The United Kingdom

1. The United Kingdom Kasey Bond, Evan Dean, Heather Flowers, Jessica Mendez, Emily Overfelt

2. Unitary Government • The UK has a unitary governmental structure and that consists of 4 subunits: • England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales Evan

3. Centralization in the UK • “In a unitary state, political authority is centralized. Decisions made by central government are of fundamental importance, for that are binding on all public agencies…” • The central concept of centralization in the UK is that the same standards of public policy apply everywhere in the country. • Ex. Equal funding for all schools instead of favoring more prosperous districts. • This is achieved by collection of taxes to a central source and then even distribution throughout the whole of the nation. • Elected ministers stress their accountability to a national electorate • Centralization has led to the formation of executive agencies run by non-elected officials to distribute major public services • National Health Service (NHS) is the largest of these organizations • Allocates money to medical professionals who are self-employed, but as a result of universal healthcare, receive a large majority of their wages from NHS and they must also work to the NHS’s guidelines. Evan

4. Centralization cont. • Widespread public welfare programs cost a great deal, such as the NHS. This has lead parliament to attempt to limit the increase public expenditures amid an increasing public demand for more and better services at less personal expenditure. • Ex. Parliament is trying to reduce the cost of medical supplies, which is possible due to the government having a monopoly over their purchase; and furthermore through the rationing of the supplies • This has led to longer waits for the receipt of medical services, although the UK has not adopted a popular method in use by the majority of the EU: asking citizens to pay a small portion of their medical expenses, i.e. simply government run insurance with a deductable. • The UK supports more than 1000 Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organizations • Some may provide services, while others simply provide policy Evan

5. Devolution in the UK • Devolution has given some autonomy to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. • New legislatures in Wales and Scotland. • 1998 Good Friday Agreement between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland allowed for establishment of North Irish Assembly. • Established Office of Mayor and General Assembly in London. • Regional and local authorities have greater legitimacy and more powers than in past, but central governments still controls defense policy, most taxation power, and national economic policy. • Also, the central government may limit power if it chooses to do so. Evan

6. Mixed Parliamentary System • The government of the UK consists of Parliament, The Prime Minister (Head of Government), and a monarch (Head of State). • The Prime Minister is currently David Cameron of the British Conservative Party • The monarch is currently Queen Elizabeth II of the House of Windsor Evan

7. Head of State • “The crown rather than a constitution symbolizes the authority of government. However, the monarch is only a ceremonial head of state.” • A British monarch typically serves from coronation until death, unless they decide to abdicate (step-down). • Ex. Elizabeth II has been reigning queen for the last 59 years. • While holding no true political power, the monarch gives formal assent to the laws passed by Parliament, but is not allowed to publicly state opinion about legislation. The monarch is expected to respect the will of Parliament as communicated to her by the Prime Minister. • The crown is a symbol to which people are asked to give their loyalty and is the traditional foundation of British government. Evan

8. Head of Government • The head of government of the UK is the Prime Minister • The Prime Minister is generally the leader of the ruling party in Parliament, and always the leader of his/her party, and is elected indirectly by Parliament, causing this phenomenon. • Elections are held every5 years, but there is no limit on the number of terms that a Prime Minister can hold • Ex. Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 • The office of the Prime Minister focuses primarily on foreign affairs because of the need to interact with heads of governments around the world • The PM: • guides the legislative process, usually with a goal of pushing the agenda of his/her party • appoints a cabinet from among the House of Commons and the House of Lords that generally contains members of his/her party • is the First Lord of the Treasury and this is where a majority of his power is derived from, since he controls governmental cash flow. • Has the power to deploy British forces and to declare war • Advises the monarch on the appointment of Bishops and Arch-Bishops to the Church of England • Also decides on the honors bestowed upon people by the crown Evan

9. Legislative Branch Emily • The UK has a parliamentary system • Like the US, the UK has a bicameral legislative system. • Two Parliament branches: • House of Lords • House of Commons • Queen is also part of the Legislature. She has ceremonial responsibilities and little real power

10. House of Lords • The ‘upper’ House • The representatives aren’t elected directly by the general population • Two different types of members: • Lords Spiritual are senior bishops of the Church of England • Lords Temporal are appointed by the Queen/King on the advice of the Prime Minister Emily

11. House of Commons Emily • The ‘lower’ House • Democratically elected • The ‘Chief whip’ is assigned to keep parliament attending and voting. The Chief Whip is a member of the Prime minister’s cabinet • Can be accessed by the Prime Minister so that there is some measure of control over the proceedings in parliament.

12. Jobs of the Houses (and Queen) House of Commons proposes legislation House of Lords reviews legislation proposed by the lower house and debates on whether to change amendments. The Queen formally approves the actions of the parliament, thus making it law. However, this is ONLY a formality, the Queen has no real choice. Emily

13. Backbencher Emily Backbencher- a member for Parliament who doesn’t hold governmental office. They are either a new member or a senior member. They are not chosen to sit in the ministry for or against a bill Sometimes can wield lots of power because they have not declared their opinion when there is a split legislature

14. Judicial Branch • England and Wales • The Court of Appeal, Civil Division • The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division • (limited cases) the High Court • Scotland • The Court of Session • Northern Ireland • The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland • (limited cases) the High Court Jessica

15. Judicial (cont.) • Supreme Court • highest court of all the lands • hears appeals on arguable points of law of general public importance • concentrates on cases of the greatest public and constitutional importance • maintains and develops the role of the highest court in the United Kingdom as a leader in the common law world Jessica

16. Selection of Judges • Applicants selected by President of the Court • Qualifications include: • Holding high judicial office for min. 2 years or been practicing law for 15 years • Still informal process because it’s so new Jessica

17. An “Unwritten Constitution” • Britain has a “jumble of acts of Parliament” as a constitution, nothing is actually written in one document • The Bill of Rights is meant to be secured by the leaders who govern • Since the Magna Carta no other document has been written to ensure the individual rights of the English people, but it all works • The Crown is not a constitutional symbol but rather an authority of government Jessica

18. http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/aboutus/structure/index.htmhttp://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/aboutus/structure/index.htm http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk/docs/UKSC_StoryPanel_9_1100hx800w_v6.pdf Jessica

19. Bureaucracy in Great Britain Heather Not held in one document but in the monarch Sovereignty rests in Parliament Parties consist of Conservative party, Labour party, Liberal Democrats, Liberal party, and the Social Democratic party Trades mostly with European Union rather than with the U.S. as it’s main trader Majority of population holds to a Christian based society

20. Cabinet in Great Britain Heather • Collective body of Her Majesty’s Government in the UK. • The 22 members are selected from the House of Commons, and the House of Lords by Prime Minister. • Also they are heads of government departments; e.g. Secretary of State • The Prime Minister is the Head of the organization • Treasury • Controls taxing, spending, and manage the economy which they concentrate on the most • More senior civil servants • Most important politically with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown • Ministers • Initiates policies- selecting from what they have or avoiding difficult ones • Responsible for civil actions of the people • Experts in parliamentary politics rather than one subject • Reputation depends on department success

21. Political Recruitment • Most important roles: • Cabinet minister, higher civil servant, and intermittent public person • To become a Cabinet minster, an individual must first be elected to Parliament and spend years attracting positive attention there. To ensure one to be an ambitious Cabinet minister, becoming an MP and obtaining a seat in the House of Commons is important • Higher Civil Servantsare recruited without specific professional qualifications or training. They become specialists in the difficult task of managing political ministers and government business. • Intermittent public personssuch as leaders of institutions are concerned with their own organization, and when government infringes on their business, they become concerned with politics. • Geography • There is a gap between the everyday lives of policymakers and the majority on whose behalf they act Kasey

22. Participation • Elections are the one opportunity people have to influence government directly. • Turnout at general elections has averaged 77% since 1950. • The wider the definition of political participation the greater the number who can be said to be at least indirectly or intermittently involved in politics. Kasey

23. Other important things to know • Government is seen in many aspects • Queen’s gov’t- nonpartisan features • Blair’s gov’t- personal or transitory • Labour (Conservative) gov’t- partisanship • Whitehall is the executive agencies • Downing Street represents Prime Minister • Parliament- House of Commons and House of Lords • All together is Westminister Jessica

24. Civil Service • All the hard working people keeping activity in bureaucracy • The job includes summarizing long papers, looking at graphs, relating to people • Power is often abuses because there is no check on ministers by the Parliament • Until 2005 information on policymaking was never released by the government • Politicians don’t hesitate to lie about what is really going on • As a result roughly 1/3 of Britons truly trust their government Jessica

25. References Comparative Politics Today http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/aboutus.htm