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Institutions of the British National Government

Institutions of the British National Government. Prime Minister & Cabinet Parliament Bureaucracy and Judiciary . Westminster Model. Westminster Model – is a democratic parliamentary system of government modeled after the political system of the United Kingdom.

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Institutions of the British National Government

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  1. Institutions of the British National Government Prime Minister & Cabinet Parliament Bureaucracy and Judiciary

  2. Westminster Model • Westminster Model– is a democratic parliamentary system of government modeled after the political system of the United Kingdom. • Term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

  3. British Government Overview • Britain is a unitary state with political authority centralized in London. • Government has three branches of government (executive, legislative, judiciary) & a bureaucracy. • Legislature (Parliament) is a bicameral system – House of Lords & House of Commons • Parliamentary System– a system of government where in the ministers of the executive branch are drawn from the legislature. • Prime Minister is the head of government; Monarchy is the head of state

  4. Prime Minister (PM) • Prime Minister– is the leader of the majority party in Parliament • Considered to be the “first among equals” • Head of Government • Leader of the legislative and executive branch – no separation of powers • Not directly elected by the people • Chooses cabinet members • Represents the party in parliamentary elections • Lives at Number 10 Downing Street Gordon Brown British Prime Minister 2007 - 2010

  5. The Cabinet • Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and the Ministers – head a major bureaucracy of the government. • Members are party leaders from Parliament chosen by the Prime Minister. • Collective Responsibility – as leaders of the majority party elected by the people, the cabinet is the center of policymaking in the British political system

  6. Parliament • Parliament is a bicameral legislature with a House of Commons and a House of Lords. House of Lords House of Commons

  7. House of Lords • Members are either Hereditary Peers – seats passed down through family ties; or Life Peers – people appointed to seat through distinguished service to Britain • Minimal power/influence • Powers to delay legislation; debate technicalities of proposed bills; add amendments to legislation (simple majority vote override by Commons)

  8. House of Commons • Consist of Members of Parliament (MPs) • Currently 646 members • Only ones who can become party leaders and ultimately the head of government (no outsiders) • True policy making house of Parliament (Parliamentary Sovereignty – the principle that Parliament’s decisions are final) • Controlled by the Prime Minister & the Majority Party

  9. House of Commons • Party Discipline – when all members of Parliament within a party vote together on every subject. • If party members do not support their leadership, the government lacks legitimacy. • Majority party wants to avoid losing a vote of confidence – a vote on a key issues. • If lost, by tradition the cabinet must resign immediately and elections for new MPs must be held ASAP

  10. House of Commons Speaker of the House Overseer of debates; not a MP; apolitical Cabinet Members Shadow Cabinet “Backbenchers” “Backbenchers” Prime Minister Leader of majority party Leader of the Opposition Leader of minority party Loyal Opposition Side Minority Party; left of the Speaker Majority Party Side right of the Speaker Leader of the Second Opposition Leader of 2nd minority party

  11. House of Commons • Question Time – once a week, the Prime Minster & cabinet must defend themselves and their policies against the opposition • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsAa9VmwOaI&feature=related (4:22) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpZhugomNJE (0:44) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dziI-ms9Kc&feature=related (9:53)

  12. British Bureaucracy • Top level bureaucrats (civil servants) are experts in their field and make a career of government service. • Have a great deal of input into policymaking (discretionary power) due to their expertise. • Their job is implement policy enacted by cabinet members. • Usually never run for office or active in party politics Whitehall Palace in London Buildings where Cabinet Offices and British Bureaucracy Offices are housed.

  13. British Judiciary • Legal system based on common law (focuses on precedent & interpretation) • Law Lords – highest court, select members of the House of Lords • Limited powers of judicial review due to the principal of parliamentary sovereignty(Parliament’s decisions are final) • Courts may not impose rulings on Parliament, the Prime Minister or the cabinet Royal Courts of Justice in London

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