The British Political System Flashcards

Flashcards on the British Political System

Executive

The part of the government that makes sure laws are followed and put into action. In the UK, it's usually led by the Prime Minister.

Legislative

The branch of government responsible for making laws, consisting of elected representatives in Parliament.

Judiciary

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice, including the courts in the UK.

Evolutionary Changes in Political System

weakening of monarchical power and extension of the franchise, growth of political parties, centralisation of power with uk parliament and Uk PM in london ^{→ devolution}

British Political System

A very flexible system with no written constitution (only constitutional documents) and a centralized power in London.

12th Century

Marks beginnings of invasion of Ireland.

13th Century

Marks conquest of Wales.

1536 and 1543

Acts of Union with Wales.

1603

Union of the Crowns with Scotland.

1707

Act of Union with Scotland

Created the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

1801

Act of Union with Ireland

Created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

1215

Magna Carta

Increases aristocratic liberties and restricts the power of the monarchy and sheriffs; no imprisonment without trial

Late 13th c.

Model Parliament under Edward I with Lords / Bishops and Commons chambers.

1407

House of Commons became responsible for taxation

Tudor Absolutism

Royal dominance under the Tudors.

Partly result of the war of roses

Parliament vs. Charles I/James 2

Parliament asserted its rule against Charles 1 and James 2 ;

Charles I was beheaded.

James 2 goes into exile

1688/9

The Glorious Revolution

England becomes a constitutional monarchy.

Decleration of rights strengthens power of Parliament futher

Political System in the 18th Century

Division into:

Executive branch (monarch & Privy Council),

legislative (House of Commons, Lords & monarch).

Political system in 18th

Parliament gains influence as Hanoverian Kings showed little interest in British politics rule with whigs politicans (supportes Glorious Revolution)

RObert Walpole - first ‘PM’

Robert Walpole

First 'Prime Minister' (1720-1742).

18th/19th Century Developments

Ministers become responsible to Parliament.

Parliamentary Cabinet → Privy Council

Largest minority → ‘Official Opposition’

Growing influence of House of Commons - opposed of House of Lords

• Parliament Act of 1911 & 1949

Reform Acts 1832, 1867 and 1884

1832: extends franchise; 500k → 800k middle class men (no working class) → The Chartist movement (working-class reform movement)

1867,1884: extends franchise; redistribute constituencies

1918 Franchise Extension (suffrage)

All males over 21 and some women over 30 receive franchise.

1928 Franchise Extension (suffrage)

All males and females over 21 able to vote.

1969 Franchise Extension

Age limit reduced to 18.

Parliament in Edinburgh (1998).

Devolution - Scotland

Established the Scotland Assembly, allowing Scotland to use its own powers

Assemblies in Belfast (1998).

Devolution - Northern Ireland

established the Northern Ireland assembly, granting NI its own legislative power

Assemblies in Cardiff (1998).

Devolution - Wales

established the Wales Assembly, enable Wales to rule in certain local matters

Local institutions responsible for

Education, health, transport, home affairs.

UK parliament responsible for

Defence, foreign politics, social security, taxation and immigration.

British Political System

flexible system with no written constitution.(merely constitutional documents as Magna Carta)

Britain as a moder of parliamentarism and democracy

Party System in the 18th c.

Emergence of early political parties.

• whigs (protestant; sympathetic to Dissenters and ‘Glorious Revolution’) Liberal Party (pro soc. reform,progressive) decline:1918

• tories (great respect for powers of monarchy and the Anglican church)1830s Concervatives (Traditional, links with Church of England)

→ 2 part system

Labour Party

rise to sterength in inter-war years

Close relationship with unions and working class, emphasize social justice

Conservatives

Traditionally right of centre; minimal gavernment interference, intermal law and order

Vote : richer sections of society

Labour

Traditionally left of centre equal oppotunities

vote: traditionally working class

Liberal Democrats

Centre, slightly left-winged; pro-Europe and environment)

Vote: middle class

Plaid Cymru

‘party of Wales’.

Scottish National Party

Current majority in Scotland.

John Swinney - First Minister

DUP

Democratic Unionist Party

by Ian Paisley.

Reform UK Party

Formerly Brexit Party.

by Nagel Farage

Sadiq Khan

Labour, current Major of London.

Michelle O'Neill

Sinn Féin, First Minister of Northern Ireland

Nigel Farage

Reform UK.

The Monarch

Oldest secular institution.

sovereign only be will of parliament and acceptance of people

Formal Powers of Monarch

Head of state, executive, judicative, legislative.

‘supreme governor’ of church of England

commander-in-chief of armed forces

Important official functions of the Monarch

Opening and closing of parliament.

International representation

Giving Royal Assent to bills passed by parliament

Opening of Parliament

Annual event, usually in November.

Lavish ceremony:

• preparation(e.g. Searching of cellars, arrival of Imperial State Crown.)

• arrival of monarch

• summoning og the commons

• delivery of speech

Parliament

Legal sovereign.

• creates,abolishes or amends law

• votes the budget

• representation parts of Uk

• controls government

Parliament consists of

House of Lords, House of Commons, and the monarch.

House of Commons

Elected ca. every 5 years.

± 650 members (represent 1 constituency)

presided over by Mr/madam speaker

House of Lords

Lords spiritual (2 Archbishops; 23 senior Archbishops)

Lords Temporal( 88 elected, hereditary peers;)

presided by Lord chancellor (formely);

Lord/ Lady speaker (now) ← constitutional reform act of 2005

Independent expertise

independent crossbenchers

The prime Minister

First Lord of the Treasury

Leaderof majority party/ appointed by monarh

appoints ministers, leader of Executive

10 Downing street

The Cabinet

Executive Body (senior ministers)

presided over by Prime Minister, meeting twice a week, taking decisions on policies.

The Government

± 100 members of majority party

The Shadow Cabinet

Controls cabinet, formed by the opposition

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Chief financial minister.

previously held by PM

Hung Parliament

No one party controls a majority of House of Commons.→ need a coalition

Procedure: former PM may try and form majority or rule without one; if not →PM will resign

2017 Election: tory government with DUP toleration

Winston Churcill

1940-1945; 1951-1955

leader in ww2, a british hero

Clement Attlee

Radical reform programme which lay the foundation of the welfare state (1945-1951)

Margaret Thatcher

Politics of privatisation, conflict with unions, the Falkland's War (1979-1990)

John Major

1990-1997 Tory

Recent Prime Ministers

• Toby Blair: labour; devolution, Northern Ireland Agreement, Iraq War

• Gordon Brown: Labour, chancellor of the Excherquer unde Blair

• David Cameron: Tory 2010-2016 Tory

• Theresa May: 2016-2019 Tory

• Boris Johnson: Major of london and Foreign Secretary; Leave compaign in 2016; concervative party

• Liz Truss: Tory; PM for 50 days

• Rushi Sunak: Tory, privious Chancellor of the Exchequer;

• Sir Keir Starmer: Labour, was Lawyer

Election

every 5 years: ± 650 constiturncie(±66k voters) (each elects 1 MP)

‘First-past-the-post’ system (simple majority vote)

By-elections