The Role of the British Monarchy

1. The Role of the British Monarchy

2. History • Historically, Monarch had absolute authority • After Civil War, this authority was curbed and controlled • Modern power lies in influence, and is otherwise ceremonial • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAaWvVFERVA • Current house: House of Windsor (1917, previously House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 1901) • Queen Elizabeth coronated in 1953 Queen Elizabeth II

3. Public Opinion • Most Brits feel a sense of pride in their monarchy • Look to the monarch as a role model • Some see the monarchy as an obsolete and unnecessary institution

4. The Windsors in Action • Involved in Charity work • Most of the men serve in the armed forces (Harry Army, William Army/Navy/RAF, etc) • Represent the UK at an International Level • Queen Elizabeth is the head of the Commonwealth • Perform Ceremonial Duties • Play a leadership role Prince Harry Lady Diana

5. The Royal Wedding • Most people in the UK consider it an exciting and major event • The last royal wedding was that of Prince Andrew And Sarah Ferguson in 1986 • Some people are speaking out against her “common” blood Prince William and Kate Middleton

6. The Welfare State in the U.K. What services should the government provide to the people?

7. The Welfare State • Definition: “a system whereby the government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, esp. those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits.”

8. This presentation: • What it is • Where it came from • How people feel about it (the culture) • Future directions

9. Why is this important? • relationship between state & citizen • what people expect from their government • major contrasts with U.S.

10. Timeline ‘45: Labour comes to power (Clement Atlee, PM); begins implementing Welfare State ’97: Tony Blair comes to power, essentially continues Thatcherism ‘19: Labour adds Nationalization to platform ’48: National Health Service created ’42: Beveridge Report ~ 1895: Labour Party Founded present …Industrial Revolution 2010: David Cameron elected: Big Society, budget cuts, controversy over welfare state ’79-’90: Margaret Thatcher is in power; makes cuts 1914-1918: WWI 1939-1945: WWII

11. Timeline ‘45: Labour comes to power (Clement Atlee, PM); begins implementing Welfare State ’97: Tony Blair comes to power, essentially continues Thatcherism ‘19: Labour adds Nationalization to platform ’48: National Health Service created ’42: Beveridge Report ~ 1895: Labour Party Founded present …Industrial Revolution 2010: David Cameron elected: Big Society, budget cuts, controversy over welfare state ’79-’90: Margaret Thatcher is in power; makes cuts 1914-1918: WWI 1939-1945: WWII Idea takes shape implementation & golden age cuts, reevaluations, and uncertain future origins

12. Contents • Healthcare • National Health Service: free care for all • Education • state-funded schools for ages 3-18 • state-funded higher education • ’09-10: £3225 / year max (raised to £9000) • Employment • National Insurance Act (1911): health & unemployment insurance • Social Security • Old Age Pensions Act (1908)

13. Why did it emerge? • noblesse oblige: nobles’ responsibility to people • reaction to Industrial Revolution • needs of industry • healthy, educated workforce • WWII: people became accustomed to state control Beveridge

14. Why was it cut back under Thatcher? • poor performance • high spending • economic troubles • opposition to radicalized Labour • free-market ideology: • competition is key • similar to Reagan

15. How do people feel about it? • Healthcare, education, etc are rights, not privileges • noblesse oblige: government has obligation to help the common people • in contrast with U.S.; UK citizens are: • more comfortable w/ government involvement • less fixated on self-reliance • “communist” is not an automatic insult

16. Current Events: Where is it going now? • challenges: • financial crisis • debt • Cameron’s plan: • budget cuts • ~490k public sector job cuts • increased retirement age • increased college fees • reduced social services • Big Society • power → local communities (devolution) • volunteerism • support non-governmental aid organizations • charities, co-ops, social enterprises, etc

17. Reaction: A new, empowering type of society, or a glorification of budget cuts?

18. Positive Dr Rowan Williams: “The positive side of the big society agenda in the present Government's language is I think not just about saving money or cutting corners - it's about some kind of effort to get hold of a strong sense of civic responsibility”

19. Negative many students are not as enthusiastic

20. http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/uk-tuition-fee-protests-12355630http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/uk-tuition-fee-protests-12355630 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/networked-protests-in-the-uk-how-old-and-new-tactics-are-being-used-to/ December 2010: maximum fee increased to £9000 http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/12/london_tuition_fee_protest.html

21. Elections • UK general elections: • Held at least every 5 years w/ one-month campaign • 650 constituencies • 326 seats needed to win an overall majority

22. First Past the Post • Also known as “single ballot” or “single member plurality” • Definition: the electoral system in which the person winning the most votes in a constituency is elected.

23. Other Advocated Options Alternative vote: run-off voting w/ multiple rounds Single transferable vote: proportional representation w/ preferential voting

24. What Happened Last Year… • Labour Party: • 29.0% of vote; 47.2% of seats • Conservative Party • 36.1% of vote; 39.7% of seats • Liberal Democrats • 23.0% of vote; 0.09% of seats • Others • 11.9% of vote; 0.04% of seats

25. Coalition Government? Gordon Brown, the incumbent Prime Minister from the Labour Party and David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party began wooing Nick Clegg, head of the Liberal Democrats.

26. New Possible Measures • Regional and local governments currently use a proportional system, which many say is fairer than the general elections • Nick Clegg agreed to settle on a referendum for AV, although he wanted STV initially. • He serves as deputy under Cameron, who says that FPTP is better and simple. • They are saying their disagreement won’t hurt their relationship.