British Government

« I - THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION - MONARCHY, DEMOCRACY → British political culture is a PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY ​ blends : ancestral political traditions ​ ​ modern conceptions of democracy → Unlike Western nations, don’t have a written constitution ​ ↳ uncodified Constitution composed of vast number of texts, laws, statutes and traditions​ (12th century) ⇒ define the functioning of the political system ​ ↳ Walter Bagehot (journalist/economist), political essay The English Constitution (1867) ​ ​ ​ ​ • “DIGNIFIED” branch ​ ​ ​ ​ • ”EFFICIENT” branch DIGNIFIED BRANCH -​ refers to ceremonial and symbolic aspects of government embodied by MONARCHY -​ visits, ceremonies and speeches -​ intended to inspire loyalty, patriotism and provide sense of continuity of the national identity EFFICIENT BRANCH -​ practical and functional aspects ; day-to-day administration + decisions-making processes -​ elected official, government ministers, civils servants, institutions of Parliament -​ formulation and implementation of policy, enactment of laws and management of public affairs A)​ THE DIGNIFIED BRANCH : ROYALTY → King Charles III of Windsor (Elisabeth II ♥️ Philip Mountbatten) ​ ↳ head of the State ​ ↳ head of the Commonwealth ​ ↳ head of the Commonwealth Realms → constitutional prerogatives are religious and political 1) The role of the monarch → monarch is considered as part of the executive branch of the state (“the Queen reigns but does not rule” only the “right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn”) a) Appointment of the Prime Minister → general election, voters elect their Member of Parliament (MPs) in their constituencies (650) ​ ↳ the monarch choose the person who commands the House of Commons (party winner) ​ ↳ latter must form a government in the monarch’s name (“His/Her Majesty government”) → the British electoral system is a single-round ​ ↳ hung parliament is when none of the party at the election wins an absolute majority (at​ least (50%) so mains parties have to negotiate an alliance to form a majority government and decide who will lead → each bill voted by the Parliament must be submitted to royal assent ​ ↳ the monarchy sign a bill into law = Act of Parliament ​ ↳ can refuse but would be a forme of absolutism against the expression of democracy b) Opening of the parliamentary session → the monarch presides over the opening of the parliamentary session ​ ↳ King/Queen → Westminster Palace (The Houses of Parliament) in the Irish Stage Coach​ accompanied by her/his consort and other dignitaries ​ ↳ monarch’s crown, sceptre and orb (the regalia) leave the Tower to Westminster by a​ ​ stage coach ​ ↳ monarch puts on the crown in the Robing Room by Lord Great Chamberlain of England ​ ↳ then welcomed by the peers in the House of Lords ​ ↳ Black Rod invites Members of the House of Commons to come listen to Queen’s speech (Commons Serjeant at Arms closes the door to symbolize the independence of the House of Commons from the Crown, the Black Rod knocks 3 times and on the third time the MPs enter the House of Lords led by Prime Minister and leader of the opposition) ​ ↳ The Lord Chancellor hands out the speech to the monarch written by the Prime Minister​ and his Cabinet ⇒ “King’s/Queen’s speech” lays out the government plan for the current parliamentary year c) Dissolution and summoning of the Parliament → the monarch has the power to dissolve the Parliament : ​ ​ • composition of the House don’t give to PM a sufficient majority to act (dissolve the​ ​ assembly and call for early election before the end of the electoral cycle ​ ​ • when the government act in an unconstitutional way → members of HC and government (Cabinet) are elected for 5 years d) Chief of the armies → the monarch is the Chief of the armies ​ ↳ has the power to declare war at the request of the Prime Minister (use of military force​ ​ subjected to debate and vote in the House of Commons) e) Judiciary powers → the monarch is referred to as “source of all justice” ​ ↳ British tribunal = “royal courts of justice” ​ ↳ judges = “His/Her Majesty's judges” → sovereign has the power to remiss the sentence of a convict or grant his royal pardon (in theory) → the monarch is assisted by his Privy Council (composed of seniors politicians and member of the Parliament chosen for their experience) 2) Religious powers → 1534 Schism of Henry VIII with the Roman Catholic church and creation of the Church of England with King as Supreme Head ​ ↳ Catherine of Aragon (his wife) gave birth to a daughter (Mary) and not a son so Henry VIII want to divorce her, the Pope Clement VII refused and excommunicated the King ​ ↳ Henry VIII then persecuted Catholics in England and dissolved monasteries ​ ↳ spread of the reformation under the influence of Luther and Calvin (prominent figures) who questioned the authority of the Pope ​ ⇒ King of England = “Supreme head of the Church of Eng”/ “Defender of the Faith” → No separation between the church and the state of UK → doctrine : King = anointed by God, God’s representative on earth → The archbishops of Canterbury and York are members of the HL with other 26 bishops, they are the Lords Spiritual → church has to change with the evolution of manners in society (acceptance of divorce and remarriage within the royal family) 3) Head of the Commonwealth → adoption of the Statute of Westminster (1931) (free cooperation of the Commonwealth of nations composed of UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland) = modern Commonwealth → Commonwealth today : 56 nations (former countries of British Empire) → Commonwealth Realms : 15 countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, the UK ​ ↳ not republics, they are constitutional monarchies and parliamentary democracies → King = Head of Commonwealth ; effective leader = Commonwealth Secretary General ​ ↳ Patricia Scotland 4) The representation of the Crown → by his public appearances, monarch = national unity ​ ↳ ceremonies, commemorations → every Christmas, broadcast speech : • to evoke the value of hope associated to Christian celebration • look back on the events of the year on personal/national level • address the wishes for the new year → receive visits from foreign heads of state hosted in the royal residences (Buckingham, Windsor, Holyrood), take part in banquets and entertainment at the court II - DEMOCRACY IN THE UK → efficient branch = House of Commons + Cabinet → dignified branch = monarchy + House of Lords → since the late 90s, reforms to political system → more democratic and less centralised (questioning ancestral forms of government based on privilege) → The Palace of Westminster = HC and HL → Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh → Wales Assembly in Cardiff → Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast A)​ The British Parliament → British Parliament → Houses of Parliament in Westminster → bicameral system (higher house = HL) + (lower house = HC) 1.

The House of Commons → MPs (Member of Parliament) ; make the law ; 5 years (universal suffrage) ; 650 (all constituencies of UK : 59 Scotland, 40 Wales, 18 Northern Ireland) → legislative power : study of bills are first examined and voted in the HC, then HL ​ ↳ Government bills (Public Bills) = 90% in HC are proposed by the Cabinet (constitute the​​ materialisation of electoral promises made by the party in office) ​ ↳ Private Member’s Bills are proposed by backbenders MPs/member of HL (not belong to gvt) → legislative procedure = series of reading in the HC, accompanied by debates and amendment process ​ ↳ HC debates presided by The Speaker (elected by MPs regardless their party) ​ ↳ last stage is the vote, whip makes sure that the members of his party take part in the proceedings, ​ enter the “Aye lobby” of the “No lobby” ​ ↳ once adopted in HC, transmitted to HL for examination, debate and amendment ​ ↳ 1949.... »