11.Slide Van Hoa Anh My

BRITISH POLITICAL LIFEBRITISH POLITICAL LIFE

Group 11: Nguyễn Thị Vui Group 11: Nguyễn Thị Vui

Nguyễn Thị HằngNguyễn Thị Hằng

Nguyễn Thị Hồng MinhNguyễn Thị Hồng Minh

CONTENTSCONTENTS

1. The public attitude to politics1. The public attitude to politics 2. The style of democracy2. The style of democracy 3. The constitution3. The constitution 4. The style of politics4. The style of politics 5. British political parties5. British political parties 6. The party system6. The party system 7. The modern situation7. The modern situation

1. THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE 1. THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TO POLITICSTO POLITICS

Politicians do not have a good Politicians do not have a good reputationreputation

-Lack of trustworthiness-Lack of trustworthiness

-High degree of suspicion-High degree of suspicion

-Frequently dishonest-Frequently dishonest

Lack of enthusiasm for politiciansLack of enthusiasm for politicians

THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TO THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TO POLITICSPOLITICS

The lack of enthusiasm The lack of enthusiasm ≠ ≠ Complete disenchantmentComplete disenchantment- ¾ adults participate in voting at - ¾ adults participate in voting at national electionnational election

- A general feeling of confidence in the - A general feeling of confidence in the stability and workability of the systemstability and workability of the system

Book: Yes, Prime MinisterBook: Yes, Prime Minister

The criticism of the The criticism of the public directs at public directs at politicians’ attitudespoliticians’ attitudes

The criticism at The criticism at dishonesty ,disloyalty dishonesty ,disloyalty and at the general and at the general style of political lifestyle of political life

The spitting image The spitting image puppet of Margaret puppet of Margaret Thatcher.Thatcher.

2.THE STYLE OF 2.THE STYLE OF DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

British have high respect for British have high respect for its lawits law

-there is little systematic law-breaking-there is little systematic law-breaking

The country has few rules and The country has few rules and regulationsregulations

The 2 unique aspects of The 2 unique aspects of British lifeBritish life

THE STYLE OF THE STYLE OF DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

- People do not have identity card , driving People do not have identity card , driving license with themlicense with them

- The Government do not have to inform The Government do not have to inform what information they have collected what information they have collected about youabout you

These are private matters in BritainThese are private matters in Britain

THE STYLE OF THE STYLE OF DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

There is little involvement There is little involvement between the state and its citizensbetween the state and its citizens

- Individuals’ duties are: not breaking law- Individuals’ duties are: not breaking law paying taxespaying taxes - No national service like military- No national service like military - There is no referendum when the - There is no referendum when the

Government want to make an important Government want to make an important constitution changeconstitution change

Q & AQ & A Can you tell me the name of the book Can you tell me the name of the book

which which give criticism of the public directs give criticism of the public directs at politicians’ attitudesat politicians’ attitudes

A: Tập ĐọcA: Tập Đọc B: Toán Cao CấpB: Toán Cao Cấp C: Yes, Prime MinisterC: Yes, Prime Minister D: I’m gifted so are you D: I’m gifted so are you

3.THE CONSTITUTION3.THE CONSTITUTION

Britain

ConstitutionalMonarchy

(Monarch: Head of State)

ParliamentaryDemocracy

(Prime Minister: Head of Government)

THE CONSTITUTIONTHE CONSTITUTION

There is no single There is no single written constitutionwritten constitution but but only rules, regulations, only rules, regulations, principles and principles and procedures for the procedures for the running of the countryrunning of the country

Sources of constitution:Sources of constitution:

InternationalTreaty

& Agreement

AuthoritativeWorks

Conventions

Royal Prerogative

Common Law

Statue Law

BritishConstitution

4. THE STYLE OF POLITICS4. THE STYLE OF POLITICS

Respect for privacy and love of secrecyRespect for privacy and love of secrecy

THE STYLE OF POLITICSTHE STYLE OF POLITICS

Comparatively informalComparatively informal

- Important decisions are made at lunch, - Important decisions are made at lunch, or over drinksor over drinks

THE STYLE OF THE STYLE OF POLITICSPOLITICS

A genuine habit of A genuine habit of co- operationco- operation among among politicians of different partiespoliticians of different parties

5. BRITISH POLITICAL 5. BRITISH POLITICAL PARTIESPARTIES

CONSERVATIVE LABOUR LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

History - Formed in the early 19th century- Developed from the group of MPs known as the Tories

- Formed at the beginning of 20th century- From an alliance of trade unionists and intellectuals

- Formed in the late 1980s - From a union of the Liberals and the Social Democrats

Policies - Right of centre- Hierarchical authority- Minimal Government interference in the economy- Give high priority to national defence and internal law and order- Aggressive reform of education, welfare, housing and many public services( since 1979)

- Left of centre- Equality- More Government involvement in the economy- More concerned to provide full social services- Emphasis on community ethics and looser links with trade unions( since 1979)

- In the centre or slightly left of centre- Strongly in favor of EU- Place more emphasis on the environment

- Believe in giving greater power to local government and in reform of the electoral system

Leader( May 2002)

Iain Duncan Smith Tony Blair Charles Kennedy

Voters - Richer sections of society- A minority of the working classes

- Working classes- A small amount of middle class

- All classes- More from middle class

Money Donation from business people

Mostly from trade union Private donation

Q & AQ & A 1) Do you think Britain is 1) Do you think Britain is a constitutional a constitutional

monarchymonarchy or a or a parliamentary democracyparliamentary democracy??

2) Name 2) Name 3 dominant political parties3 dominant political parties in in Britain?Britain?

6. THE PARTY SYSTEM6. THE PARTY SYSTEM

6.1 Characteristics of British party 6.1 Characteristics of British party systemsystem

6.2 Reasons6.2 Reasons

6.3 Consequences6.3 Consequences

6.1 Characteristics of 6.1 Characteristics of British party systemBritish party system

Britain is normally Britain is normally described as having a described as having a ““two-party systemtwo-party system”. ”. Since 1920s, the two Since 1920s, the two largest political parties:largest political parties:

- The Conservative - The Conservative Party Party

-The Labour Party-The Labour Party

=>Two-party system ?=>Two-party system ?

Two political Two political parties dominate parties dominate the number of the number of votes and the votes and the seats in the House seats in the House of Commons of Commons (90%).(90%).

6.2 Reasons6.2 Reasons

The electoral The electoral system:system:

“ “First Past the Post” First Past the Post” - Duverger's Law - Duverger's Law states favors a two-states favors a two-party system.party system.

6.2 Reasons6.2 Reasons The nature of British political partiesThe nature of British political parties::

- - Members of Parliament:Members of Parliament:

+ Government benches+ Government benches

+Opposition benches+Opposition benches

- - House of Commons:House of Commons:

+ Cabinet: the party controlling the + Cabinet: the party controlling the Government.Government.

+ Shadow Cabinet: the biggest party + Shadow Cabinet: the biggest party which is not in Government.which is not in Government.

6.3 Consequences6.3 Consequences

It’s very difficult of smaller parties to challenge It’s very difficult of smaller parties to challenge the dominance of the bigger one.the dominance of the bigger one.

The members who are not MPs can have effect The members who are not MPs can have effect on policy through:on policy through:

- the annual party conference.- the annual party conference.

- being candidates for MPs in the local party at - being candidates for MPs in the local party at the next election.the next election.

7.THE MODERN SITUATION7.THE MODERN SITUATION

The traditional confidence in the British political The traditional confidence in the British political system has weakened. system has weakened.

A survey of British public attitude to politicsA survey of British public attitude to politics

% agreeing with statement

1960s 1992

The British monarch is something to be proud of

86 26

The British Parliament is something to be proud of

75 35

THE MODERN SITUATIONTHE MODERN SITUATION

Some of the distinctive characteristics of British Some of the distinctive characteristics of British public life will change:public life will change:

- the matter of identity card and the - the matter of identity card and the Freedom of Information ActFreedom of Information Act

- the matter of constitution.- the matter of constitution.

Q & AQ & ABritain is a multi- party systemBritain is a multi- party system

A.A. TrueTrue

B.B. FalseFalse

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention !attention !