Government And Politics In Britain Flashcards
Constitution of the crown
In great Britain there is no written constitution it has just evolved over time with common-law, important documents, and customs.
Important documents like the Magna Carta, which limited monarchy, the bill of rights, which gave power to parliament, and common law, which sets precedent for later actions, shape the constitution of the crown
Historical evolution of national political traditions
- Shaping of the monarchy
- the ascendancy of parliament
- challenges of the industrial revolution
- colonialism
- Burton and the 20th and early 21st-centuries
Nationalism
Feeling pride for being part of a country
Insularity
The feeling of separation from the continent of Europe
Noblesse oblige
The duty of the upper classes to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower class
Welfare state
The governments responsibility to provide public benefits, such as education, healthcare and transportation
Cultural homogeneity
Many Small countries which used to be there own nations joined together under one government
Influences of geography in Great Britain
- An island- far enough away from the mainland Europe for major production besides a good Navy, yet close enough to maintain interaction
- Small size- small resources. Forces it to colonize other lands and become an imperial power.
- Small land = small growing season
- Climate- chilly, cold, rainy. Britain has large population density, but population distribution is uneven because nobody wants to live in the north.
- No major geographic barriers
Traditional legitimacy in Great Britain
Great Britain started out being traditional legitimacy, which has a hereditary ruling family, but parliament has slowly taken over most government duties.
Gradualism
Slow evolution of government and politics.
Gradualism establishes strong traditions.
EX. transition of policy making power from the king to parliament.
Growing power of parliament marker events
- sighing of the Magna Carta
- English Civil War
- The Glorious Revolution
Examples of when people gained the right to vote
- The Great Reform Act of 1832
- Reform Act of 1867
- Representation of the People Act of 1884
- Women’s suffrage
The Great Reform Act of 1832
About 300,000 more men gained the right to vote, and the House of Commons gained more power in relation to the House of Lords.
Reform Act of 1867
The electorate reached 3,000,000, as many working class people were given the right to vote.
Representation of the People Act of 1884
The electorate was further expanded so that the majority of the voters were working class.
Women’s suffrage
In 1918, another representation of the people act enfranchised all males and women over the age of 30 who already had the right to vote in local elections. 8,400,000 women were enfranchised. By 1928, all women 21 and over were allowed to vote.
the Labour Party
created in 1906 to represent the rights of the newly-enfranchised working man.
pushed liberal to third party status
Union Council
a coalition of trade unions that are a major force in british politics.
Beveridge Report
provided social insurance programs that made all citizens eligible for health, unemployment, pensions and other benefits.
Guarantee a subsistence income to every british citizen.
Loss of imperial power
during world war two great britain lost many of its colonies.
Marshal Plan
U.S. helped many people, including Great Britain, get back on their feet after World War Two.
National Health Service
created in 1948 by the labour party
Great Britain = what type of economy
Mixed Economy!, the government directing the economy and nationalizing major industries without giving up basic principles of capitalism, such as private ownership of property.
challenges to the Collective Consensus since 1970
In the late 20th century and early 21st century great britain has experienced economic and political turmoil.
- serious decline of economy
- growing divide between labour and conservative parties
OPEC
organization for petroleum exporting countries
Economic Crises of the late 1970s
-declining industrial production
-international influence(loss of colonies)
-impact of OPEC(organization for petroleum exporting countries)
LEEDS TO
-labor unions demand higher wages
-coal strike
-labour party loss of members
Coal strike
labor unions demand higher wages
Neoliberalism
the revival of classic liberal values that support low levels of government regulation, taxation, and social expenditures and the protection of individual property rights.
Thatcherism
Margaret Thatcher
- conservative
- she privatized business and industry, cutback on social welfare programs,strengthened national defence, got tough on labor unions, returned to market force controls on the economy.
- Her policies reflected Neoliberalism
- prime minister for 11 years.
- Iron lady
- her policies redirected Britain’s path to a welfare state
John Major
Thatchers had picked successor
- Abolished poll tax
- Reconciled with the European Union
- slowed privatization and cutbacks
Tony Blair
After John Major, he was the third wave
- centrist
- supported Bush in Iraq in 2003
Gordon Brown
Replaced Tony Blair
-Economic Recession(2008-9)
David Cameron
After Gordon Brown
-Big Society- fed gov do less, local councils do more. Charities and private company do more. Government will help the smaller groups with funding.
Social Cleavages in Great Britain
Based on Multi-national identities, social class distinctions and religious differences in Northern Ireland
The Parts Of The United Kingdom
- England
- Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
England
- The Largest Region of Great Britain
- contains majority of population
Wales
-West of England
Scotland
-Joined with England through intermarriage of the royalty
Northern Ireland
- long history of arguing over religion with England
- IRA convinced the british with gorilla warfare to allow irish independence, but the northern part of Ireland still remained part of the United Kingdom.
Solidarity
The belief that the sense of family and friends is more important than individual success.
Ethnic Minorities
Only 7% of the British population is of non-European origins. Most people come from ex British colonies. The main groups are: 1. Indian 2. Pakistan 3.Afro-Caribbean 4. Black African
Distinct Minority/Majority Cleavages
Muslims in Great Britain have an identity of being incredibly distinct from the well established majority.
Social Class Differences of Muslims
Many British Muslims tend to be disaffected and unemployed, in contrast to in the United States were many muslims are relatively well-off
Pakistani Muslims
Most british muslims come from Pakistan.
Opposition of the Iraqi War
Many british Citizens were not in favor of the Iraqi war.
Lack of integration of minorities
Many minorities feel they are treated as second class citizens.
Civic Culture in Great Britain
Political culture in Great Britain is characterized by trust, deference to authority and competence, pragmatism, and harmony.
Manifestations of changing political beliefs and values are:
- Decreasing supports for labor unions
- Increasing violence regarding Northern Ireland
- Thatcherism
- New Labour (tony Blair) (Third Wave)
- Protests over the Iraq War
Voting Behavior
- Social Class
2. Regional Factors
Parliamentary
the prime minister and cabinet ministers are actually members of the legislature
Linkage Institutuions
play and important role in british government and politics. Political parties interest groups and media have long connected the government to its citizens
Political parties
1-Labour(Whigs)
2- Conservative(Tory)
3-Liberal Democratic Alliance
Caucuses
they are meetings of people from the same area or like mind
Hung parliament
where no party gained no party and a coalition party has formed
Labour Party
The largest party on the left. It began as an alliance of trade unions and socialist groups and has moved towards the center since the 1990’s. Generally very supportive of european union membership . Started when the industrial revolution was happening
Conservative party
the main party on the right. Split between 2 wings.
1- the traditional wing(values noblesse oblige and wants the country to be ruled by an elite who takes everybody’s interests into consideration before making decision and i generally supports the the european union)
2- the thatcherite wing- strict conservatives who want to role back government controls and move to a full free market. Often referred to as euroskeptics. because they see the EU’s move toward european integration and a threat to european sovereignty
Liberal Democrats
coalition between the liberals and the social democrats
elections
the only national officials that British voters elect are members of parliament.Prime minister is not elected as prime minister but as a MP from a single electoral disctrict. Elections must be held every five years but a prime minister may call them earlier, this is important because they can call them when they think the majority party has a best chance of winning
Plurality Electoral systems
the same as the USA . Its a winner take all situation. You don’t have to get the majority just the most votes.
Interest groups
britain has well established interest groups that demonstrate interest group pluralism with relatively autonomous groups competing with one another for influence in policy makings
Quangos
quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations or policy advisory boars appointed by the governments
trade unions congress
it represents a coalition of unions, had a great deal of clout because the government often consulted them on important decisions
Parliamentary
in a parliamentary system, the executive branch is fused with the legislative branch because the Prime Minister and the cabinet are actually the leaders of parliament.
Unitary State
Britain has a unitary state. the government is centralized in one spot, London. Decisions made by the central government are binding on all public agencies.
The Collective Cabinet
the center of policy making. The prime minister has the responsibility of shaping decisions into policy.
The Prime Minister
The “first among equals”
~Speaks legitimately for all members of parliament
~Chooses cabinet ministers and important subordinate posts
~makes decisions in the cabinet, with the agreement of the ministers
~Campaigns for and represents the party in parliamentary elections
~Serves all long they are the leader of the majority party
~Elected as a member of parliament
~Has an excellent chance of getting their programs past parliament
House of Comons
Majority party and loyal opposition.
Vote of no Confidence
A vote to check to make sure government is is still legitimate.
Parliamentary Sovereignty
The principle that parliament’s decisions are final.
Why does Parliament have so much power?
Because its members:
- debate and refine potential legislations
- are the only ones who may become party leaders and ultimately may head the government.
- scrutinize the administration of laws
- keep communication lines open between voters and ministers.
House of Lords
delay legislation and debate technicalities of proposed bills. May add amendments to legislation but house of commons may delete their changes.
Hereditary peers
Lords in the house of lords that have had their seats passed down through family ties
Life peers
people appointed member of the house of lords with non hereditary positions as a result of distinguished service
The Bureaucracy
a stable and powerful force in the political system.
top civil servants often have a great deal of input into policy making, including DISCRETIONARY POWER to make many decisions in implementing legislative and executive decisions.
British Courts
British Courts can only determine whether government decisions violate the common law or previous acts of parliament
Supreme Court
has a president and 11 justices
Liberalism
The basis for Britain’s political economy.The philosophy that emphasizes political and economic freedoms for the individual and the market.
Collective Consensus
Both conservative and labor agreed that the government should take action to secure full employment, expand social services, maintain a steady rate of growth and keep prices stable.
A great deal of gov. Control of the economy. National industry.
Keynesianism
the government should take action to secure full employment, expand social services, maintain a steady rate of growth and keep prices stable.
Misery Index
Inflation(prices go up)plus unemployment
British Insularity
britain tends to keep its allies at arm’s length away
Devolution
Turning over some political powers to regional governments.
Transparency in uk gov
MPs start steeling money from gov. and it looses its transparency.
