2. Overview of the United Kingdom’s political system
United Kingdom is ruled by frame of constitutional monarchy, where
Monarch (Queen) is head of state and PM of the United Kingdom is
head of government.
Executive power is executed by Her Majesty’s Government, on
interest of and by approval of Monarch and also by devolved
Governments of Scotland and Wales, and Northern Ireland Executive.
Legislative power is vested in two chambers of Parliament of the
United Kingdom, House of Commons and House of Lords and also in
Scottish parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies.
Judiciary is independent of executive and legislature.
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is highest national court.
3. Overview of the United Kingdom’s political system – cont.
British political system is multi-party system.
Since the 1920s, UK’s two main political parties have been
Conservative Party and Labour Party.
Prior to rise of Labour Party in British politics, Liberal Party was
other major political party alongside Conservatives.
Although coalition and minority governments have been frequently
occurring feature in parliamentary politics, plurality electoral system
used for general elections tends to retain dominance of these two
parties, but both have in the past century been dependent on a third,
minor party to deliver working majority in Parliament.
4. Government of the United Kingdom
Government: Unitary
parliamentary constitutional
monarchy
Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
Prime Minister: David Cameron
MP
Legislature: Parliament
Upper house: House of Lords
Lower house: House of
Commons
5. Parliament of the United Kingdom
Supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, British
Crown dependencies and British overseas territories.
Located in Westminster, London.
Parliament alone executes legislative supremacy, thus
ultimate power above all other political bodies in the UK
and its territories.
Its head is the Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II.
Bicameral parliament, with upper house, House of Lords,
and lower house, House of Commons.
Queen is third constituent of legislature.
House of Lords includes two different types of members:
Lords Spiritual (senior bishops of Church of England) and
Lords Temporal (members of Peerage) whose members
are elected not by population at large, but rather are
nominated by Sovereign on advice of PM.
Prior to opening of Supreme Court in October 2009,
House of Lords carried out judicial role through Law
Lords.
House of Commons is democratically elected chamber
with elections held at least every five years; two houses
convene in separate chambers in Palace of Westminster
(commonly called Houses of Parliament) in London.
By constitutional convention, every government minister,
which includes PM, are members of the House of
Commons, or less often, House of Lords; are thus
answerable to respective branches of legislature.
6. Parliament of the United Kingdom – cont.
Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 after approval of Treaty of Union by both
Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland passing Acts of Union.
However, in practice, parliament was continuation of English parliament with
supplement of English parliament with supplement of Scottish MPs and peers.
Parliament was further expanded by approval by Parliament of Great Britain and
Parliament of Ireland of Act of Union (1800), which ended Irish Parliament; 100 Irish
members were added to Commons and 32 to Lord to create Parliament of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Has been referred to as “the mother of parliaments”, its democratic institutions having
set criterions throughout the world, and UK parliament is biggest Anglophone legislative
body in the world.
However, John Bright, who coined this term, used it in allusion to England, not to her
parliament.
Theoretically, supreme legislative power lays in Queen-in-Parliament; in practice in
modern times, real power lays in House of Commons, as Sovereign usually acts on advice
of PM, restricting powers of House of Lords.
7. House of Lords
Upper house of UK’s parliament.
Like the House of Commons, it meets in Palace of Westminster.
Independent from, and models work of, House of Commons;
Lords share liability for making laws and checking government
action.
Bills can be introduced into either House of Lords or House of
Commons; members of the Lords may also take on positions as
Government Ministers.
Has its own support services; these are separate from
Commons, including House of Lords Library.
Unlike elected House of Commons, most new House of Lords
members are nominated; membership in House of Lords
comprises Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal.
26 Lords Spiritual currently sit in Lords by merit of ecclesiastic
role in established Church of England.
Lords Temporal makes up remainder of membership, of whom
most are life peers who are nominated by Monarch on advice of
PM, or on advice of House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Membership was once right of birth to hereditary peers, but
after a series of reforms, only 92 members (as of 1 July 2011)
sitting by merit of hereditary peerage are left.
Number of members is not fixed; House of Lords has 775
members as of 11 June 2012 (excluding 28 who are on leave of
absence or otherwise are unfit for sitting), unlike House of
Commons, which has fixed membership of 650 seats.
Coeval of role of House of Lords is mainly to act as body of
specialist knowledge that critically evaluates in bigger detail
bills that have been confirmed by House of Commons.
Frequently surveys and reforms bills from Commons.
8. House of Lords – cont.
While House of Lords is unable unilaterally to keep bills from passing into law (excluding
specific limited circumstances), its members can severely postpone bills that they believe are
mistaken and therefore force government, Commons, and general public to rethink their
choices.
In this capacity, Lords act as constitutional safeguard that does not rely on electoral process and
that can challenge the will of the public when majority’s wishes endangers constitutional
principles, human rights or rules of law.
In other nations, this position would be executed by Constitutional or Supreme Court, but
British system’s importance on parliamentary sovereignty – instead of judicial review – means
that this role cannot be properly achieved by British court system as all judicial decrees can be
rejected by parliament.
Speech from the throne, frequently known as Queen’s Speech, is delivered from House of Lords
during State Opening of Parliament.
The House additionally has a minor Church of England role in that through Lords Spiritual,
Church Measures must be tabled within House.
9. House of Commons
Lower house of Parliament of the United
Kingdom which, like House of Lords (upper
house) convenes in Palace of Westminster.
Commons is democratically elected body
comprising of 650 members known as MPs.
Members are elected to represent constituencies
by first-past-the-post, holding their seats until
Parliament is dissolved.
House Commons of England developed at some
point in England during 14th century and became
House of Commons of Great Britain following
1707 political union with Scotland and of United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland following
political union with Ireland prior to taking its
current title after independence was granted to
Irish Free State in 1922.
Under Parliament Act 1911, Lords’ power to
dismiss legislation was decreased to delaying
power.
Government is mainly liable to House of
Commons and PM remains in office as long as
he/she maintains its endorsement.
10. Major parties in House of Commons
Conservative and Unionist Party
Liberal Democrats
Labour Party
Democratic Unionist Party
Scottish National Party
† Sinn Féin
Plaid Cymru-Party of Wales
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Green Party of England and Wales
Respect Party
Ulster Unionist Party
Scottish Green Party
Traditional Unionist Voice
UK Independence Party
British National Party
†Sinn Féin MPs do not take their seats as they
prefer not swearing loyalty to the crown.
11. Minor parties
Animals Count
British Freedom Party
Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR)
Jury Team
Liberal Party
Libertarian Party
National Liberal Party – The Third Way
The New Party
No Candidate Deserves My Vote!
Peace Party (UK)
Pirate Party of the United Kingdom
Popular Alliance
Science Party
Social Democratic Party
Veritas Party
We Demand a Referendum
13. Queen Elizabeth II
Born 21 April 1926 in Mayfair, London.
Constitutional Monarch of 16 sovereign states (known as
Commonwealth realms) and their territories and
dependencies since 6 February 1952.
Also head of 54-member Commonwealth of Nations.
Supreme Governor of the Church of England; carries title
Defender of the Faith in some of her spheres as part of
her full title.
Became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant
of seven independent Commonwealth nations, upon her
accession: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon.
Number of her spheres altered from 1956 to 1992 as
territories gained independence, with some spheres
becoming republics.
Is additionally Queen of Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas,
Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,
Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Her rule of 60 years is currently second longest for a
British monarch; Queen Victoria ruled longer at 63 years.
Major events in her rule include the Troubles in Ireland,
Falklands War, two wars with Iraq, and War in
Afghanistan.
There have been several times of personal sorrow for her,
including her father’s death at 56, assassination of Prince
Philipp’s uncle Lord Mountbatten, collapse of her
children’s marriages in 1992 (believed a year later to be
her annuls horribilis), 1997 death of her daughter-in-law
Diana, Princess of Wales, and the deaths of her mother
and sister in 2002.
14. David Cameron
Born 9 October 1966 in London.
PM of the United Kingdom since 11 May 2010, and First
Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and
Leader of the Conservative Party.
Represents Whitney as its MP.
Studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at
Oxford, where he acquired first class honours degree.
Subsequently joined Conservative Research Department,
becoming Special Advisor to Normon Lamont, and later
to Michael Howard.
Was also Director of Corporate Affairs at Carlton
Communications for seven years.
Lost his first candidacy for Parliament at Stafford in 1997,
but was elected in 2001 as Member of Parliament for
Oxfordshire constituency of Witney.
Advanced to Opposition front bench two years later,
rising rapidly to become head of policy co-ordination
during 2005 general election campaign.
Won Conservative leadership election in 2005, with
public image of youthful, moderate candidate who would
attract young voters.
Conservative Party obtained 307 seats in hung parliament
in 6 May 2010 general election; formed coalition with
Liberal Democrats following five days of intense
negotiations.
Became youngest PM, at age 43, since Earl of Liverpool
198 years prior.
Is head of first coalition government of United Kingdom
since World War II.
15. Nick Clegg
Born 7 January 1967 in Chalfont in St Giles.
Leader of Liberal Democratic Party since 18 December
2007 and MP, representing Sheffield Hallam since 5 May
2005.
Deputy PM since 11 May 2010 and Lord President of the
Council; has special responsibility for political and
constitutional reform in coalition government of which
David Cameron is PM.
Previously MEP and award winning journalist for
Financial Times.
Was elected to House of Commons at 2005 general
election; became Liberal Democrats’ Home Affairs
Spokesman on 2 March 2006, serving until 18 December
2007.
Became Deputy PM after 2010 general election, at which
Liberal Democrats formed coalition government with
Conservative Party.
Has contributed to many pamphlets and books on
political issues, in addition to his parliamentary roles; has
also had large number of jobs, such as being a ski
instructor and working in the office of a bank in Helsinki.
Attended University of Cambridge, University of
Minnesota, and College of Europe in Belgium.
Is fluent in English, French, Dutch, German, and Spanish.
Is married to Miriam Gonzalez Durante.
16. Ed Miliband
Born 24 December 1969 in London.
Leader of Labour Party and Leader of Opposition
since 25 September 2010.
MP for Doncaster North since 5 May 2005, serving
in cabinet of PM Gordon Brown from 2007 until
2010.
He and his brother, David Miliband, were first
siblings to sit in Cabinet at the same time since
Edward, Lord Stanley, and Oliver Stanley in 1938.
Graduated from Corpus Christi College, Oxford and
London School of Economics; became television
journalist and later Labour Party researcher, prior to
his rise to one of Chancellor Gordon Brown’s
fiduciaries and Chairman of HM Treasury’s Council
of Economic Advisers.
Was nominated by PM Gordon Brown as Minister
for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster on 28 June 2007 and served until 3
October 2008; later advanced to new position of
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change,
serving in that capacity until 11 May 2010.
Was elected leader of Labour Party on 25 September
2010.
17. Conservative Party
Centre-right political party that adheres to philosophies of
conservatism and British unionism.
Biggest party in the United Kingdom; biggest single party in the House
of Commons with 306 MPs, biggest party in local government with
9,391 councilors, and biggest British party in European Parliament
with 25 MEPs.
Governs in coalition with Liberal Democrats, with party leader David
Cameron as PM.
Informally referred to as the Tory Party or the Tories, it emerged in
1834 from original Tory Party, which dates back to 1678.
Was one of two large parties in the 19th century, together with Liberal
Party.
Changed its name to Conservative and Unionist Party in 1912 after its
merge with Liberal Unionist Party , though that name is not often used
and is typically referred to simply as Conservative Party.
Liberal vote decreased in the 1920s and Labour Party became
Conservatives’ main rivals.
Conservative PMs led governments for 57 years of 20th century, such as
Winston Churchill (1940-45, 1951-55) and Margaret Thatcher (1979-
90).
Thatcher’s tenure saw wide-ranging economic liberalisation, putting
Conservatives firmly as most free market and eurosceptic of three main
parties.
Having been unable to form a majority, it returned to government in
coalition in 2010 under more liberal leadership of David Cameron.
Biggest British party with 25 MEPs, who sit with soft eurosceptic
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) parliamentary group;
the party itself is member of Alliance of European Conservatives and
Reformists (AECR) Europarty.
Third-biggest party in Scottish Parliament and second-biggest in
Welsh Assembly; are currently allied to Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) as
part of Ulster Conservatives and Unionists arrangement, with UUP
currently partaking in five-party Northern Ireland Executive.
18. Liberal Democrats
Social liberal political party which advocates
constitutional and electoral reform, progressive
taxation, wealth taxation, environmentalism,
human rights laws, cultural liberalism, baking
reform and civil liberties.
Founded 2 March 1988 by union of Liberal Party
and Social Democratic Party.
Had formed electoral SDP-Liberal Alliance for
seven years before, since SDP’s creation; Liberals
had existed for 129 years and were in power
under leaders such as Gladstone, Asquith and
Lloyd George.
Nick Clegg was elected its leader in 2007.
Obtained 57 seats at 2010 general election,
making them third-biggest party in House of
Commons behind Conservatives with 307 and
Labour with 258.
With no party acquiring overall majority, Liberal
Democrats joined coalition government with
Conservatives; Clegg became Deputy PM and
other Liberal Democrats took up ministerial
posts.
19. Labour Party
Centre-left political party and one of two major British
political parties along with Conservative Party.
Founded in 1900, overtaking Liberal Party in general
elections during early 1920s, with minority governments
formed under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931.
Was in wartime coalition between 1940 and 1945,
afterwards forming majority government under Clement
Attlee; was also governing party from 1964-1970 and
1974-1979 under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan,
respectively.
Was last in national government between 1997 and 2010
under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, beginning with
majority of 179, which decreased to 167 in 2001 and 66 in
2005.
Having won 258 seats in 2010 general election, it
currently leads Official Opposition in the British
parliament.
Has minority government in Welsh Assembly; is biggest
opposition party in Scottish Parliament with 13 MEPs in
European Parliament, where it sits in Socialists and
Democrats group.
Member of Socialist International and Party of European
Socialists.
Its current leader is MP Ed Miliband.
