British British Parliament & DemocracyParliament & Democracy

An IntroductionAn Introduction

Full title of nation state:Full title of nation state:

MonarchMonarch ExecutiveExecutive LegislatureLegislature JudiciaryJudiciary

Electoral systemsElectoral systems Political partiesPolitical parties Local governmentLocal government European UnionEuropean Union

The United Kingdom of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Great Britain and Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

MonarchMonarch• A nation’s politics is shaped by status: -A nation’s politics is shaped by status: -

The UK is a constitutional monarchyThe UK is a constitutional monarchy

Head of stateHead of state

HM Queen Elizabeth IIHM Queen Elizabeth II

Prime MinisterPrime MinisterMonarchMonarch

Head of governmentHead of government

Rt. Hon. David Cameron MPRt. Hon. David Cameron MP

Executive -Executive -

• ScotlandScotland

• Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland• (Ulster)(Ulster)

• WalesWales

Authority given to…Authority given to…

UKUK

(incl. England)(incl. England)

Devolved authority given to…Devolved authority given to…

former British Prime Ministersformer British Prime Ministers

Knight Knight Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill In office: 1940 – 1945In office: 1940 – 1945

1951 – 19551951 – 1955

Baroness Baroness

Margaret ThatcherMargaret ThatcherIn office: 1979 - 1990In office: 1979 - 1990

History – Leaders of GovernmentHistory – Leaders of Government Executive -Executive -

former British Prime Ministersformer British Prime Ministers

• Tony Blair Tony Blair • In office: 1997 – 2007In office: 1997 – 2007

Gordon Brown Gordon Brown In office: 2007 - 2010In office: 2007 - 2010

History – Leaders of GovernmentHistory – Leaders of Government Executive -Executive -

David Cameron MPDavid Cameron MP

Executive -Executive -current British Prime Ministercurrent British Prime Minister

Related to Queen Elizabeth IIRelated to Queen Elizabeth II Married to Married to Viscountess AstorViscountess Astor Eton College & Brasenose Eton College & Brasenose

College, Oxford University College, Oxford University PPEPPE

Legislature -Legislature -Law-making powers given Law-making powers given to…to…

UKUK

(incl. England)(incl. England)

Houses of Parliament Houses of Parliament LondonLondon

Houses of ParliamentHouses of Parliament

• House of CommonsHouse of Commons House of LordsHouse of LordsThere are two legislative chambers…There are two legislative chambers…

History of UK ParliamentHistory of UK Parliament

Parliament is old – it has been around in Parliament is old – it has been around in some form for nearly eight hundred years.some form for nearly eight hundred years.

Parliament is a place to debate about how Parliament is a place to debate about how to run the country and pass laws to make to run the country and pass laws to make it better.it better.

Parliament is the heart of British Parliament is the heart of British democracy. democracy.

History of ParliamentHistory of Parliament 1348 - St. Stephen's Chapel1348 - St. Stephen's Chapel 1512 - Palace of 1512 - Palace of

WestminsterWestminster 1605 - Gunpowder Plot1605 - Gunpowder Plot 1689 - Rules of the monarch1689 - Rules of the monarch 1707 - England & Scotland 1707 - England & Scotland

uniteunite 1720 - First Prime Minister1720 - First Prime Minister

1834 - Fire!1840 - Charles Barry, architect

History of ParliamentHistory of Parliament

1918 - Women get the vote1919 - First woman MP1921 - Southern Ireland gains independence1969 - Voting age now 18 and over1989 - Television1999 - New parliaments for three countries

2009 - Highest legal court moves out of Parliament More information available @ www.parliament.uk

The 20th Century onwards...

House of CommonsHouse of Commons There are 650 Members of There are 650 Members of

Parliament (MPs) who represent Parliament (MPs) who represent different parts of the UK different parts of the UK

British democracy is a British democracy is a ‘Representative Democracy’ so ‘Representative Democracy’ so MPs are elected to make MPs are elected to make decisions on their constituents’ decisions on their constituents’ behalf.behalf.

Most spend half the week in the Most spend half the week in the area they represent and half in area they represent and half in Parliament.Parliament.

Usually, the party with the most Usually, the party with the most seats in the House of Commons seats in the House of Commons forms the government. forms the government.

Debate in the House of Debate in the House of Commons tends to be very lively.Commons tends to be very lively.

House of LordsHouse of Lords

The House of Lords is The House of Lords is Parliament’s second Parliament’s second chamber. It is made up of chamber. It is made up of unelected ‘Peers’. unelected ‘Peers’.

Peers have either been Peers have either been appointed by the Queen or appointed by the Queen or have inherited the positions.have inherited the positions.

The Lords carries out the The Lords carries out the same legislative role as the same legislative role as the House of Commons.House of Commons.

Debate in the Lords though Debate in the Lords though tends to be very more polite tends to be very more polite and often less exciting than and often less exciting than the House of Commons.the House of Commons.

LegislatureLegislature - -Law-making powers given Law-making powers given to…to…

ScotlandScotland Scottish Parliament Scottish Parliament EdinburghEdinburgh

LegislatureLegislature - -Law-making powers given Law-making powers given to…to…

WalesWales Welsh National Assembly Welsh National Assembly CardiffCardiff

LegislatureLegislature - -Law-making powers given Law-making powers given to…to…

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland Northern Ireland AssemblyNorthern Ireland Assembly

BelfastBelfast

Stormont CastleStormont Castle

• INSTEAD INSTEAD • constitution created from…constitution created from…

No Bill of Rights No Bill of Rights

– unstructured system– unstructured system

Legislature -Legislature -

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Constitution Constitution

Legislature -Legislature -

LAW + CASE LAW + COMMON LAW + CASE LAW + COMMON LAWLAW

Passed by Passed by

GovernmentGovernment

In London, In London,

Belfast,Belfast,

Cardiff,Cardiff,

EdinburghEdinburgh

Judgements Judgements

reached inreached in

past legal past legal

casescases

DevelopedDeveloped

from customsfrom customs

and decisionsand decisions

of judgesof judges

Judiciary Judiciary --

• In the United Kingdom…In the United Kingdom…• 3 separate legal systems covering…3 separate legal systems covering…

• England & Wales England & Wales

• Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

• Scotland Scotland

Separate and independent Separate and independent from the Executive and from the Executive and LegislatureLegislature

Judiciary Judiciary --

• Highest Court in the United Kingdom…Highest Court in the United Kingdom…• Supreme Court – Supreme Court – • created in October 2009created in October 2009

• EXCEPTEXCEPT for criminal cases in Scotland – for criminal cases in Scotland – • High Court of Justiciary - High Court of Justiciary -

Separate and independent Separate and independent from the Executive and from the Executive and LegislatureLegislature

Judiciary -Judiciary -

• EXCEPTEXCEPT for certain civil cases in the for certain civil cases in the UK and from Commonwealth UK and from Commonwealth countries -countries -

Separate and independent Separate and independent from the Executive and from the Executive and LegislatureLegislature

Examples: Regulates University Examples: Regulates University constitutions and those of professional constitutions and those of professional bodies. Other historical activities.bodies. Other historical activities.

The Privy CouncilThe Privy Council

• Court of Appeal - Court of Appeal - LondonLondon

• High Court of Justice - High Court of Justice - LondonLondon

• Crown Courts – Crown Courts –

• exampleexample Oxford Crown Court Oxford Crown Court

• Magistrates’ CourtsMagistrates’ Courts• exampleexample Banbury Magistrates’ Court Banbury Magistrates’ Court

CriminalCriminal courtscourts

Judiciary -Judiciary -

• Court of Appeal - Court of Appeal - LondonLondon

• High Court of Justice - High Court of Justice - LondonLondon

• County Courts – County Courts – example example Oxfordshire Oxfordshire

• County CourtCounty Court

CivilCivil courtscourts

Judiciary -Judiciary -

Inside a typical criminal court - Inside a typical criminal court - Harrogate Magistrates CourtHarrogate Magistrates Court

UK – Multi-party system UK – Multi-party system

History – History – Conservative or Labour Parties in power in Conservative or Labour Parties in power in

previous 100 years.previous 100 years.Occasionally - coalition of political parties, Occasionally - coalition of political parties,

or parliament with no overall political or parliament with no overall political control exists control exists (minority government)(minority government)..

Coalition government – May 2010Coalition government – May 2010

Electoral System -Electoral System -

History – In Scotland & Wales…History – In Scotland & Wales…

Increasing support for ‘patriotic’ political Increasing support for ‘patriotic’ political parties lead to devolved powers in the parties lead to devolved powers in the 1990s. 1990s.

Example areas of powers… Education, Example areas of powers… Education, HealthHealth

Electoral System -Electoral System -

History – In Northern Ireland…History – In Northern Ireland…

political parties split between:political parties split between:

Sinn FSinn Féin éin Social Democratic & Labour Social Democratic & Labour

Party Party

– – both want a united island of both want a united island of IrelandIreland

Ulster & Democratic Unionist Ulster & Democratic Unionist PartiesParties

Electoral System -Electoral System -

– – want to continue being want to continue being part of the United Kingdompart of the United Kingdom

UK Elections to the House of Commons – UK Elections to the House of Commons –

UK national elections, called ‘General UK national elections, called ‘General Elections’, must be held every 5 years or Elections’, must be held every 5 years or earlier.earlier.

Fixed-term parliament. Prime Minister Fixed-term parliament. Prime Minister makes a request to dissolve Parliament to makes a request to dissolve Parliament to the Head of State.the Head of State.

Next General Election must be called on a Next General Election must be called on a date not later than Thursday 7date not later than Thursday 7thth May 2015. May 2015.

Electoral System -Electoral System -

UK Elections to the House of Commons – UK Elections to the House of Commons –

Held to elect Held to elect 650 Members of Parliament (MPs).

Represent the views of their area (constituency) and work on their behalf in the House of Commons.

All citizens over 18 can vote (plans to reduce age to 16) EXCEPT for prisoners serving 12 months or more.

Electoral System -Electoral System -

UK Elections to the House of Commons – UK Elections to the House of Commons –

Electoral System -Electoral System -

Held normally on Held normally on ThursdaysThursdays.

Polling stations, where you vote, are often village halls and primary schools.

Open from 7.00am until 10.00pm

The Right to VoteThe Right to Vote

• Registration cardRegistration card

Secret ballot papers

Final departures at No. 10 Downing StreetFinal departures at No. 10 Downing Street

Gordon & Sarah Brown,Gordon & Sarah Brown,

their children John &their children John &

James, and DowningJames, and Downing

Street staffStreet staff

Signing a final letter toSigning a final letter to

the new Prime Minister –the new Prime Minister –

with Douglas Alexanderwith Douglas Alexander

Alistair Campbell andAlistair Campbell and

Ed BallsEd Balls

Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Palace, LondonLondon

• Welcoming newWelcoming new• First MinisterFirst Minister• David CameronDavid Cameron

Saying good bye toSaying good bye to

First MinisterFirst Minister

Gordon BrownGordon Brown

New arrivals at No.10 Downing StreetNew arrivals at No.10 Downing Street

David Cameron &David Cameron &

his then pregnanthis then pregnant

wife, Samanthawife, Samantha

Prime Minister - Prime Minister -

David Cameron & David Cameron &

Deputy Prime Minister -Deputy Prime Minister -

Nick CleggNick Clegg

• Other countries using the ‘Westminster system’ Other countries using the ‘Westminster system’ of government include…of government include…

• Australia, Canada, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore – New Zealand, Singapore – (all countries of the (all countries of the British Commonwealth; a group of nations having a British Commonwealth; a group of nations having a shared history with Britain)shared history with Britain)

Electoral System -Electoral System -

• ConservativeConservative

• LabourLabour

• Liberal DemocratLiberal Democrat

Main Political Main Political GroupsGroups

Political Parties -Political Parties -

Ed Milliband MPEd Milliband MP

Political Parties -Political Parties -

Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the Labour Party

MP for Doncaster North

Two children with partner – Cambridge-educated lawyer

Corpus Christi College - Oxford University – BA PPE

London School of Economics

Nick Clegg MP

Dutch-Russian-Japanese-British heritage

Married to a Spaniard

Cambridge University,

University of Minnesota

College of Europe

Former Member of the European Parliament

Political Parties -Political Parties -

Party leader

• Green PartyGreen Party

• UK Independence PartyUK Independence Party

• The Jury PartyThe Jury Party

• British National PartyBritish National Party

other Political other Political GroupsGroups

Political Parties -Political Parties -

• County and Metropolitan CouncilsCounty and Metropolitan Councils• Oxfordshire County Council Oxfordshire County Council

• Greater London Authority Greater London Authority

• City and District CouncilsCity and District Councils• Oxford City CouncilOxford City Council

• Cherwell DistrictCherwell District• South Oxfordshire DistrictSouth Oxfordshire District• Vale of White Horse DistrictVale of White Horse District• West Oxfordshire DistrictWest Oxfordshire District

Parish and Town Parish and Town CouncilsCouncilsKidlingtonKidlington

Local Government – Local Government – elections every 3 yearselections every 3 years

and Woodstockand Woodstock

European Union - European Union -

27 Member nation states27 Member nation statesAs a member…As a member…

The United Kingdom…The United Kingdom…

Elects 78 Members of the European Parliament…Elects 78 Members of the European Parliament…

European Union - European Union - The UK Parliament responsible for…The UK Parliament responsible for…

Checking EU draft laws and other documentsChecking EU draft laws and other documents

Adjusting UK law to comply with EU laws & treatiesAdjusting UK law to comply with EU laws & treaties

Auditing or checking UK Government complies withAuditing or checking UK Government complies with

EU policies & its views with various EU institutions EU policies & its views with various EU institutions

European Union - European Union - The EUThe EU

CANNOT CHANGECANNOT CHANGELAWLAW

in the in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom

But…But…The UK Parliament may have to pass new laws or The UK Parliament may have to pass new laws or amend existing ones to comply with EU legislationamend existing ones to comply with EU legislation

Produced for www.englishabc.co.uk by Laurence Todd

Thank you for listening and taking part!

British British Parliament & DemocracyParliament & Democracy