Politics in Britain.ppt

Politics in Britain The political system United Kingdom Size about two times that of the state of Mississippi Population about 59 million non-white immigration since WWII from South Asia, West Indies, and East Asia 4.6 million (8% of total population) Europeans? United Kingdom Great Britain United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland created in 1801 Great Britain England Scotland Wales Historical evolution: gradualism Historical challenges to all industrialized democracies: Building the nation-state Defining the relationship between church and state Establishing liberal democracy Dealing with the impact of the industrial revolution Monarch versus Parliament 1215: Magna Carta 1500s: the Church of England 1642-60: Civil War and Restoration 1688: Glorious Revolution 1701: Act of Settlement royal succession Early 1700s: emergence of prime minister Unwritten constitution Lack of a written constitution Parliamentary system Parliament selects the prime minister prime minister is not elected by popular vote normally the head of majority party or coalition Cabinet responsibility to parliament major legislation and votes of confidence British government Government Queen’s, Tony Blair’s, or Labour government Whitehall Street executive agencies Downing Street prime minister’s residence Westminster parliament Democratization continued 1832: Great Reform Act (men’s suffrage) 1911: Reform of House of Lords 1928: Right to vote for all adults Electoral system Single-member district First-past-the-post (winner-take-all) system Election results Parliament The House of Commons 659 members voting is 100% along party lines in most votes party versus constituency interests the House of Lords is not elected reforms House of Commons the government gets its way MPs weigh political reputations MPs in the governing party have opportunities to influence government MPs talk about legislation MPs scrutinize administration of policies MPs publicizing issues Parties and interest groups Po