Unit 5BUnited Kingdom Monarch vs. Parliament

1
Unit 5B-United Kingdom Monarch vs. Parliament

• Readings
• Almond 157-176 and 189-194
• Riddell Ch 1-4

2
Guiding Questions

• What constitutes government in the British
  system?
  
• What is the role of the PM? Cabinet?
• What is the role of the Commons? Lords?
• Is the British parliament weak?

3
British Government

• Crown symbolizes governmental authority.
• Government vs. regime.
• Whitehall-location of executive agencies.
• 10 Downing Street-Residence of the PM.
• Parliament is housed at Palace of Westminster.

4
Palace of Westminster
5
Responsibilities of a PM

• First among equals in the cabinet.
• Performance/emphasis has varied amongst PMs.
• 1) Winning elections.
• 2) Media campaigning.
• 3) Maintain confidence of party.
• 4) Perform well in parliament.
• 5) Balance domestic and international politics.

6
Cabinet

• Consists of senior ministers chosen from either
  the Commons or the Lords.
  
• Decisions have been increasingly centralized in
  PMs office.
  
• Once a decision is reached, all must support it
  publicly.
  
• Ministers responsible for day-to-day functioning.

7
Role of Parliament-Commons

• Divided between the government and the
  opposition.
  
• Party discipline is extremely high in the
  Commons.
  
• Government controls budget/policy MPs support
  or oppose.
  
• Executive dominant.

8
House of Commons-Lower House

• PM is drawn from Commons.
• Most ministers are drawn from the Commons.
• 1) debates matter for forming political
  reputations.
  
• 2) government backbench MPs have access to
  ministers.
  
• 3) publicize issues via local/national media.
• 4) debates force discussion on legislation.
• 5) scrutinize government decision-making.

9
House of Commons-Elections

• 646 Districts.
• Constituency parties nominate.
• SMD/FPTP electoral system.
• System over-represents large parties

10
General Election 2005

• Election results
• Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and UKIP
  contest most seats.
  
• Smaller parties do win sizeable portions of the
  vote.
  
• Labour and Conservatives strong in Wales and
  England.
  
• Labour and Lib Dems in Scotland.
• Northern Ireland has separate parties.
• Lib Dems as the protest vote.

11
House of Commons-Parties

• Labour 352
• Conservatives 196
• Liberal Democrats 63
• SNP/PC 9
• Northern Ireland 18
• Others 8
• GOVN MAJORITY 67

12
House of Lords-Upper House

• Refining legislation.
• Representation of the Church of England.
• Highest appeals court.
• Debates less politically charged.
• Can be overruled by Parliament Acts.
• Salisbury Convention.

13
House of Lords-Composition

• 26 Bishops
• 26 Law Lords
• 92 Hereditary peers
• 606 Life peers
• Bishops selected by Church, retire at 75.
• Law Lords serve until 70.
• Hereditaries elected.
• Life peers appointed by PM or Commission.
• Reform Commons wants elected Lords want
  appointed.

14
House of Lords-State of the Parties

• Labour 211
• Crossbench 208
• Conservative 204
• Liberal Democrat 77
• Bishops 26
• Other 12
• Leave of Absence 12

15
Next Lecture

• PMs Questions
• Is parliament declining?
• Thatcherism
• Blairism
• Almond
• Finish Riddell