The United Kingdom

Review

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

Oldest democratic tradition• Social Compacts and Constitutionalism:

Legitimacy has developed gradually (traditional authority) and the church does not challenge authority. No written constitution, however, common law, legal codes, documents, and customs form Constitution of the Crown.

• Rational-legal authority: A system of well established laws and procedures determines legitimacy

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

Historical Evolution of National Political Traditions• The shaping of the monarchy: Magna Carta, English

Civil War, 1640- today no power• The ascendancy of Parliament: 1688, Glorious

Revolution established the constitutional monarchy when William and Mary signed the Bill of Rights.

• Challenges of the Industrial revolution: Colonial mercantilism and the industrial revolution established England as a major world power.

• Britain in the 20th and early 21st centuries: Power has diminished since early 20th century. Problems balancing the benefits of a welfare state and a market economy.

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

Political Culture• Nationalism- Strong• Insularity- Feel separate from the continent of Europe

(Euro)• Geography:1. An Island2. Small Size3. A short supply of arable land/short growing season4. Temperate climate (cold, chilly, rainy)5. No major geographical barriers• Noblesse oblige and social class• Multi-Nationalism (England, Scotland, Wales,

Northern Ireland)

Political and Economic Change

• Gradualism- Established strong traditions• Magna Carta, English Civil War, Glorious

Revolution, Industrial Revolution• Extension of Voting Rights: Great Reform Act of

1832, Reform Act of 1867, Representation of the People Act 1884, Woman’s Suffrage 1921

• Welfare Reforms: 19th century • Power shift to House of Commons- 20th Century:

Labour and Conservative parties. Trade Union Council- coalition of trade unions- very powerful

Political and Economic Change

• Effects of WWII- Collective Consensus.• Class conflicts put aside to fight the war-

Coalition Government.• Collective consensus continued into the 1960s.• Beveridge Report: Provided social insurance

(National Health Service)• Costly programs (OPEC crisis 1970s)• Thatcherism: Iron Lady privatized business and

industry and scaled back social programs• Tony Blair’s Third Way: Centrist • Gordon Brown: 2007

Citizens, Society, and the State

• Homogeneous culture?: English, 7% ethnic minorities.

• Social Cleavages: multi-national identities, social class distinctions, and Protestant/Catholic split in Northern Ireland.

• Multi-national identities: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)

Citizens, Society, and the State

• Social Class Distinctions: working/middle class• Reinforced through the education system:

“Public Schools” (private), and Oxbridge• Ethnic Minorities: Indian (23%), Pakistan (16%),

Afro-Caribbean (12%), Black African (10%) growing numbers place demands on the social welfare system

• Problems for the UK (Threat of terrorist attacks): Distinct minority/majority cleavages, social class differences of Muslims, Pakistani Muslims, Opposition to the Iraq war, Lack of integration of minorities

Citizens, Society, and the State

• Civic Culture (Almond) in 1960 UK: Trust, deference to authority and competence, pragmatism, and harmony.

• Today: Decreasing support for labour unions, increased violence regarding Northern Ireland, Thatchersim, New Labour, Protests over the Iraq war

• Voting Behavior: 70% of the electorate vote in parliamentary elections. Voting behavior tied to social class (working class- Labour, middle class- Conservative and urban v. rural values.

Political Institutions

• Monarch- Head of State• Prime Minister- Head of Government• Parliamentary system (PM and Cabinet are

members of the legislature)• Linkage Institutions:1. Political Parties: 18th century caucuses. 19th

century Whigs (Liberal) and Tories (Conservatives) Labour emerged in the early 20th century. 3rd parties important, but never gain a majority.

Political Institutions

• Labour Party Gordon Brown : 1997 to the present. Clause 4 ended in early 1990s, brought reform to the party.

• Conservative Party David Cameron: Dominate party from WWII to 1997. Pragmatic, but moved to the center in 1990. Noblesse Oblige/ Elitist value. Annual leadership elections. Weakened by deep divisions:

1. Traditional wing (one-nation Tories): Wants the country ruled by the elite. Supports UK’s membership in the EU

2. The Thatcherite wing: Strict conservatives/full free market. Euroskeptics.

Political Institutions

• The Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg: Liberals and Social Democrats joined forces in 1989 as a compromise to the Labour and Conservative parties. Declined in 1990s. Pushed for a Bill of Rights and proportional representation. 2005, held 62 seats and won more than 22% of the vote.

• Other Parties: Plaid Cymru in Wales, Scottish National Party, Sinn Finn and Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland.

Political Institutions

• Elections: • Members of Parliament only elected national

officials. • Elections must be held at least every 5 years.

PM may call elections when he/she feels they will win the majority. Each single electoral district has 65,000 registered voters with winner-take-all. (Single-member plurality system)

• Also called first-past-the-post system. • MPs do not represent their districts.

Political Institutions

• Elections for Regional Governments:• Good Friday Agreement of 1998 (Northern

Ireland) Representation based on proportional representation.

• Proportional representation in Scotland and Wales.

• Mayor of London now directly elected. • Campaign Financing: Problem for both

major parties

Political Institutions

• Interest Groups:• Well established• Interest group pluralism• Neo-corporatism: Quangos (quasi autonomous

nongovernmental organizations) Policy advisory boards appointed by the government. Some advise on policy, others deliver public services.

• Trades Union Congress (TUC) (Labour)• Confederation of Business Industries (CBI)

(Conservative)• Third Way partnered with businesses and interest

groups to broaden its voter base

Political Institutions

• The Role of the Media• Newspapers reflect social class divisions• British Broadcasting Company (BBC)

Respected by all• Government regulates the BBC and

commercial TV.• Active cable channels• No advertisements may be sold to

politicians or parties.

Political Institutions

Institutions of National Government: 3 Branches and a bureaucracy; no separation of powers. Unitary State centered in London.

• Executive Branch: The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are chosen from Parliament. The Collective Cabinet is the center of policy-making and they take Collective Responsibility for making policy for the country.

• The Prime Minister:• Speaks legitimately for all Members of Parliament. • Chooses cabinet members and important subordinate

posts.• Makes decisions in the cabinet, with the agreement of

the ministers.• Campaigns for an represents the party in parliamentary

elections.

Political Institutions

• Legislative Branch: Bicameral Parliament: Little separation exists between the cabinet and parliament. Executive and legislative branches are fused.

• House of Commons- Controlled by one the majority party and the other party serves as the “loyal opposition.”

Political Institutions

• The House of Commons: Set-up• Long benches that face each other with a table

in-between. • The Prime Minister sits in the front and is elected

by the majority party of parliament.• The opposition leader sits across from the PM. • Cabinet members sit on the front row as well.

The shadow cabinet ( leading officials of the opposition) sits across from the cabinet.

• Less influential MPs sit in the back and are the “backbenchers.”

Political Institutions

• Debate: The “government” sits on the front row and is made up of the majority party. Question Time is held once a week and is very lively. The Speaker of the House presides over the debates.

• Party Discipline: Discipline is key. Majority party avoids losing a “vote of confidence,” a vote on a key issue. If a party loses a vote of confidence, all MPs lose their jobs. (2003 Blair faced rebellion over the war in Iraq)

• Substantial powers:1. Debate and refine potential legislation2. Are the only ones who may become party leaders and

ultimately may head the government3. Scrutinize the administration of laws4. Keep communication lines open between voters and

ministers

Political Institutions

House of Lords• Has little power.• Only hereditary parliamentary house in

existence.• May add amendments to legislation but the

House of Commons may delete them by majority vote.

• Hereditary Peers: Inherit their post. (92)• Life Peers: appointed as a result of distinguished

service. (567)

Political Institutions

The Bureaucracy: Coordinates and implements policies established by cabinet ministers.

• Stable and powerful system.• Civil servants are experts in their field. • Top civil servants have discretionary power• Ministers rely on the expertise of top civil servants. The Judiciary: Parliamentary sovereignty (parliaments

decisions are final) has limited the development of judicial review.

• Based on common law (tradition)• Highest Court: the Law Lords (An appellate court) • Judges are independent, impartial, an neutral. None are

active in politics. • Role of EU courts in the UK?

Public Policy and Current Issues

• 2005 election secured control for the Labour Party (356). Conservatives have 198 and Liberal Democratic Party has 62.

Issues:• The evolving relationship between government and the

economy.• British relationships with the EU.• Brown’s balancing act between the EU and the US. • Direction of post-Blair policy.• Terrorism.• Devolution and constitutional reform.