Britain’s Britain’s Government & Government & Policy-MakingPolicy-Making

Section 3Section 3

AP Comparative GovernmentAP Comparative Government

Mr. SalianiMr. Saliani

Organization of the Organization of the StateState

► Parliamentary SovereigntyParliamentary Sovereignty (1) – Parliament can (1) – Parliament can makemake or or overturnoverturn any law; the executive, the any law; the executive, the judiciary, and the throne are powerless against judiciary, and the throne are powerless against parliamentary action.parliamentary action.

► The Prime Minister (PM) is answerable to the The Prime Minister (PM) is answerable to the House of Commons and may be dismissed by it.House of Commons and may be dismissed by it.

► British sovereignty is somewhat limited due to British sovereignty is somewhat limited due to agreements with the European Union.agreements with the European Union.

► Britain is a Britain is a unitary stateunitary state (2) – authority (2) – authority rests in the central government. Quasi-federal rests in the central government. Quasi-federal system was created under the Blair government system was created under the Blair government through delegation (through delegation (devolutiondevolution) of specified ) of specified powers to Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly & powers to Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly & returning to N. Ireland. returning to N. Ireland.

Organization of the Organization of the State (pg 2)State (pg 2)

► Fusion of powersFusion of powers at the national level (3) – at the national level (3) – Parliament is the supreme legislative, Parliament is the supreme legislative, executive and judicial authority and executive and judicial authority and includes the monarch as well as the House of includes the monarch as well as the House of Commons and the House of Lords.Commons and the House of Lords.

► British cabinet has enormous constitutional British cabinet has enormous constitutional responsibility and makes decisions responsibility and makes decisions collectively. (collectively. (cabinet governmentcabinet government) )

► Britain is a constitutional monarchy and Britain is a constitutional monarchy and power rests with the Queen-in-Parliament power rests with the Queen-in-Parliament (the formal term for Parliament).(the formal term for Parliament).

► The Queen is the The Queen is the head of statehead of state (4) which (4) which passes through hereditary succession. passes through hereditary succession. Governmental/state officials must exercise Governmental/state officials must exercise nearly all of the powers of the Crown. nearly all of the powers of the Crown.

Some questions to Some questions to ponder…ponder…

1.1. Can a PM overstep the generally agreed- Can a PM overstep the generally agreed- upon limits of the collective upon limits of the collective responsibility of the cabinet and achieve responsibility of the cabinet and achieve an undue concentration of power? How?an undue concentration of power? How?

2.2. How well has the British model of How well has the British model of government stood the test of time and government stood the test of time and radically changed circumstances?radically changed circumstances?

3.3. Is it THE model democracy?Is it THE model democracy?4.4. What are its strengths and weaknesses?What are its strengths and weaknesses?5.5. What influence has the Westminster model What influence has the Westminster model

had globally?had globally?

What questions do you have? What questions do you have?

The ExecutiveThe Executive

The executive reaches beyond the The executive reaches beyond the cabinet government whose key cabinet government whose key functions are policymaking, functions are policymaking, supreme control of the supreme control of the government and coordination of government and coordination of all government departments to all government departments to the ministries (departments) and the ministries (departments) and ministers to the civil service ministers to the civil service and to Parliament. and to Parliament.

Cabinet GovernmentCabinet Government► Post-general election the Crown invites the Post-general election the Crown invites the leader of the party with control of the leader of the party with control of the majority of seats in the House of Commons to majority of seats in the House of Commons to form a government and serve as PM.form a government and serve as PM.

► PM usually selects about two dozen ministers to PM usually selects about two dozen ministers to constitute the cabinet. Some major assignments constitute the cabinet. Some major assignments are the Foreign Office (Sec of State), the Home are the Foreign Office (Sec of State), the Home Office (Attorney General) & the chancellor of Office (Attorney General) & the chancellor of the exchequer (Treasury Secretary).the exchequer (Treasury Secretary).

► Cabinet has immense responsibilities such as Cabinet has immense responsibilities such as formulating policy to put before Parliament and formulating policy to put before Parliament and supreme directing body of the executive branch.supreme directing body of the executive branch.

► British constitutional tradition requires British constitutional tradition requires overlapping membership in both the cabinet and overlapping membership in both the cabinet and Parliament. Parliament.

10 Downing Street10 Downing Street► Prime Minister’s official residence and location of Prime Minister’s official residence and location of the cabinet room. the cabinet room. http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asphttp://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp

► Cabinet can be perceived as loyal followers or Cabinet can be perceived as loyal followers or ideological combatants, potential challengers for ideological combatants, potential challengers for party leadership, & parochial advocates for pet party leadership, & parochial advocates for pet projects that run counter to the overall objectives projects that run counter to the overall objectives of the government.of the government.

► The convention of collective responsibility The convention of collective responsibility normally ensures the continuity of government by normally ensures the continuity of government by unifying the cabinet. In principle, the PM must unifying the cabinet. In principle, the PM must gain the support of the majority of the cabinet for gain the support of the majority of the cabinet for a range of major decisions, notably budget and a range of major decisions, notably budget and legislative programs.legislative programs.

► The other constitutional mechanism to check the PM The other constitutional mechanism to check the PM is a defeat on a vote of no confidence in the HoC.is a defeat on a vote of no confidence in the HoC.

► Does collective responsibility limit or empower the Does collective responsibility limit or empower the PM? PM?

Cabinet GovernmentCabinet Government

►Power of the cabinet has been limited Power of the cabinet has been limited by PMs (from Thatcher to Blair to by PMs (from Thatcher to Blair to Brown?)Brown?)

►Let’s explore the cabinet system Let’s explore the cabinet system (Figure 4)(Figure 4)

►Power is concentrated at the top with Power is concentrated at the top with no gridlock (as in Washington)no gridlock (as in Washington)

►Is the PM the “Queen bee” in the hive?Is the PM the “Queen bee” in the hive?

Reactions to 10 Downing St. Reactions to 10 Downing St. WebsiteWebsite

►Impressed?Impressed?►Content?Content?►Political Angle?Political Angle?►Style?Style?►Extras?Extras?►Other Comments?Other Comments?

Bureaucracy & Civil Bureaucracy & Civil ServiceService

► Civil Servants (not elected government employees) Civil Servants (not elected government employees) play an integral role with cabinet ministers.play an integral role with cabinet ministers.

► Civil Servants (CS) in Britain do much of the Civil Servants (CS) in Britain do much of the conceptualizing and refining legislation that is conceptualizing and refining legislation that is done by committee staffers in the U.S. Congress. done by committee staffers in the U.S. Congress.

► Mistrust is common between CS and ministers as they Mistrust is common between CS and ministers as they have differing agendas, concerns and fears.have differing agendas, concerns and fears.

► CS are servants of the Crown but not part of the CS are servants of the Crown but not part of the government.government.

► Ministers, not CS, have const. responsibility for Ministers, not CS, have const. responsibility for policy & are answerable to Parliament for conduct policy & are answerable to Parliament for conduct of their departments.of their departments.

► CS has been downsized in recent years, jobs CS has been downsized in recent years, jobs outsourced. outsourced.

► Concerns of pol. neutrality & impartiality recently Concerns of pol. neutrality & impartiality recently raised. raised.

Semipublic InstitutionsSemipublic Institutions

► Def – entities sanctioned by the state Def – entities sanctioned by the state but without direct democratic oversight.but without direct democratic oversight.

► Nationalized industries replaced by Nationalized industries replaced by Semipublic administrative orgs) Semipublic administrative orgs)

► Nondepartmental Public Bodies (NPPBs) aka Nondepartmental Public Bodies (NPPBs) aka quasi-nongovernmental organizations quasi-nongovernmental organizations ((QuangosQuangos) have been growing in number ) have been growing in number since the 1970’s.since the 1970’s.

► Quangos are popular due to the fact that Quangos are popular due to the fact that they are responsible for special they are responsible for special functions combining governmental & functions combining governmental & private sector expertise. Ministers can private sector expertise. Ministers can also distance themselves from also distance themselves from controversial areas of policy.controversial areas of policy.

Semipublic Institutions Semipublic Institutions (2)(2)

►By late 1990’s over 6000 quangos existed.By late 1990’s over 6000 quangos existed.►Responsible for 1/3 of all public Responsible for 1/3 of all public spending.spending.

►Key areas of public policy have shifted Key areas of public policy have shifted from local governments to quangos (non-from local governments to quangos (non-elected).elected).

►Reform of quangos taking place Reform of quangos taking place nationally. nationally.

What are the concerns?What are the concerns?

Why are they controversial?Why are they controversial?

British Military British Military ► Ranked in top 5 military powersRanked in top 5 military powers► 1982 - Falklands/Malvinas Islands War - UK 1982 - Falklands/Malvinas Islands War - UK Defeated ArgentinaDefeated Argentina

► 1991 - Gulf War - Deployed full armored 1991 - Gulf War - Deployed full armored divisiondivision

► 1998 - Aerial bombing of Iraq1998 - Aerial bombing of Iraq► 1999 - Supported NATO’s Kosovo campaign1999 - Supported NATO’s Kosovo campaign► Blair’s “doctrine of international community” Blair’s “doctrine of international community” was used as justification for war on Iraq he was used as justification for war on Iraq he connected it to Kosovo and the idea of connected it to Kosovo and the idea of overthrowing dictators overthrowing dictators

► Use of military until Iraq generated mild Use of military until Iraq generated mild oppositionopposition

► The British military’s conduct has generally The British military’s conduct has generally been viewed as positive under the been viewed as positive under the circumstancescircumstances

PolicePolice

►Traditionally operated as Traditionally operated as independent forces throughout independent forces throughout the country, but transition to the country, but transition to centralization, government centralization, government control, and political use has control, and political use has taken place.taken place.

►Concerns over partisan use of Concerns over partisan use of police force and police conduct police force and police conduct in recent years.in recent years.

The JudiciaryThe Judiciary► Parliamentary sovereignty has limited the role of Parliamentary sovereignty has limited the role of the judiciary as courts do not have the power to the judiciary as courts do not have the power to judge the constitutionality of legislative acts judge the constitutionality of legislative acts (judicial review)(judicial review)

► Limited to determine whether policy directives or Limited to determine whether policy directives or administrative acts violate common law or acts of administrative acts violate common law or acts of Parliament - U.S. Parliament - U.S.

► Jurists have participated in the wider political Jurists have participated in the wider political debate outside of court - Thoughts?debate outside of court - Thoughts?

► Blair’s plan to abolish the office of Lord Blair’s plan to abolish the office of Lord Chancellor and move the law lords from the House Chancellor and move the law lords from the House of Lords to a new “supreme court” failed in the of Lords to a new “supreme court” failed in the HoL.HoL.

► The European dimension has also influenced law The European dimension has also influenced law and and administration of justice, Britain must and and administration of justice, Britain must abide the European Court of Justice (ECJ)abide the European Court of Justice (ECJ)

Subnational GovernmentSubnational Government

► Since the UK is comprised of four distinct Since the UK is comprised of four distinct nations (England, Scotland, Wales, & N. nations (England, Scotland, Wales, & N. Ireland), the distribution of powers Ireland), the distribution of powers involves two levels below the central involves two levels below the central government: national and local (municipal) government: national and local (municipal) government.government.

► Due to unitary government no formal powers Due to unitary government no formal powers devolved to the national/subnational units.devolved to the national/subnational units.

► Devolution - In 1999, the Devolution - In 1999, the Scottish ParliamentScottish Parliament, , National Assembly for WalesNational Assembly for Wales and and Northern Ireland AssemblyNorthern Ireland Assembly were established. were established.

► Ken Livingstone is the popular mayor of Ken Livingstone is the popular mayor of London who has introduced several London who has introduced several controversial policies.controversial policies.

The Policy-Making The Policy-Making ProcessProcess

► Whitehall, not Westminster is in charge of Whitehall, not Westminster is in charge of policy-making & policy-implementation.policy-making & policy-implementation.

► Policy-making emerges from the executive Policy-making emerges from the executive not parliament. (Ministers, civil not parliament. (Ministers, civil servants, & members of the policy servants, & members of the policy communities work through informal ties)communities work through informal ties)

► EU authority has had a major impact (more EU authority has had a major impact (more than 80% of the rules governing economic than 80% of the rules governing economic life in Britain are determined by the EU).life in Britain are determined by the EU).

► How are the UK-EU relations going to How are the UK-EU relations going to develop?develop?