office by losing an election. C. They are directly elected by a plurality of voters. D. They are elected by the majority in the House of Commons. D. They are elected by the majority in the House of Commons.
Day 1 Class Questions
1. Why was the Magna Carta important in the evolution of the British political system? A. it created the judiciary and have it the power of constitutional review. B. It started modern British political parties. C. It ushered in the industrial revolution by freeing the economy from governmental control. D. It subjected the royal crown to the rule of law and began to limit their power. D. It subjected the royal crown to the rule of law and began to limit their power. 2. Which is the most powerful legislative body in British Parliament? A. House of Lords. B. House of Commons. C. Commonwealth. D. Supreme Court. B. House of Commons. 3. When the party gains a majority of seats in parliament it is called- A. Electoral paralysis. B. Gridlock. C. A hung parliament. D. Deadlock. C. A hung parliament.
Ethnic and National Identity
2005 London Bombing offers evidence of continuing ethnic tensions. Its politics are more secular than that of Europe. Religious oriented political issues have not been politicized in the UK compared to the US. Religion remains a main source of conflict in Northern Ireland with the Catholics and Protestants. Compounded by national and class differences, Catholics discriminated in employment and education. Irish Republican Army turned to violence against British targets in hope of unifying with the Republic of Ireland. British army and illegal Protestant paramilitary organizations fought back. Known as the Troubles. Self-rule given to them in 2007, but suspended in 2017. British society has not coped well with racial diversity coming from Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, India etc. Has sparked anti-immigrant sentiment. Have imposed immigration quotas. HAs bolstered support for Brexit and UKIP. Number of national groups with substantial culture and political differences. They don't identity themselves as British but as belonging to one of the other nationalities. Yearn for national autonomy.
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
A confederation of the United Kingdom's largest trade unions.
Neoliberal
A policy of economic liberalization adopted in exchange for financial support from liberal international organizations; typically includes privatizing state-run firms, ending subsidies, reducing tariff barriers, shrinking the size of the state, and welcoming foreign investment. Not a specific policy but an ideology or an attitude.
Hung Parliament
An election result in which no party wins a majority of parliamentary seats, such as the 2010 and 2017 parliamentary elections.
Members of Parliament (MPs)
An individual legislator in the UK House of Commons.
The Constitution
An unwritten constitution, but is written down, just not in the same place. Includes a number of written documents and unwritten rules that most British citizens view as inviolable such as the Magna Carta. Parliament is sovereign so it can amend any aspect of the constitution by a simple majority from the lower house. Has no constitutional court because any law passed by Parliament is deemed constitutional. Unwritten constitution has caused some concerns over human rights and constitutional protection of basic rights. Or, seen as flexible and responsive to the majority. Changes to constitution can be done quickly without too lengthy of a political battle. Fixed-Parliaments Act of 2011- allowing votes of no confidence and significantly restricted the power of PM to call elections t any time.
Brexit
British Exist from the European Union, realized in a 2016 referendum. Key issue for the past five years in British politics.
Civil Society
British interest groups influence public policy and public opinion, but interest-group lobbying is far less prevalent than in US as British parties are more disciplined. Greatest influence comes from quangos which are policy advisory boards or entities appointed/ approved by the government that brings officials and internet groups together to help develop policy. Represents a social-democratic model of public policy making, in which government and interest groups work together to develop policy. Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a confederation of the largest trade unions and is the most important British interest group. Was extremely influential in policy making and Labour Party. Yet, membership has plummeted as the blue collar workforce has decreased. Does not have as much force/power as it used to. Most important business organization is the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). HAs no direct link to the Tories. Usually favors conservatives policies and top business leaders have exercised influence in past Conservatives govt.
Boris Johnson
British prime minister and member of the Conservative Party who was instrumental in the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
Day Two Class Notes
British- Parliamentary system with SMD, 1st past the post. U.S is the same. Much greater cohesion in Parliament. Political History/ Development- Gradualism. Power- People elect members of Parliament, and then Parliament votes for Prime Minister. U.S- two different elections for legislative and executive. People elect both. Parliamentary- concentrated power. Parties- coherent. Parties divided in the U.S, polarization. If you ask people of policies they are not divergent. Ask people about the opposing political party and its policies creates much more divergence. Since 2016, U.S has had a fractured Republican coalition as they did not follow their campaign promises of populist, social programs. British Parties- Disciplined. Party leaders control nominations. Parliamentary Powers- elects Prime Minister, can amend constitution by a simple majority vote in the House of Commons. House of Commons is also where the major debating takes place. Has final say on legislation. Vote of No Confidence- when Parliamentary doesn't have majority in legislative , they think system is broken. A way to ensure that policy goes forward. Dissolve parliament. Typically results in new election. Can call snap elections (PM). Danger of this- you can lose seats. Happened to Theresa May. Not a functional way to pass legislation leads to a vote of no confidence/ snap election. PM- leads party in elections. Leads cabinet and executive branch. Ex- Foreign Office, Home Office, Exchequer Office. Appears in Parliament for question time. Debating policy/proposals. Has to hold coalition together. Parties- discipline. Elect candidates for office. Parties select candidates for office and support party's policies. U.S parties can't prevent you from running. Parliamentary party can punish MP's by not allowing them to be selected for next election. Cabinet is chosen by PM. Bureaucracy is much more considered in policy of British and French than in the U.S. They point out problems that will occur, but try their best to fulfill the party. Expertise and authority to implement. Cabinet has to work with bureaucracy. Counterweight to PM and Parliamentary, but do much better with output than U.S.
Empire and Industrialization
By the early 19th century, England was the world's dominant military, commercial, and cultural power. By 1870 it controlled a quarter of the world trade, governed a quarter of the world's population, directly ruled over almost 50 countries, and dominated many more with its commercial muscle. Following WW1, the economy began to shrink. It granted independence to several of its former colonies and by WW2, it led to much more local resistance via two world wars, burden of maintaining far-flung colonies international sentiment favoring self determination for subject peoples. Commonwealth includes UK and 52 of its former colonies and sores to maintain at least some of the economic and cultural ties established during its long imperial rule. First industrial economy supporting the expansion of the empire. Did not cause any political upheaval and instability. Since they were the first to industrialize, UK faced little competition and was incredibly wealthy. British spent lavishly on its empire and led two world wars causes strain on its economic resources.
Liberal Democratic Party
Centrist third party in the United Kingdom and junior member of a coalition government from 2010 to 2015.
Political Economy
Classical liberalism traced to the UK. John Locke. Shift from social-democratic values after WW II to neoliberalism under Margaret Thatcher, to the softened but largely continuance of this. During IR- "the workshop of the world." British Empire led by the richest country on the planet. Ranked 39th in GDP. Financial drain of imperialism. wars, waning competitiveness of obsolete technologies, prioritization of social expenditures, and hesitation to pursue greater postwar economic integration with Europe all contribute to this decline. 75% generated by the service sector. Liberal economic policies have increased inequality. UK never accept the euro and many questions surrounding how UK will disentangle itself from the European market. Cost Britain 40 billion to leave EU and 170 billion to figure its market out. Others argue this will lead the UK to have newfound freedom unleashing British trade and enhancing productivity.
Margaret Thatcher
Conservative British prime minister from 1979 to 1990.
David Cameron
Conservative prime minister from 2010 to 2016; resigned following the Brexit referendum, which he campaigned against.
Postwar Politics
Conservatives also agreed with the Labour Party regard the welfare state known as the postwar collectivist consensus. Yet, in the 1970's neoliberalism got on the scene. Blamed UK's economic decline on the welfare state excessiveness. Thatcher's government lowered taxes, cut state spending on social services, and replaced state service with private enterprise. Minimal state intervention. New Labour Party blanked popular progressive social reforms with policies fo devolution and continued limits on social expenditures. 2014- parliament authorized Scotland to hold a referendum on the question of independence from the UK. Hung parliaments have been on the rise in the UK. Brexit formal departure was Jan 31, 2020. Uk and Eu nagged in extensive and detailed negotiations for clarifying and codifying their future relationship concerning security, transportation, citizenship etc.
Conservative party
Embrace democratic rule. Division between traditional conservative pragmatism and neoliberal or radical free-market reforms. Forged a more coherent and centrist political position with socially liberal policies.
Emergence of the Modern British State
First, crowing of James I created a political crisis. He was an absolutist and resisted Parliament to limit his power. His son Charles I kept on this way, eventually leading to civil war. English Civil War pitted the defenders of Charles against the supporters of Parliament, Parliaments won. For a decade after, there was no monarch and was a military dictatorship. Second, James II inherited the throne, but they were wary of a Catholic in charge so it installed his son-in-law to be in charge. He enacted the Bill of Rights, institutionalized Parliament's supremacy and marking a devolution of the authority of monarchs. Third, King George I could not speak English so he relied heavily on his cabinet and prime minister to help him. This helped shape what the prime minister is like today. They were then appointed by Parliament, not Monarch.
Historical Development of the State
Formal name of the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland. Came into official use in 1801 with Acts of the Union. Great Britain consists of three nations, England, Scotland, and Wales, also the northeastern part of Ireland. Crown symbolizes the monarchy, the rules governing political life (regime) and the unhindered capacity (sovereignty) to enforce and administer these rules to secure the country's borders. Development of the modern state of Britain has been gradual, piecemeal, and peaceful. Early Development- Celts, Romans, Angels, Saxons, Danes, and Normans invaded the British Isles each leaving important legacies. Britain's northern and western perimeter is know as the Celtic fringe. Common law- based on local customs and precedent rather than complex legal codes. Institution of feudalism in which began the process of devolution of authority and created over time a system of mutual obligation between lord and peasant. Emergence of democracy- the Magna Carta asserting the king to uphold feudal customs, thereby subjecting English monarchs to the rule of law. Never experienced the type of royal absolutions as seen in other countries, preventing conflict and the eventual public control for the state. Religious divisions were healed early on when Henry VIII wanted a divorce but the Catholic Church would not let him, so he relied on Parliament to get it done. This took the church out of the equation. His need for Parliament allowed it to be seen as legitimate. Gradual devolutionary of sovereignty and democratic control.
Labour Party
Formed in 1900 as an outgrowth of the trade union movement in an effort to give the British working class a voice in Parliament. Strong welfare state and some state ownership, but not threatening to replace capitalism. Badly divided the party when blue collars started to decrease. Third Way- Tony Blair- free market economies with ambitious constitutional reform.
Liberal Democrats
Formed in 1988 through the merger of the Liberal Party and defectors from the Labour Party. Mix of classical liberalism emphasis on individual freedom and weak state and social democracy emphasis on collective equality. Support European integration and called fro increased taxation and social spending.
Day 1 Class Notes
Great Britain/UK- Say Great Britain because it removes the historical significance of the Monarch. Consists of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. Even though the British are one thing, there are important regional differences Development- complex, long in development. "gradualism"- state institutions/values and parts of democratic regime took a long/slow time to develop.Britain had power to check the King in 1650's but no parliamentary supreme until 1800's. Magna Carta- rule of law. Monarchs didn't like the restriction on power. King (monopoly of legitimate force/legitimate) but has limits on power. Rule of Law- limited at first, gradually expanded. Not full democratic until late 1800's to early 1900's. Concerted effort on government to limit inequality. Regime/Constitution- not a written constitution rather a group of agreements, understandings, key laws and traditions. Gradualism. Undergoing incremental changes. A slow, complicated process to change regime. Not a clear place where decision would be made about regime change. In US, we had Marbury v. Madison (1803) which established judicial review, but the Brits do not have that institutionalized. Also, they do not have a Supremacy Clause. New "judicial review"- multiple "Supreme Courts" or high courts. Majoritarian in terms of structure. Unitary State- concentrates power in national government. Easier to make policy as it is made at the national level. Applies to the federalist nature of system. Fewer competing powers in system. Subnational units are inferior to national- agents of national government. Systems Theory- decision making is the national government. The output of the policy is largely relied on the subnational units to carry it out. Majoritarian- majority power in Parliament. People are sovereign. Rest on sovereignty of masses. Majority of public have power.
Cabinet
Have about twenty members. Usually from the lower house. They stand apart from the legislature as a separate executive ranch and have few checks on their powers. Preside over individual departments and responsible for answering to Parliament. Foreign Office, Home oFfice, Exchequer Office. Unwritten rule of collective responsibility, entire cabinet must appear unified and take responsibility for the policy.
Prime Minister
Head of government, vote of no confidence.
Prime Minister
Head of govt. Must be an elected member of the legislature. Head of the largest party in the House of Commons. PM selects the cabinet. British PM's have been considered among the most powerful heads of govt of any contemporary democracy. Party disciple in the UK has been historically strong. PM can expect their parliamentary majority to approve all legislation. Wield less power when they do not have a majority. Elected to a maximum term of five years, used to be able to call elections, but not anymore. Requires a 2.3 supermajority to override the fixed-term Parliament Act. Can still use a vote of no confidence. Must maintain their support of MP's, appear weekly in legislature to defend government policies and answer questions, directs cabinet, expected to guide their party to victory, diplomats, and world leaders. Usually have more than two decades of political experience from the House of Commons. In British, political outsider hols no chance, as you have to move up the ranks to be elected.
Politcal Regime
Highly majoritarian. Majority in Parliament has virtually unchecked power. Can enact policies with few checks from other branches of government. British Constitution contains no formal limits on central government, few judicial restraints, and no constitutionally sanctioned authorities to dilute the power of the central government. Thus, EU has have checked the possibility of British government abusing its power.
Good Friday Agreement
Historic 1998 accord between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland that ended decades of violence.
Liberals (Whigs)
Historically, the United Kingdom's first opposition party; one of its two major political parties until the early twentieth century.
Ideology and Political Culture
Influenced by classical liberalism and governmental influence has to be limited from individuals.Many Britons embrace social-democratic values of increased state intervention and less individual freedom in exchange for increased social equality. A shift of governance and stewardship from national to local, public to private. Less socially and morally conservative than US. Politics culture is pragmatic and tolerant. Less concerned with adhering to ideological principles and more willing to tinker with a particular political problem. Political radicalism is rare. Strong sense of fair play and high level of consensus of the rules of the game. Brexit has been the issue with the most political polarization. Populism has caused some divisions- young vs old, rural vs urban. Aristocratic culture.
Tony Blair
Labour prime minister from 1997 to 2007. He also developed the broad policy approach called the Third Way.
Jeremy Corbyn
Leader of the opposition Labour Party from 2015-2020.
Common Law
Legal system based on local customs and precedent rather than formal legal codes. Basis of legal system. Also used by the U.S.
The Crown
Legislature, PM, cabinet, judiciary as the man branches of UK government. Monarch is head of state and purely a ceremonial figure. Monarchy is a civil servant. UK monarchy ahs survived for so long because it acts according to the constitution.
House of Commons
Lower house of the UK legislature.
Party System
Majoritarian parliaments system which places a great importance on political parties. Majority party controls government and can implement policy goals which are spelled out in the party manifesto. UK has a two-party steam of Conservative and Labour Party. Current system is now two and half parties with Liberal Democratic Party. UK party system differs regionally even for national elections. Enland's three major parties are Labour, Conservative, and Liberal democrat whereas in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland important regional parties compete with the three national ones.
Legislature
Most powerful legislature on Earth as they lack constitutional constraints. House of Commons- 650 members. Max term of five years. Receive relatively small slurries and have very small staff/resources. Political parties are what matter, not individuals as largest party elects the PM. Do not undertake individual initiatives as to keep the party strong and cohesive. Typically more accessible than US reps. Whips enforce the party line. Debate issues, participate in legislative committees, vote on legislation proposed by govt, can remove the PM. Deliberates, ratifies, and scrutinizes policies proposed by the executive. House of Lords- 800 members, appointed for life by the Crown. HAs no actual veto power over legislation, but it can delay legislation for up to one year and persuade governments to amend legislation. Possible reforms for the upper house.
Class Identity
Most salient of all British social divisions and the one most noticed by outsiders. 20th century social reform did much to ease the high income disparities and rigid occupation-based class lines of 19th century England. Chief legacy among the class system is the educational system, which has long channeled a minority of the British elite into so-called public schools. Graduates go on to Oxford and Cambridge. Class divisions are also seen through social identity- beer vs sherry, cricket vs football, and variations in speech and accent. More prosperous white-collar souther England and a struggling blue-collar North.
Society
Multinational and multiethnic. British society reveals class, religious, even linguistic divines. Yet, they have remained relatively benign. HAs demonstrated remarkable national unity and social/political stability.
Theresa May
Prime minister of the UK and leader of the Conservative Power from 2016-2019.
The Troubles
Name given to the three decades of extreme ethnic conflict (late 1960s to late 1990s) between Northern Ireland's nationalists or republicans, who are mostly Catholic, and unionists or loyalists, who are mostly Protestant.
Parliament
Name of the UK legislature.
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Nationalist political party promoting Scottish independence, and currently in control of the Scottish regional government.
Northern Ireland
Northeastern portion of Ireland that is part of the United Kingdom; also known as Ulster.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Official name of the British state.
Labour Party
One of the United Kingdom's two largest parties; since 2010, it has been the party in opposition.
Commonwealth
Organization that includes the UK and most of its former colonies communes.
Nigel Farage
Outspoken leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and member of the European Parliament. Nationalist party, pushed for Brexit.
Gradual Democratization
Parliament became more democratic when legislative power shifted from the aristocracy to the lower classes. Parliament originally only represented the elites (House of Lords) whereas the House of Commons was for the average folk. Political parties democratized Parliament and weekend monarchical power. The two largest were the Liberals (Whigs) who were for the working class and the Conservatives (Tories). Expansion of suffrage- gradual expansion of the vote to include all adult citizens forced the political parties to respond to demands for additional services. Labor Party Union established in 1900 to represent trade union movement. Pushed for the welfare state. Was popular from 1900-WW2.
Judiciary
Plays a relatively minor rule. Role of courts is to ensure that parliamentary statutes are followed. Until recently, Britain had no traditional rule of judicial review. Are all law lords from the House of Lords. Now, they are appointed by a commission. Politically weak by design but have ruled on important issues such as Brexit. Based on common law. Elaborate hierarchy of civil and criminal courts.
United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).
Populist and Euroskeptic political party favoring British exit from the European Union.
Collective Consensus
Postwar consensus between the UK's major parties to build and sustain a welfare state.
Celtic Fringe
Refers to Scotland and Wales, which were not conquered by the Angles and Saxons.
Crown
Refers to the British monarchy and sometimes to the British state; head of state.
Current Issues
Scotland's bid for independence. Brexit- issues over sovereignty, integration. Britain's position of Europe over the past few decades remain controversial and ambivalent. Johnson's govt has to sort out what Brexit will entail for UK, its citizens, Europe, and the world.
Other Parties
Scottish National Party, Welsh Plaid Cymru, and Sinn Féin have been most successful in concentrating votes to win seats. UKIP garnet supported for its anti-EU, anti-immigration platform. Capitalized on Euro-phobia. Voters left this single-issue arty after the successful Brexit.
English Civil War
Seventeenth-century conflict between Parliament and the monarch that temporarily eliminated and permanently weakened the monarchy.
Electoral System
Single-Member district system based on plurality voting (whoever gets the most votes, doesn't need a majority of them). Each of the 650 constituencies elects one MP. Electoral constituencies drawn to population and revised every 5-7 years by govt commission. System favors and matins the dominance of the two main political parties, Conservative and Labour. Also penalizes smaller parties. Third, British electoral system has generally produced clear majorities in the House of Commons, even when there was no clear majority in the electorate, leading to artificial majorities which undermine democratic rule. Devolution has permitted greater electoral experimentation in regional legislatures. Wales uses PR-SMD mixed system. Northern Ireland uses single-transferable vote. Labour Party feared that large majorities for the local nationalist parties.
Party Politics Today
Support for regional and local parties have surged at the expense of the larger parties. Divisions in all three of the major parties.
Third Way
Term describing recent policies of the Labour Party that embrace the free market.
Majoritarian
Term describing the virtually unchecked power of a parliamentary majority in the UK political system.
Magma Carta
The 1215 document signed by King John that set the precedent for limited monarchical power.
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
The United Kingdom's most important group representing the private sector.
Conservatives (Tories)
Those with a political attitude that is skeptical of change and supports the current order consociationalism.
Cabinet
Top members of the UK government who assist the prime minister and run the major ministries. Key policy for collective responsibility.
Collective Responsibility
Tradition that requires all members of the cabinet either to support government policy or to resign.
Local Government
Unitary state in which no formal powers are constitutionally reserved for regional or local govt. Has. been some motion of devolvement, but the Parliament can enact laws at any time to limit or eliminate this as they are fully sovereign. Yet, a long tradition of powerful local government. Thatcher limited this though. Blair restored it. Good Friday Agreement has allowed for the reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly. England is the only part of Uk without its own regional govt.
Quangos
Unusual British institution. Quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations that assist the government in making policy.
House of Lords
Upper house of the UK legislature, whose reform is currently being debated.
Vote of No Confidence
Vote taken by a legislature as to whether its members continue to support the current prime minister. Depending on the country, a vote of no confidence can force the resignation of the prime minister and/or lead to new parliamentary elections.
Elections
Voters elect all 650 members of the House of Commons during a general election. With the passage of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act in 2011, the date for these elections was set on a five year term beginning with the 2015 election. 60-70% of Brits go out to vote which is the lowest of all Europe but above the U.S. British campaigns are short usually lasting month. Voter has a simple choice as parties are well disciplined and have clear, published policy manifestos. Far more likely to know what each party stands for compared to Americans. Notion of a candidate serving local rather than parties interest is far less a concern than in the U.S.
