Britain
How does history influence modern politics?
Institutions leave traditions and unresolved conflicts breed future tensions
cabinet government
a system of government in which executive power is collectively held by a cabinet rather than a single prime minister
What two bodies support the work of the cabinet?
cabinet committees consisting of ministers and official civil committees help carry out the functions of the cabinet.
Describe the role of the citizenry in British policy making.
Scope for citizen participation is limited and decision-making flows primarily from the executive branch
What do Parliamentary acts define?
1. Powers of Parliament 2. Relationship between Parliament and Monarchy 3. Relationship between state and citizen 4. Relationship of Nations that comprise the United Kingdom 5.Relationship of the United Kingdom and the European Union
British population as of 2007
60.8 million
Religious Affiliations of British Population
71.8% Christian; 15.1% without religious affiliation; 2.8% Muslim
Ethnic makeup of Britain
92.1% white. Other major minorities include Pakistani, Indian, and African Descent.
Bill of Rights of 1689
An act of congress which helped define the relationship between the monarchy and Parliament
What strategic implications did Britain's location have?
As an island, Britain was less susceptible to invasion and conquest. This provided a sense of security and a distinct identity from the rest of Europe
Describe how Tony Blair changed the unitary system.
Blair introduced constitutional reforms to devolve power to legislative bodies in Scotlant, Wales and Northern Ireland, and an independent mayor for London. Furthermore, appointed bodies known as regional development agencies were created to enhance the development of regions across the United Kingdom.
Describe the Demonstrations in November 2010
Britain had to implement austerity measures to protect the British economy. These included job cuts and a 20% reduction in public spending. Student demonstrations responded to tuition hikes which accompanied these.
What did British economic growth depend on and how did this influence British foreign policy?
British economic growth depended on foreign markets so political leaders worked to expand its power, toppling Napoleon in the early 19th century to ensure naval supported economic dominance.
Regime History
Dated back to the 1700's, has its roots in constitution
Describe the formation of the United Kingdom
Duke William of Normandy conquered England in the Battle of Hostings in 1066, extending sovereignty over British Isles save Scotland. England and Wales were legally united in the 16th century
How does the United Kingdom's size influence its political structure?
Ensures the success of the unitary system because there is less regionalization in a small geographic area.
Great Britain
England,Whales, Scotland
True or False: Representative bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland enjoy the same level of authority as the British Parliament
False
True or False: James I ascending to the English throne formally united Scotland and England
False, Scotland and England were formally united under the Act of Union of 1707.
True or False: British voting rights expansion was slow and tumultuous
False; while it was slow it was largely peaceful
What was the basis for the Magna Carta?
Feudal barrons demanding restraint on King John's power.
Describe the shifts in power that resulted from the Industrial revolution
Industrial revolution shifted power from landowners to businessmen.
What implications did the protest on tuition fees have for the British government?
It suggested that there was a fissure in the coalition government-- which in itself reflected the public's discomfort and unfamiliarity with the concept of a coalition government
How did the Act of Union change the governmental structure of England and Scotland?
It united the Scottish and English Parliaments
What implications did joining the European Union have for Parliament?
Joining the European Union required parliament to relinquish certain powers, forcing it to acknowledge that British law is subordinate to European law and certain acts can take effect with parliamentary review. Furthermore, Parliament accepted the authority of the European Court of Justice and by doing so has allowed the Court of Justice to nullify Parliamentary acts
Why is the term "unwritten constitution inaccurate"?
Legal Treatises and acts of Parliament, both of which play a major role in defining the British political system, are written
Glorious Revolution
Ocurring in 1688, this was the last successful revolution in British history where Roman Catholic King James II was replaced by the Protestand William and Mary. The event officiated the Church of England.
parliament
Originally used to refer to the group of feudal barrons who counseled the King when he was contemplating instituting additional taxation, this became the official legislative body of the United Kingdom in the 15th century
Describe how fusion of powers manifests itself in the British government.
Parliament has authority over executive branch and has supreme judicial authority. Furthermore, the British cabinet, rather than solely the Prime minister, through collective decision making, governs.
Political System
Parliamentary Democracy; Constitutional Monarchy
What elements of British government limit the power of the British monarch?
Parliamentary democracy, parliamentary sovereignty and cabinet rule
Representation of People Act of 1918
Passed in 1918, this piece of legislation enfranchised all adult men and women over 30
How did the state involve itself in industry post World War 1?
Post world war 1, the state sought to minimize the trade union movement and resisted labor demands, openly contradicting the laissez faire free market principles-- a break that deepened with the Great Depression
Revolutionary stirrings in 17th century
Religious conflicts and struggles for power divided Parliament, the monarchy and the populace which manifested themselves in the form of civil wars in the 1640's and culminated in the Glorious Revolution.
How were Scotland and England united?
Scottish King James VI ascended to the English throne as James I.
How did state involvement in the economy change after World War 1?
States involvement in the ecoomy greatly expanded during World War 1 as it set prices, restricted foreign flow of capital and seized railways, mining and shipping for war production purposes.
What is unique about how the structure and reasoning for areas of government are derived in the United Kingdom?
Structure and processes are largely traditional therefore convention sets limits on constitutional power
How is the British Constitution unique?
The British Constitution is unique for its form and its age. It has no single authoritative texts but it is rather a compendium of statutory Parliamentary laws, common law, convention and interpretations of the former.
Executive
Typically the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister is the head of the United Kingdom's executive branch. He has significant cabinet responsibilities and he is answerable to the House of Commons.
Administrative Structure
Unitary state marked by fusion of powers where the United Kingdom's parliament has supreme legislative, executive, and judicial authority.
Describe the effect of the Industrial revolution on the British population
While it gradually improved the standard of living, many field laborers and small landholders lost their jobs and property and skilled labor was rendered obsolete
constitutional monarchy
a constitutional government where the head of state ascends to power through hereditary succession but wields no real power due to Constitutional constraints
Fusion of Powers
a constitutional principle that authority of the branches of government, in contrast to the principle of separation of powers
Unitary state
a form of governmental organization where all the power is concentrated in the central government
parliamentary sovereignty
a governmental doctrine where Parliament has unbridled authority to make and overturn laws and is not subject to veto or judicial review
Magna Carta
a historical statement of rights of a political community against the monarchial state arising from feudal landowners demands for protection against royal abuses of power which inspired constitutions which protected citizens from excessive state power
Industrial Revolution
a period of rapid social, economic and political changes ushered by manufacturing during the mid-1700's which gave rise to a need for consumer markets and sources for raw material leading to colonization
hegemonic power
a state that can control international alliances and economic order and shape domestic political developments in other countries
welfare state
a set of public policies through which the government provides for citizen's needs through pensions health care programs, unemployment insurance and assistance for the poor
parliamentary democracy
a system of government where the chief executive is answerable to the legislature and may be dismissed by it
Whips
leads in the House of Commons and House of Lords who ease the passage of legislation and more broadly coordinate parliamentary business
quangos
quasi-non governmental organizations which are essentially nondepartmental public bodies which carry out functions outside of the authority of traditional governmental departments or local authorities
Reform Act of 1832
the passage of this act extended the right to vote to the male middle class, marking the first step towards democratization. While the degree of expansion was small, it paved the way for further expansion and contributed to class-based tensions due to its strict property basis.
Representation of People Act of 1867
this act enfranchised 16% of the population but marginalized cities. It was the Franchise Act of 1884 that followed which doubled the electorate.
