United Kingdom

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!eUnited Kingdom

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Overview• Fundamental Principles of Politics and Governance

in the United Kingdom

• The British Political System

• Monarch

• Parliament

• Party and Electoral System

• Civil Service

• Significant Characteristics of British Politics

• Some Notes on the British Economy

At-a-Glance• Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain

and Northern Ireland (UK)

• Great Britain is composed of England, Wales and Scotland.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy that practices majoritarian, parliamentary democracy.

It espouses a unitary government with a bicameral legislature and plurality elections within a (more or less) established two-party system.

Basic Principles of Gov’t• The monarchy possesses largely symbolic

government authority.

• Actual policy determination lies with the prime minister and his/her cabinet.

• Government is formed by the party with a majority in the House of Commons.

• Supremacy of Legislative power among the powers of government (with the consent of the governed).

• Doctrine of Collective Responsibility.

The Structure of British Government

House of Lords

House of Commons

Monarch

Judiciary

Prime Minister OppositionLeader

Cabinet(Majority)

Shadow Cabinet(Minority)

(Party Whip) (Party Whip)

House Speaker

Civil Service

Implications• Government power is concentrated among the

“elites” of the established party structures.

• British politics is largely partisan in nature.

• Party unity, discipline and coherence are crucial to policymaking.

• The adversarial nature of British politics rewards political acumen over technical skill.

• The bi-partisan nature of British politics also means that parties must be prepared to assume office at a drop of a hat.

Political Culture• Ethnically pluralistic, but more or less politically

homogenous (especially within parties).

• Traditionally, the most significant source of cleavage has been class difference.

• In more recent times, nationalist pressures in Scotland and Wales have surfaced.

• Strong emphasis on tradition as institutions that shape political behavior.

• Deference towards political authority prevails.

• Apparent high degree of trust in government.

Political Culture• Pragmatic or Ideological?

• On the surface clear party differences make it seem that British politics is ideological.

• However, experts opine that pragmatism underlies much of British politics.

• Examples:

• Eroding differences between political parties.

• Maintenance of political institutions that “work”.

On the Economy• The modern British economy has a large socialist

orientation: it is a mixed economy.

• The post-war economic policy of the UK was informed by “Butskellism”.

• Thatcherite economic reforms did scale back and improve economic performance with mixed results.

• The debate is not so much if government should be involved in the economy, but rather how much.

• To date, Britain remains a welfare state.

God Save $ Queen!~ The End ~

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