AP COMP GOV UNIT 2: UK

Full name of the UK

United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland

Four nations that comprise the UK

England + Scotland + Wales + Northern Ireland

Democratization of the UK

Gradual, spanning many centuries

1832 Reform Act

Doubled the size of the electorate but more than 90% of adults were still excluded (including women!)

Describe the democratization of the UK

• Gradual, spanning many centuries

  • Initially represented only the aristocracy, but expanded to include a house for the commoners

• 1832 Reform Act: doubled the size of the electorate but more than 90% of adults were still excluded (including women!)

• 1928: Women over 21 allowed the right to vote

• 1969: Voting age reduced to 18

Majoritarian

Virtually unchecked power of a parliamentary majority in the UK political system

Distinct features of UK democracy

Majority party can enact with few checks, no formal constitutional limit on central government, few judicial restraints, no local authorities or constitutional sanctions to dilute the government power

Division of power in the UK

Unitary: the central or national government (Parliament) has complete authority over all the political divisions or administrative units

Devolution

Powers granted to regional and local governments

Scotland Act 1998

Established Scotland regional government

Government of Wales Act

Established Wales regional government

Good Friday Peace Accords

Established Northern Ireland regional government

Executive system of the UK

Parliamentary

Head of state in the UK

Monarch

Head of government in the UK

Prime Minister

UK legislative system

Bicameral: Lower house = House of Commons, Upper house = House of Lords

Structure of the House of Commons

650 Members representing individual districts, maximum terms of 5 years, follows party lead typically but occasionally acts independently

Structure of the House of Lords

Upper house, traditionally aristocratic, about 800 peers, includes Hereditary Peers, Life Peers, 26 Anglican Bishops, and Law Lords

Major power of the House of Lords

Can delay laws

Electoral system of the UK

Single member districts with plurality 'First past the Post', 650 constituencies elect one MP each, constituencies based on population, revised every 5-7 years

Chief judicial body of the UK

Supreme Court

UK constitution

No single document, many different acts of parliament, judicial decisions, and traditions and customs

How is the UK constitution different from other countries’ constitutions?

• No single document, many different acts of parliament, judicial decisions, and traditions and customs 

  1. 1215 Magna Carta

  2. 1689 Bill of Rights

  3. 1707 Act of Union

• Can be amended with majority parliament vote

• Anything parliament passes is constitutional (Parliamentary Sovereignty)

• Constitution is more flexible, increased responsiveness and speed

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Anything parliament passes is constitutional

Branches of government in the UK

Crown + Legislature + Prime Minister + Cabinet + Judiciary

Powers/limitations of the crown

Can only act on behest of the Cabinet, must follow orders of elected representatives, declares the PM but must be the leader of the majority party in parliament in lower house, commander of the armed forces but the PM declares wars and signs treaties

How is the Crown a hereditary institution?

Eldest inherits the throne

• Primogeniture abolished 2011

• Parliament has the power to select the monarch (Ex: 1701 Hanovers → Stuarts)

Powers of the Prime Minister

Head of Government, selects the cabinet, strong legislative power: Parliamentary majority = approval of legislation, strong party discipline, few checks on central government power.

Prime Minister's limitations

Less power in a slim majority parliament or coalition government.

Maximum term of Prime Minister

5 years, but unlimited number of terms.

Fixed-term parliaments act

States that prime minister serves a maximum term of 5 years, but unlimited number of terms

Vote of No Confidence

Legislative check on government whereby a government deems a measure to be of high importance, it fails to pass, leading to the government (prime minister and cabinet) to resign or hold new parliamentary elections.

Roles of the Prime Minister

Maintain support of MPs, weekly televised question period in legislature, directs cabinet activity, guides party elections to victory and holds together coalitions, diplomats and world leaders, 2+ decades of political experience.

Fusion of power

Prime minister serves as executive and legislative powers.

Member of Parliament

An individual legislator in the house of commons.

Structure of the Cabinet

20 members known as ministers, all MPs, separate from legislature as an executive branch, each preside over individual departments.

Example of Cabinet departments

Ex) foreign office: Foreign policy; home office: judiciary; exchequer: financial policy.

Collective responsibility

All members of cabinet either support a government policy or they must resign.

Example of UK government valuing tradition

Black Rod: Symbolic of separation of power between the monarchy and the house of commons.

UK as a Nanny State

National Health Service est. 1948, other policies established to ensure employments, pensions, healthcare, assistance.

 What is the judicial branch of the UK?

• Supreme Court

  • Rule of Law

  • Judicial review, not for parliament

Margaret Thatcher and Neoliberalism

Margaret Thatcher = Conservative Party PM from 1979-1990, 'Iron Lady' reversed economic stagnation and social democratic policies.

Thatcher's economic policies

Sold housing units to occupants to increase private homeowners, poll tax to move tax burden to all citizens, blamed weak economy on socialist policies, privatized business and industry, implemented austerity measures, tough on labor unions, returned to market force controls economy.

What is the significance of Margaret Thatcher and Neoliberalism?

Margaret Thatcher = Conservative Party PM from 1979-1990; “Iron Lady” reversed economic stagnation and social democratic policies; Sold housing units to occupants to increase private homeowners; Poll tax to move tax burden to all citizens; Blamed weak economy on socialist policies; Privatized business and industry; Implemented austerity measures; Tough on labor unions; Returned to market force controls economy 

Connection to Neoliberalism: Classic liberal revival promoting free competition, reduced regulation, reduced social spending

Tony Blair's contributions to Labour Party

Tony Blair = Labour Party PM 1997-2007, 'New Labour Party' and 'Third Way', reinvented the party, rejected ties with trade unions, emphasized partnerships with businesses, devolved power to regional and local governments, new legislatures in Scotland and Wales, reforms to the house of lords.

Conservative Liberal Coalition

2010 Election led to a hung parliament with no majority → Conservatives and Liberal Democrats band together to create a majority party.

Current Prime Minister of the UK

Keir Starmer of the Labour Party.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Anything that parliament decides is automatically constitutional.

2+ party system

A political system where multiple parties exist, but two major parties dominate.

Hung parliament

A situation where no party has a majority in parliament.

Majority party

The party that holds the most seats in parliament and has legislative control.

Prime Minister

The leader of the majority party in parliament, also referred to as 'First among equals.'

Loyal Opposition

The minority party in parliament that critiques the majority party.

Conservative Party

One of the two major political parties in the UK, known for its neoliberalism and decreased taxation.

Labour Party

One of the two major political parties in the UK, known for advocating government intervention.

Liberal Democrats

The major third party in the UK, centrist, and part of the 2010-2015 coalition government.

SNP

Scottish National Party, a major regional party in Scotland.

Sinn Fein

An Irish republican and democratic socialist political party advocating for the unification of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Plaid Cymru

A nationalist political party in Wales that advocates for independence.

Insularity

The belief that Britain is separate from the rest of Europe and uninterested in mainland affairs.

Noblesse oblige

The obligation of the rich to take care of the poor, contributing to the welfare state.

Multinational state

A state that encompasses many different cultures and backgrounds.

Gradualism

The process of change occurring slowly over many centuries.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals learn and develop their political beliefs and values.

European Union

A supranational organization that transcends countries and can pressure member states into compliance.

Treaty of Accession 1972

An agreement that aligned the UK with Europe and European communities.

Maastricht Treaty of 1992

The treaty that created the official European Union.

Cleavages in society

Divisions within society based on class, race, and religion.

UK's main cleavages

The primary divisions in the UK based on religion, regionalism, and wealth.

Brexit

The event in 2016 where the UK voted to leave the European Union.

Quangos

Quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations that assist the government in policy making.

Trade Union Congress (TUC)

The largest trade union confederation in the UK and the most important British interest group.

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

The most important business organization in the UK representing the private sector.