FAQs about Great Britain

http://www.parliament.uk/Population 59.8 million (predominantly urban and suburban)Independence: from 12th centuryHead of State: Queen Elizabeth IIHead of Government: Prime Minister Tony BlairReligion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Protestant (Presbyterian, Methodist), Sikh, Hindu, Jewish

Important Characteristics

A very secular state – dates from Henry VIII’s break with the catholic churchWestminster style of government Parliamentary sovereignty Unitary state Fusion of powers (eg: cabinet)

Industrial revolutionLoss of empireUneasy relationship with Europe

International Influence

European state with middling influence on regional or world affairsPost-colonial power with cultural and economic ties to old coloniesAn unequal partner in a special relationship with the USA

Culture of Democracy in Britain

Tradition of democracy dating prior to 12th centuryCritical events World war II

Devolution Scotland Wales Northern Ireland (peace process)

The Environment of Politics

Political divisions States: United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Northern Ireland, a union not a federal system

Great Britain: England, Scotland, Wales England has 56% of the population of

great Britain

Multiracial England The after-effects of colonialism

Insularity, Involvement and Isolation

Shrinking military and diplomatic commitments Absence of popular support

Dependency on world tradeWorld organizations Commonwealth (50 sovereign states) United nations European union

Citizen self-identification Non-european +50% The English Channel – symbolic & literal

separation

Insularity and the EU

1957 EU created GB does not join1973 – Edward Heath, GB joins but in limited manner1975 referendum 67 – 33 % favor EURemains controversialThatcher government opposes Maastricht Treaty – Major government barely ratifies it in 1993Blair Government discusses possibility of national referendum on adoption of Euro but backs away as popular dissatisfaction becomes clear (currently, the Pound is stronger than the Euro).

Explanations for Enduring Political Legitimacy

Following “the rules of the game”Willingness of citizens to be governed Even Scots and Welsh accept parliament

as an institution, want their own devolution

TraditionHabit

One Crown-Five “Nations”United Kingdom (1) England (2) Scotland (3) Wales (4) Northern Ireland (5)

Northern Ireland Protestant majority, dominate government

Ireland (Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921)The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – multiple identifications.

Structure of Government

Crown - symbolicUnwritten Constitution

Mix: acts of Parliament, judicial pronouncements, customs, conventions about the “rules of the game”

Parliament Final authority (U.S. SC) – parliamentary sovereignty House of Lords, House of Commons

Courts No judicial review Statutory examination only. Individuals have had no redress in courts until Blair

govt. incorporated European Convention of Human Rights

British ParliamentBicameral

House of Commons Lower house Government formed from Commons Single member first past the post districts

House of Lords Upper house Life peerage peerage

House of Commons

House of Commons (659) May 1997 new districts increased the number of

seats in Commons from 651 to 659 Select committee on modernization of the House

of Commons established (1997). Sitting hours, devolution, House of Lords

The House of Lords Act 1999 – restricted the number of hereditary peers in Lords to 92 (678)

sole jurisdiction over finance.

House of Lordsshorn of most powercan review, amend, or delay temporarily any bills except those relating to the budget1999, the government removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to hold seats in the House of Lords. Currently consists of appointed life peers who hold their seats for life and 92 hereditary peers who will hold their seats only until final reforms have been agreed upon and implemented.Highest court of appeals

Other Parliaments of the UK

Scottish Parliament – Welsh Assembly 1997 Scottish/Welsh referenda British Government introduced legislation to

establish a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly.

Elections for each were held May 6, 1999. The Welsh Assembly opened on May 26, and the Scottish Parliament opened on July 1, 1999.

The devolved legislatures have largely taken over most of the functions previously performed by the Scottish and Welsh offices.

Northern Ireland

1921-73 had its own parliament and prime minister British Government imposed direct rule in order to deal with the deteriorating political and security situation. 1973- 1990s, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, based in London, was responsible for the region, including efforts to resolve the issues that lay behind the "the Troubles.“

Northern Ireland – peace, devolution and assembly

Mid-1990s peace pressure increases Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell leads

process

Good Friday Accords 1998 approved by majorities in both Northern Ireland and

the Republic of Ireland Major elements: work toward "total disarmament of

all paramilitary organizations," police reform, and enhanced mechanisms to guarantee human rights and equal opportunity. Also, formal cooperation between the Northern Ireland institutions and the Government of the Republic of Ireland, established the British-Irish Council (representatives from British, Irish Governments as well as

the devolved Governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Northern Ireland – Self Determination?

IN Legislature reestablished in Northern Ireland in December 1999 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement provides for a 108-member elected Assembly, overseen by a 12-minister Executive Committee (cabinet) in which unionists and nationalists share leadership responsibility. Northern Ireland elects 18 representatives to the Westminster Parliament in London. However, the two Sinn Fein MPs, who won seats in the last election, have refused to claim their seats.

Northern Ireland – Current Status

2002 progress continues on elements of GFAIRA has undertaken two acts of decommissioning of its weaponsthe assembly functions when not suspended as result of sporadic violence/violations of GFAEfforts at normalizing security underwayU.S. has given or pledged over $300 million to the International Fund for Ireland

Parliamentary LegitimacyCauses of Legitimacy? Habit and tradition Political socialization reinforcing culture

Trusteeship theory of government Leaders behave in public interest but with

initiative Conservative Party/New Labour

Collectivist theory Balancing competing interests of citizens Traditional Conservatives

Individualist theory Direct representation of citizens Liberal Democratic Party

The Prime Minister

Effective political executive in BritainMust manage party politics: loyalty, co-option, representativeness, competence Patronage –frontbenchers,backbenchers Parliamentary performance – question time Media performance – Press scrutiny Winning elections – election as party leader Policy leadership – overall direction of the

government, international affairs, party leadership

The Executive – Cabinet Government

Emphasizes key roles of executive government (policymaking, control of gov’t, coordination of departments)PM selects loyal supporters to serve as ministers in the cabinet (frontbenchers)Membership in parliament and cabinet required – no fixed sizeDiverse roles (potential PMs) Run their ministry Member of parliament duties Duty to the PM Duty to the political tendency of the party

Cabinet Government (continued)

Principle of Collective Responsibility Requires all ministers bound to support

any action taken by an agency in the name of the government.

Checks on the Prime Minister PMs need the support of the majority of

their Cabinets for significant decisions Vote of no confidence in the commons PM can dismiss the cabinet

Conclusions and Comparisons

As an individual politician the Prime Minister has less formal authority than the American President (and most Presidents).Collectively the British government is more powerful than the administration of an American president.Circumstances and the individuals holding these offices will always play a role.

Political Parties of the UKGreat Britain– Two party majoritarian system (emerging 3rd party) Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats (Liberal

and Social Democratic party)

Scotland--Scottish National PartyWales--Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party, Social Democratic and Labour

Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Fein, Alliance Party, and other smaller parties.

Suffrage: British subjects, citizens of other Commonwealth countries, the Irish Republic resident in the UK, at 18.

The Judiciary

Judicial--magistrates' courts, county courts, high courts, appellate courts, House of Lords.Independent but without Judicial Review More limited than France, German or US court systemsParliamentary sovereignty limits Judiciary

JudiciaryPower only to determine whether policy directives/administrative acts violate common law or an act of parliamentLess politicized/influentialIncreasingly courts are being called on to intervene in controversy Impact on democracy in GB?Role of EU courts?

Economy – Modern History

Status as political and economic hegemon led to complacency.Dependent on free trade and raw materials (colonies).1890 falling behind in technical innovation, domestic manufacturing, scale of production (facilities).

Economy – Approaches

No institutionalized relationship between government and organized economic interestsLaissez faire relationship between government and economic actorsState = limited role in economic and social life

Economy – Previous ApproachesKeynesianism State budget deficits used to expand demand to

boost consumption and investment when the economy slows.

Post World War Two economic prosperity Keynesian economics works to the 1970s.

State economic intervention focuses on the balance of power Public/private via privatization of industries (late

1970s, 1980s) From labor to management by affirming

management authority -- but no state sponsored planning…

Economy – past to current approaches

Macro-economic policy also limited by lack of political cohesionException – nationalized industriesGB limits its role to broad policy instruments designed to have general impact (state revenues and expenditures)1970s recession shows limits of Keynesianism