Lecture U.K

8/12/2019 Lecture U.K.

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Country Studies:

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Capital: LondonArea: 244,1! "#$are %ilometer"Official Lang$age: &ngli"h'op$lation: (2,41,)* +21

'olitical Indicator"

Go-ernment: Unitar. 'arliamentar. /emocrac.and Con"tit$tional 0onarch.

0onarch: $een &lia3eth II'rime 0ini"ter: /a-id Cameron

&ec$ti-e: 'rime 0ini"ter and Ca3inetLegi"lat$re: Bicameral 5o$"e" of 'arliamentUpper 5o$"e: 5o$"e of Lord"Lo6er 5o$"e: 5o$"e of Common"'art. 7tr$ct$re": 0$lti part. "."tem

&conomic Indicator"

Gro"" /ome"tic 'rod$ct: 8291*! trillion +2 e"t9G/' per capita 8!4,(1 +2 e"t9/i"tri3$tion of GN': 7er-ice" );, ind$"tr. 2;, agric$lt$re 1;

Ur3an pop$lation: *;

7ocial Indicator"

5$man /e-elopment Inde: 94) +21"t -er. highInfant mortalit. rate: ( per 1, li-e 3irth"Life epectanc.: ))9! .ear"Illiterac.: ; of people aged 1< and older =eligion": 'redominantl. 'rote"tanti"m, 6ith

Catholic and 're"3.terian minoritie"

>he United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland i" act$all. fo$r co$ntrie" in one:Great Britain ? made $p of &ngland, 7cotland and @ale" and Northern Ireland9 &nglandpredominate" 3eca$"e it con#$ered and a""imilated the other": 3eca$"e it i" home to more thanfo$r o$t of fi-e Briton", and 3eca$"e London i" the 6ealthie"t part of the co$ntr., and i" thepolitical, financial, c$lt$ral, and comm$nication" capital of Britain +0cCormic%, 249


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It 6a" the 6orld" fir"t ind$"trialied co$ntr. and the 6orld" foremo"t po6er d$ring the 1th andearl. 2th cent$rie", 3$t the economic and "ocial co"t of t6o 6orld 6ar" and the decline of it"empire in the latter half of the 2th cent$r. dimini"hed it" leading role in glo3al affair"9 >heUnited Kingdom i" al"o a recognied n$clear po6er "tate and ha" the third or fo$rth highe"tdefen"e "pending in the 6orld +en6i%ipedia9org9

>he United Kingdom i" ro$tinel. incl$ded in co$r"e" on comparati-e politic", for "e-eralimportant rea"on": ir"t, it 6a" the 3irthplace of the parliamentar. "."tem", element" of 6hichare fo$nd in e-er. li3eral democrac.9 7econd, it 6a" the 3irthplace of the ind$"trial re-ol$tionand ha" long had an important infl$ence on economic de-elopment" in the re"t of the 6orld9>hird, it i" a leading mem3er of all %e. international organiation", nota3l. NA>O, the UN7ec$rit. Co$ncil, the &$ropean Union and the G* gro$p of maDor economic po6er"+0cCormic%, 249

II. Political Develoment

!. "arly Invasion from the Continent of "uroe

>he nati-e people of the Briti"h I"le" 6ere the Celt", 6ho arri-ed 3et6een * and 2BCE the. are the ance"tor" of the Iri"h, 7cot", and @el"h of toda.9 >he =oman" in-aded in

Until a3o$t * .ear" ago, Britain ? li%e all of &$rope ? 6a" a fe$dal "ociet.9 7o-ereignpo6er la. in the hand" of monarch", 6ho r$led 3. di-ine right and go-erned the pea"ant maDorit.thro$gh a land o6ning ari"tocrac.9 /ecline in the po6er of the monarch" and ari"tocrat" 3egan6hen King Hohn "igned the 0agna Carta in 121


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in 1

/$ring the 1*th cent$r., Britain 6a" a gro6ing mercantili"t "tate that ha" priorit. infinding ne6 mar%et" and "o$rce" of ra6 material"9 >ho$gh Britain lo"t it" >hirteen Colonie",6hich 3ecame the United 7tate", it had gained ne6 colonie" in Africa, A"ian 7$3continent,A$"tralia, Ne6 ealand, the Cari33ean, 7o$thea"t A"ia and 7o$thea"t A"ia9 @ith the"e ne6colonie", Britain e"ta3li"hed ne6 mar%et" for it" good" and 3ro$ght 6ealth to the empire9

Britain 6a" a3le to maintain it" -a"t empire 3eca$"e it 6a" a3le to control the maDor "ealane" of the 6orld and protect it" national intere"t 6ith it" po6erf$l na-. and arm.9 At it" heightd$ring the late Fictorian era, the Briti"h &mpire incl$ded a3o$t a #$arter of the 6orld"pop$lation9 J>he "$n ne-er "et" in Great Britain9

>he 3eginning of the end for the Briti"h &mpire came 6ith @orld @ar I, 6hen the creamof a generation of .o$ng Briti"h men died in that 6ar9 Briti"h decline contin$e d$ring @orld @ar

II, 6hen the United 7tate" and the 7o-iet Union emerged a" the ne6 "$perpo6er"9 After the 6ar,Britain" econom. 6a" de-a"tated, it" political infl$ence dimini"hed, it" eport earning" andmerchant "hipping hal-ed, and mo"t of it" colonie" 6ere agitating for independence9

>he po"t6ar period "a6 the completion of a 6elfare "tate and the "hift to a managedeconom.9 A National 5ealth 7er-ice 6a" created that pro-ided free care for almo"t e-er.oneEthere 6a" an epan"ion of 6elfare for the $nemplo.ed, the ill, and familie" 6ith children, and3a"ic "er-ice" "$ch a" railroad" and the "teel ind$"tr. 6ere nationalied +Almond, et al9, 249

7$cceeding Con"er-ati-e go-ernment" agreed to follo6 ro$ghl. the "ame policie", and ?6hether the Con"er-ati-e" or La3or 6ere in po6er ? Briti"h politic" 3ecame dri-en 3. con"en"$"on the maintenance of 6elfare and of managing economic demand "o a" to "$"tain f$llemplo.ment +Almond, et al9, 249

#. United Kingdom 1oday

0em3er"hip in the &$ropean Union ha" com3ined 6ith the effect" of >hatcheri"m to3ring great change to Britain9 It i" -i"i3le in the rene6al of citie", in the ri"e of entreprene$rial"pirit that ha" tran"formed the attit$de" of 3$"ine"" and ind$"tr., and in the gro6th of the middlecla"" and the con"$mer "ociet.9 In 2!, >he United Kingdom Doin" the United 7tate" in it"in-a"ion of Ira# and it" 6ar on terror9 Britain" ne6 prime mini"ter /a-id Cameron i" leader ofCon"er-ati-e 'art. +0cCormic%, 249

British Government:

According to Hohn 0cCormic%, the "tr$ct$re of the Briti"h Go-ernment i" a Con"tit$tional0onarch.1and a 'arliamentar. "."tem9 In Britain, the monarch r$le" 3$t doe" not go-ern, theparliament i" "o-ereign and the prime mini"ter ha" the re"pon"i3ilit. and a$thorit. o-er thego-ernment9 >he "tr$ct$re of the Briti"h go-ernment can 3e "$mmaried in "i principle":

1A "."tem of go-ernment 6herein the monarch" po6er and a$thorit. in the go-ernment i" limited 3. an ei"tingcon"tit$tion or "et of la6"9 >he parliament a""$me" the po6er and a$thorit. in the go-ernment 6ho"e mem3er" areelected 3. the people9 rom the principle of "ocial contract theor.9


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It i" a $nitar. "tate in 6hich mo"t "ignificant political po6er" are concentrated in the

national go-ernment9

>here i" a f$"ion of the eec$ti-e and legi"lati-e department, the prime mini"ter and it"

ca3inet tho$gh 3elong to the eec$ti-e department are al"o mem3er" of the legi"lati-edepartment9 Unli%e in o$r co$ntr. 6here there i" a "."tem of "eparation of po6er"92

It i" a con"tit$tional monarch. in 6hich the monarch ha" ".m3olic po6er, 3$t the primemini"ter i" the tr$e political leader9

'arliament i" "o-ereign, meaning that it ha" the $ltimate po6er and right to ma%e or

a3oli"h an. la6 it 6i"he"9

>here i" a 3elief in re"pon"i3le go-ernment, meaning that the go-ernment mini"ter" are

re"pon"i3le to 'arliament for the management of their department"9

Britain i" a mem3er of the &$ropean Union!and th$" i" "$3Dect to the common la6" and

policie" of the &U +0cCormic%, 24 pp9 !9

British Constitution

>he Briti"h people did not ha-e an ei"ting 6ritten con"tit$tion9 >he. 3elie-e thatgo-ernment "ho$ld contin$o$"l. e-ol-e to meet the changing demand" of the people9 >heircon"tit$tion i" in a form of a3"tract, con"i"ting of la6" and c$"tom" that ha-e the "ame f$nctiona" a "ingle 6ritten doc$ment9 7o$rce" of Briti"h con"tit$tion are a" follo6":

Common la6 ? D$dgment" handed do6n o-er time 3. Briti"h co$rt" +"tare deci"i"9

Among the more "ignificant are tho"e dealing 6ith freedom of epre""ion and the"o-ereignt. of 'arliament9

7tat$te la6 or act" of the 'arliament ? thi" o-erride common la6 and ha-e the effect of

con"tit$tional la69 >he. incl$de la6" that o$tline the relati-e po6er" of the t6o ho$"e"

of parliament9 &$ropean la6 ? "ince Britain i" "$3Dect to la6" adopted 3. the &U, 6hich o-erride

Briti"h la6" 6here the t6o conflict, in tho"e polic. area" 6here the &U ha" primar.a$thorit.E thi" incl$de trade, agric$lt$re, "ocial i""$e", and the en-ironment9

>radition" and con-ention" ? it do not ha-e the force of la6 3$t ha-e 3een follo6ed for

"o long that the. are regarded a" 3inding9

Commentarie" ? 6ritten 3. legal l$minarie" that "er-e al"o a" reference"9

2 In a rep$3lican "."tem of go-ernment, the go-ernment i" di-ided among three "eparate 3ranche": legi"lati-e,eec$ti-e and D$diciar.9 &ach department i" coe#$al 6ith each other and ha" a re"pecti-e mandate and f$nction inthe go-ernment9!It i" a "$cce""f$l economic and political $nion of 2) mem3er"tate", located primaril. in &$rope9It 6a" e"ta3li"hed3. >reat. of 0aa"tricht on 1 No-em3er 1!, $pon the fo$ndation" of the preei"ting &$ropean &conomicComm$nit.9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_member_statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Maastrichthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_member_statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Maastrichthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Community


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1he British 2onarch

>he &ngli"h Ci-il @ar re"$lted in the limitation of po6er and f$nction of the monarch 3.the 'arliament9 >oda., the Briti"h monarch r$le" 3$t doe" not go-ern, and "er-e a" ".m3ol of theBriti"h people and it" head of "tate9 >ho$gh po6erle"" a" it ma. "eem, nonethele"", the Briti"h

monarch ha" "ome Jre"er-e po6er" left at it" di"po"al:

7he ha" the right to di""ol-e the 'arliament and call for ne6 election", altho$gh in

practice "he doe" thi" onl. at the re#$e"t of the prime mini"ter9

>he #$een gi-e" her a""ent a" the =o.al A""ent to e-er. piece of legi"lation9

>heoreticall., "he ha" the "ame right to -eto a" in o$r pre"ident, 3$t the la"t time amonarch -etoed a piece of legi"lation 6a" in 1))9

7he meet" 6ith the prime mini"ter at confidential 6ee%l. meeting", d$ring 6hich "he ha"

the right Jto 3e con"$lted, the right to enco$rage and the right to 6arn9 7he al"o ha"acce"" to "ecret go-ernment doc$ment"9

If no part. ha" an a3"ol$te maDorit. after an election, the #$een "tep" in a" an ar3itrator,

and ? on the ad-ice of the prime mini"ter ? can name the per"on "he thin%" i" mo"t li%el.in practical term" to 3e a3le to form a go-ernment9 $een &lia3eth ha" had to do thi""ince "he came to the throne in 1


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#oundations of the Prime 2inister4s !uthority:

'o6er to call election" to the 5o$"e of Common" ? election of the mem3er" of the 5o$"e

of Common i" held e-er. < .ear", and prime mini"ter" 6ill $"$all. call them 6hen thepoll" "$gge"t that their part. ha" the 3e"t chance of 6inning9 On rare occa"ion", the. ma.

ha-e to call an election 3eca$"e the. ha-e lo"t a parliamentar. -ote or the "$pport of theirpart.9

'o6er of appointment of the ca3inet mini"ter" ? the prime mini"ter appoint" mem3er" of

the ca3inet ? 6ho are al"o mem3er" of the 5o$"e Common"9 >he prime mini"ter decide"on the "ie of the ca3inet, call" and chair" ca3inet meeting", appoint" and remo-e"mem3er" of the ca3inet and other "enior go-ernment official", re"h$ffle" the ca3inet, andcan e-en organie go-ernment department"9

Briti"h prime mini"ter" are con"idered "ea"oned politician" 6ho ha-e 6or%ed their 6a.$p thro$gh the ran%" of their part. and 'arliament9 >he. m$"t 3e mem3er" of the 5o$"e ofCommon" and $"$all. "er-e a long apprentice"hip 3efore 6inning the leader"hip of their partie"9

'rime mini"ter" are the part. leader" of the political part. that achie-ed the maDorit. of "eat" inthe 5o$"e of Common"9

>he prime mini"ter admini"ter" the go-ernment 6ith the help of the ca3inet of mini"ter"6hich are con"i"t" of "enior go-ernment department" n$m3ering a3o$t 2 to 24 in all9 $"ion ofthe eec$ti-e and legi"lati-e department i" pre"ent in the Briti"h go-ernment, "ince the ca3inet ofmini"ter" are al"o mem3er" of the 'arliament9 >he ca3inet i" directl. re"pon"i3le to the'arliament and the 'rime mini"ter9 If the prime mini"ter decided to di"mi"" one of hi" ca3inetmini"ter, "till the ca3inet di"mi""ed 3. the prime mini"ter 6ill remain a mem3er of theparliament9 >he ca3inet f$nction" on the 3a"i" of collecti-e re"pon"i3ilit., meaning that once itha" made a polic. deci"ion, all mem3er" are epected to "$pport that deci"ion in p$3licregardle"" of their per"onal feeling" and to ta%e re"pon"i3ilit. for it" "$cce"" or fail$re9 If the

go-ernment lo"e" an important -ote in 'arliament, or -ote of confidence, the 6hole ca3inet i"epected to re"ign +0cCormic%, 249

1he Parliament:

5ouse of 6ords

>he 5o$"e of Lord" i" the $pper ho$"e of the Briti"h 'arliament, the Lord" recall" theda." 6hen Britain 6a" r$led 3. ari"tocrat"9 0em3er" m$"t 3e peer", 6hich meant ? $ntil 1 ?that the. 6ere either hereditar. or 6ere appointed to the 5o$"e for a life term a" a re6ard forp$3lic "er-ice or political lo.alt.9 Nearl. 1,2 peer" had the right to "it in the Lord", altho$gh

onl. a3o$t * e-er act$all. attended, and onl. a3o$t ! 6ere reg$lar participant" ? mem3er"6ho attended recei-ed no "alar., onl. epen"e"9 0em3er" of the 5o$"e of Lord" 6ere notelected, "o it 6a" 3oth $nrepre"entati-e and $ndemocratic, 3$t it had little po6er9

It co$ld introd$ce it" o6n legi"lation, and all 3ill" going thro$gh 'arliament had to 3e

appro-ed 3. the Lord"9

It "er-e a" a $"ef$l point of acce"" for lo33.i"t"9


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/$ring the 1*", there ha" 3een a mo-ement initiated 3. the La3or 'art. to a3oli"h the5o$"e of Lord" altogether9 In"tead, the go-ernment of 'rime mini"ter >on. Blair too% amoderate po"ition 3. remo-ing the right" of hereditar. peer" to "it in the 5o$"e in 1,appointed a commi""ion to decide 6hat form the ne6 cham3er "ho$ld ta%e9 >he tran"itional5o$"e of Lord" no6 ha" fo$r %ind" of mem3er":

A gro$p of 2 hereditar. peer" 6ho ha-e 3een allo6ed to "ta. on pending the net

"tage in the proce"" of reform9

=eligio$" leader", con"i"ting of the t6o arch3i"hop" and 24 3i"hop" of the Ch$rch of

&ngland9

>he La6 Lord" ? the"e are 2* nominated D$dge" 6ho f$nction a" the "$preme co$rt of

appeal for ci-il and criminal ca"e"9 >he. are headed 3. a Lord Chancellor and holdtheir po"ition" $ntil the age of )9

Life peer" ? n$m3ering a3o$t (, the"e are mainl. people 6ho ha-e 3een in p$3lic

"er-ice and are re6arded 6ith a life peerage 3. the $een on the recommendation ofthe prime mini"ter9

5ouse of Commons

>he 5o$"e of Common" i" the lo6er ho$"e of the Briti"h parliament and it" morepo6erf$l cham3er than the 5o$"e of Lord"9 It i" compo"e of (o enco$rage de3ate, the cham3er of the 5o$"e of Common ha" 3een deli3eratel. %ept"mall, 6ith 3enche" rather than "eat"9 >he go-erning part. "it" on one "ide, 6ith the primemini"ter and "enior mini"ter" on the front 3ench9 0em3er" of the 'arliament 6itho$tgo-ernment office, or 6ith onl. D$nior office, "it 3ehind the front 3ench and are %no6n a"3ac%3encher"9 >he "econd 3igge"t part. in the 'arliament "it" acro"" from the go-erning part.and act" a" the official oppo"ition9

>he real 6or% of the 'arliament i" done in committee", 6here "peciali"t" go o-er thedetail" of 3ill" and in-ite o$t"ide epert" to gi-e te"timon.9 >he cham3er of the Common" i"normall. #$iet and "par"el. attended9 0em3er" of the Briti"h parliament ha-e the a$thorit. to#$e"tion or to ha-e a con-er"ation 6ith the 'rime 0ini"ter d$ring the #$e"tion ho$r ? a halfho$r"e""ion that i" held e-er. @edne"da. afternoon, d$ring 6hich the mem3er" of the parliament can

a"% the prime mini"ter for information on go-ernment polic. +0cCormic%, 249

1he 7udiciary

>he Co$rt of Appeal and the 5o$"e of Lord" "er-e" a" the D$diciar. that admini"ter"lo6er co$rt" in all of the United Kingdom9 0em3er" of the 5o$"e of Lord" that "er-e a" La6Lord" hear" the appeal" in fi-e per"on 3enche"9 Appointment" to the higher co$rt" are made


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either 3. the Lord Chancellor +6ho i" part of the ca3inet or 3. the prime mini"ter aftercon"$ltation 6ith the Lord Chancellor, "o the. are highl. political9

7ince the United Kingdom i" a mem3er of the &$ropean Union, the Briti"h go-ernment"$3mitted a certain degree of it" "o-ereignt. to the &U9 It i" mandated to carr. o$t it"o3ligation", hence, the Briti"h go-ernment ac%no6ledge" the role that the &$ropean Co$rt of

H$"ticehe admini"trati-e geograph. of the United Kingdomi" comple, m$ltila.ered and non$niform a" each co$ntr. of the United Kingdom ha" it" o6n "."tem of admini"trati-e andgeographic demarcation 6ith origin" that predate the United Kingdom it"elf9 Con"e#$entl.,there i" no common "trat$m of admini"trati-e $nit encompa""ing the United Kingdom9 Untilthe 1th cent$r. there 6a" little change to tho"e arrangement", 3$t "ince then there ha" 3een acon"tant e-ol$tion of role and f$nction9 Change did not occ$r in &ngland, Northern Ireland,7cotland and @ale" in a $niform manner, and the de-ol$tion of po6er o-er local go-ernment to

7cotland, @ale" and Northern Ireland mean" that f$t$re change" are $nli%el. to 3e $niformeither9 Britain, 3. contra"t, i" a $nitar. "tate, 6here local go-ernment $nit" ha-e "o littleindependent po6er that the. can 3e reformed, re"tr$ct$red, or e-en a3oli"hed 3. the nationalgo-ernment9

>he organiation of local go-ernment in &ngland i" comple, 6ith the di"tri3$tion off$nction" -ar.ing according to the local arrangement"9 Legi"lation concerning local go-ernmentin &nglandi" decided 3. the UK parliament and the go-ernment of the United Kingdom, 3eca$"e&ngland doe" not ha-e a de-ol-ed parliament9

Local go-ernment in Northern Irelandha", "ince 1)!, 3een organied into 2(di"trict co$ncil", each elected 3. "ingle tran"fera3le -ote6ith po6er" limited to "er-ice" li%ecollecting 6a"te, controlling dog", and maintaining par%" and cemeterie"9

Local go-ernment in 7cotlandi" di-ided on a 3a"i" of !2 co$ncil area",6ith 6ide -ariation in 3oth "ie and pop$lation9 >he citie" of Gla"go6, &din3$rgh, A3erdeenand/$ndee are "eparate co$ncil area" a" al"o i" 5ighland Co$ncil, 6hich incl$de" a third of7cotland" area 3$t D$"t o-er 2, people9 >he po6er in-e"ted in local a$thoritie" i"admini"tered 3. elected co$ncilor", of 6hich there are c$rrentl. 1,222 6ho are each paid a parttime "alar.9 &lection" are cond$cted 3. "ingle tran"fera3le -otein m$ltimem3er 6ard" that electeither three or fo$r co$ncilor"9

Local go-ernment in @ale" con"i"t" of 22 $nitar.a$thoritie", incl$ding the citie" of Cardiff, 76an"ea andNe6port, 6hich are "eparate $nitar.a$thoritie" in their o6n right9 >he @el"h Local Go-ernment A""ociationrepre"ent" the intere"t"of local a$thoritie" in @ale"9

Political Parties

7ince the United Kingdom ha" a m$ltipart. "."tem, it ha" "$3"tantial range of politicalpartie" co-ering a 3road range of ideological po"ition"9 'art. di"cipline i" m$ch tight in the


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Briti"h political "."tem, "eniorit. and lo.alt. to the part. are the 3a"i" for an indi-id$al toa""$me leader"hip of hi" re"pecti-e political part.9

6a3our Party

>he La3o$r 'art. 6a" fo$nded in 1 and fir"t came to prominence in the 12" 3$tonl. 6on o$tright po6er for the fir"t time in 14he main ideolog. of theLa3o$r 'art. i" the tho$ght that the go-ernment ei"t for the promotion of common good of thepeople thro$gh policie" "$ch a" nationaliation and "ocial "er-ice"9

Conservative Party

>he origin" of the Con"er-ati-e 'art. +al"o %no6n a" the >orie" date 3ac% to the late 1) th

cent$r.9 >he. ha-e held po6er for !( .ear" of the he

Con"er-ati-e" are a pro3$"ine"", antireg$lation, moderate part., 6ith man. "hade" of opinion:=ight 6inger" in the part. empha"ie "ocial di"cipline, contin$it. of a$thorit., and moral" 6hilemoderate" empha"ie the creation of 6ealth and efficient economic organiation9

6i3eral Democrats

A "mall, moderate political part., the Li3eral democrat" 6ere created in 1** 6henmem3er" of a La3o$r 'art. "plinter gro$p +the 7ocial /emocratic 'art. of 7'/ Doined force"6ith Li3eral 'art., one of the olde"t partie" in Britain and for man. .ear" the oppo"ition to theCon"er-ati-e"9

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Lecture U.K