The United Kingdom The British constitution The Queen – the head of the state

1. The British system of government • The United Kingdom • The British constitution • The Queen – the head of the state • The three branches of Government • Devolution • Criticism

2. The United Kingdom

4. The United Kingdom • Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England • 60 million people • 646 constituencies

5. The United Kingdom • Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England • 60 million people • 646 constituencies • one of the oldest democrasies of the world • constitutionally Monarchy

6. The British constitution • no single written document • combination of common laws and practices • constitutional Monarchy • Westminster System

7. The Queen – the head of the state

8. The Queen – the head of the state executive legislature judiciary

9. The Queen – the head of the state • many theoretical powers: • appoints the Prime Minister • can dissolve the parliament • her agreement is necessary to pass laws in reality the Queen has only a representative role

10. The Queen – the head of the state but: • she can avoid laws • she commands the army • final check on executive • power stability of democracy

11. The legislature The legislature Queen Queen The House of Parliament The House of Lords The House of Commons

12. The legislature The legislature Queen Queen The House of Parliament The House of Lords The House of Commons The agreement of all 3 is necessary to pass laws

13. The House of Parliament • maximum legislative period of 5 years • legislative period is divided into sessions

14. The House of Parliament Functions: • to pass laws • to debate about issues • to control the government

15. The House of Parliament Functions: • to pass laws • to debate about issues • to control the government Authorities • legislates for the whole United Kingdom • can prolong its legislative period • Members may not be arrested • statements may not be used as evidence

16. The House of Lords

17. The House of Lords • consists of: bishops, Law Lords, • hereditary peers and life peers • House of Lord Acts (1999) • Constitutional Reform Act (2005) • 731 members: • 603 life peers • 92 hereditary peers • 24 bishops • 12 law lords

18. The House of Lords • Functions: • control laws passed by the House of Lords • give advice • control the government • Authorities: • delay laws for one year

19. The House of Lords • Restrictions: • may not delay money bills for longer than a month • may not change laws which passed parliament • may not vote or campaign for the House of Commons • no salaries

20. The House of Lords speaker

21. The House of Lords woolsack

22. The House of Lords The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

23. The House of Commons

24. The House of Commons • consits of 646 members • England : 525 • Wales : 40 • Scotland : 59 • Northern Ireland : 18 • each member represents a constituencie

25. Elections for the House of Commons elections have to be at least every five years

26. Elections • candidate: • nomination paper • 500 pounds caution money • voter: • British resident • citizen of the United Kingdom or another Commonwealth state

27. Elections • voter: • British resident • citizen of the United Kingdom or another Commonwealth state first-past-the-post system: • safe majorities • discrimination against small parties

28. The House of Commons Rights and authorities: • motion of no confidence • question time • privilege on money bills • exclude public the more powerful chamber

29. The speaker of the House of Commons • leads the conversation • protects minorities • rights: • can exclude Members of Parliament • can stop irrelevant debates • is allowed to close the sitting

30. The House of Commons Serjeant-at-Arms

31. The House of Commons

32. The House of Commons Members of Parliament have to declare their financial interests

33. Parties the Labour Party, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats own 95% of all seats in the House of Commons

34. Parlamentarian Bills • three types of bills • Public Bills: affect general law • Private Bills: concern rights of individuals • Hybrid Bills: Public Bills that could affect individuals They are debated in committees and in the cabinet

35. The executive - the government • Prime Minister: • appointed by the queen • usually the leader of the strongest party • Unique position of authority: • holds several ministirial positions • can appoint and remove ministers • can choose the time of dessolution

36. The executive - the government • Unique position of authority: • holds several ministirial positions • can appoint and remove ministers • can choose the time of dessolution he is also controlled by parliament, but the control is weak

37. The executive - the government • Ministers: • about 20 ministers • the House of Commons can impeach them • earn 45000 to 65000 punds

38. The Privy Council The Prime Minister und his ministers have to belong to the Privy Council

39. Judiciary • no single judicial system • some courts have the authority for the whole united Kingdom • at present the House of Lords is the highes court of appeal • there are criminal and civil courts

40. Devolution • process of decentralisation • Since 1999: • Wales, Scotland and Northern • Ireland have their own parliaments • The House of Parliament can exptend or restrict rights

41. Disadvantages • power is concentrated • not much political diversity • the nobility has too much influence

42. Sources • http://britannia.com/gov/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/ • http://www.parliament.uk/ • http://www.google.de