Levels of Government

Levels of Government

• Unitary System:– National Government is supreme– Regional governments derive all power from national.

• Confederate System:– Local government is supreme– National govt. derives all power from local.

• Federal System (Federalism):– Power/Authority is divided between national and

regional.– U.S. system

United Kingdom: Unitary System

• Devolution:– Delegating decision-making to local public bodies.

• 1998 Good Friday Agreement– Created a local parliament in N. Ireland

• 1999: Creation of Scottish and Welsh Regional Assemblies– Taxation– Education– Economic Planning

• 2000: Direct election of Mayor of London

The Monarchy

• No real power

• Technically “names” new prime minister

• Opens each session of Parliament with “Queen’s Speech.”– Written by majority party.

House of Lords

• Very little power– Can only temporarily delay legislation

• 1911 Reform of Lords– Power Stripped– Commons

Supreme

House of Lords• Pre-1999– Most Lords were hereditary peers.

• Post-1999– Most Lords are life peers.• Appointed to nonhereditary positions.

– About 25 Anglican Bishops are Lords.

Parliament

• Parliamentary Sovereignty– Parliament’s decisions are final.

• Parliamentary System– Head of Government chosen by legislature

• Fusion of Power– Authority concentrated in one body.– No “separation of powers” b/n executive and

legislative

Prime Minister

• MP from majority party, or coalition party.

• Traditionally, a more senior member of the party.

• Head of executive branch.

• Residence: 10 Downing Street

Prime Minister & Cabinet“First Among Equals”

• Chooses cabinet members

• Cabinet members: usually senior party members– Not necessarily experts

in their field

Partial List of Cabinet• Prime Minister• Deputy Prime Minister• Chancellor of Exchequer• Home Secretary• Defense Secretary• Justice Secretary• Health Secretary• Education Secretary• Business Secretary• Work and Pensions

Secretary

Prime Minister & Cabinet“First Among Equals”

• Prime Minister makes policy decisions in cabinet, with agreement of ministers.

• Collective Responsibility:– Cabinet, leaders of party, do not dissent from

Prime Minister in public.• “Cabinet Government”– Power of Cabinet in shaping/controlling policy

Question Time

• Debate occurs once a week• Prime Minister and Cabinet must defend their

policies.• One of the few opportunities for opposition to

“check” the majority.

Key Components of House of Commons

• Speaker of the House– Chief Officer– Keeps order during

debates– Remains impartial

– Renounces party affiliation

– Doesn’t vote

• Prime Minister and Cabinet– Sit to the right of the

Speaker

• Leader of Opposition and “Shadow Cabinet”– Appointed by head of

opposition– Monitor and criticize the

actions of their equivalents in govt.

Width of center aisle=distance of two drawn swords

Backbenchers

• Rank-and-file Members of Parliament (MP) who are not part of the Cabinet or Shadow Cabinet.

Serjeant at Arms with Mace

• Symbolizes authority of the House of Commons.

The Bar of the House

• Only MPs are allowed beyond the Bar.