Political System in the United Kingdom

What is the political system?

• Constitutional Monarchy• A king or queen is head of state• Ability to make legislation lies

with the parliament• Prime minister is head

of government

Constitution?

• Unwritten in one document• An “uncodified” constitution

• Comes from a variety of sources• Statute Law• Magna Carta• Human Rights Act 1998• Devolution establishing Scottish

Parliament• Rule of Law

Magna Carta video

Constitution?

• Comes from variety of sources• Common Law• Decisions made by judges

• EU Laws• International laws

The Role of the Queen• No real political or executive role

• Opens parliament with a speech

• Serves as symbol of national unity, stability

• “Royal assent”

Parliament

• Bicameral• House of Commons• House of Lords

• Role• Making laws• Checking government• Debating current issues

House of Commons

• Publicly elected• After 2010 General Election• 650 MPs were elected

• Party with largest number of members forms government• Party leader becomes Prime Minister

• Sole responsibility for decisions on financial bills

House of Lords• “Upper House”• Members are appointed by the Queen on

advice of the PM

• Essentially works to “double check” new laws• Can’t stop a new law but can delay it

• Currently 760 members who are eligible to take part in discussions etc.

How does a bill become law?

• 1. A bill (or proposed law) begins in the House of Commons• First reading which is a formal stage• Second reading + debate

• 2. Committee• Detailed examination of bill• In Commons, outside evidence is presented• Bill is amended

How does a bill become law?

• 3. Report stage• Bill is returned to the floor of the House of

Commons• All MPs can suggest changes etc.

• 4. Third Reading• Right after report stage• Debate is limited to what is actually in the Bill• Vote

• 5. Goes to House of Lords• All steps happen again

How does a bill become law?

• 6. If amended by House of Lords, returns to House of Commons to be considered• Both Houses must agree on wording!• ‘Ping Pong’• A Bill may go back and forth until all

amendments are agreed upon

• 7. Royal Assent• Monarch’s agreement to make the Bill into an

Act

General Elections

• Every 5 years in May• Parties and candidates campaign to win votes

• UK divided into 650 constituencies• 1 MP represents each• First-past-the-post

• Political party with most MPs is invited by the Queen to form a government

Hung Parliament: What happens?

• A hung parliament is when no party wins a majority in the House of Commons• To form Government, party must have the most

seats• 326 seats

• Options• Build a coalition• Govern with a minority

• Election in 2010 • Hung parliament

2010 election

• In 2010 election• The Conservative party won 306 seats• Labour Party won 258• Liberal Democrats 57

• Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats form a coalition government

The Government/Executive

• The Government is responsible for enacting policy

• The Government is lead by who?• The Prime Minister!

Prime Minister

• What does he do?• Head of Government• Oversees Civil service and government

agencies• Appoints members of government• MP in House of Commons

The Government

•Ministerial Departments• Ex: Education,

Environment, Transport, Health, Treasury, Justice, Defense

•Non-ministerial Departments• Run by Senior Civil Servants• Regulatory or Inspection

role• Ex: Charity Commission,

Food Standards Agency, Serious Fraud Office

Agencies and public bodies

• 4 types of Non-departmental public bodies• Executive• Work for government in specific area

• Advisory• Independent, provide advice

• Tribunal • Part of justice system

• Independent monitoring boards• Run prisons

Civil Service

• Does the practical and administrative government work• Paying benefits• Running prisons• Running employment services

• Prime Minister is Minister for the Civil Service

Judicial System

• Different types of cases dealt with in different courts• Ex: Criminal cases start in Magistrates court• More serious may go to Crown Court

• Tribunals deal with government decisions and public body decisions

• Supreme Court• Hears appeals

Political Parties in the UK

• 3 main parties

• Conservative party• Currently leads Government in coalition with

Liberal Democrats• Beliefs• Individuals should own and control businesses• No government interference in economy

• Low taxes• Monarchy and House of Lords are important• EU less important

Political Parties

• Labour Party• Support government helping poor• Schools and hospitals should receive public funds

• Taxes higher for richer• UK should taking leading role in EU

• Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems)• Somewhere between Labour and Conservatives• Free healthcare• No government interference in business• Role in EU should be decided by the people