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PM's Cabinet

Foreign Office Conducts foreign policy Home Office Oversees judiciary Exchequer Oversees financial policy as head of the central bank. PM's Cabinet. Comprised of about 20 members (called ministers) ‏ Must be MPs Collective responsibility

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PM's Cabinet

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  1. Foreign Office Conducts foreign policy Home Office Oversees judiciary Exchequer Oversees financial policy as head of the central bank PM's Cabinet • Comprised of about 20 members (called ministers)‏ • Must be MPs • Collective responsibility • Cabinet must appear unified – even if someone opposes policy

  2. Parliament Responsibilities • Members actively debate issues • Participate in legislative committees • Vote on legislation • Power of vote of no confidence • The government (executive) proposes most of the legislation

  3. Parliament • Represents the entire country • Maximum parliamentary term is 5 years • the prime minister may ask the Monarch to dissolve parliament and call a general election at any time • Judiciary is independent of the legislative and executive branches but cannot review constitutionality of legislation • Majoritarian – the majority in Parliament has virtually unchecked power

  4. Parliamentary Sovereignty • Parliament can make or overturn any law • Only Parliament can nullify its own legislation • Increasing pressures to change this system as the pace of globalization continues • EU, UN

  5. Fusion of Powers • Parliament is the supreme legislative, executive, and judicial authority • The legislature and executive are fused • The PM and his Cabinet are “the government” and they are all members of Parliament • Effect on Gridlock?

  6. House of Lords Virtually powerless anachronism No veto power, but can delay legislation up to a year Court of last appeal 746 members Life peers Distinguished citizens appointed for life by the crown Hereditary peers Members of the aristocracy who until 1999 could bequeath their seats to their offspring ParliamentThe British Legislature • House of Commons • 646 members • 349 Labour • 193 Conservative • 63 Liberal Democrat • Represent individual districts throughout the UK • Follow party lead • Whips enforce the party line • MPs vote with party 90% of the time

  7. Unitary State • Unitary v. Federal State

  8. Pros and cons • FEDERALISM

  9. Pros and cons • Unitary

  10. Devolution • Devolution - the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a state to government at national, regional, or local level • Differs from federalism in that the powers devolved may be temporary and ultimately reside in central government, thus the state remains unitary • Parliament of the United Kingdom • Following a majority referendum in 1997 the following were created in 1999: • Scottish Parliament • Welsh Assembly • Northern Ireland Assembly

  11. Judicial System • Parliamentary sovereign (parliament’s decisions are final) did not allow the development of judicial review • No Judicial Review • Gaining authority with the passing of international laws (European Convention on Human Rights)‏ • British governments have begun to consult legal interpretations of their actions • House of Lords is the highest judicial authority (Law Lords) • Supreme Court – created by the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005 to align with EU requirements – Separates judicial system from legislative • 12 judges – not MPs

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