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Part 2: Governance & Policy-Making

Part 2: Governance & Policy-Making. Spring 2013. Organization of the State. Parliamentary Democracy Parliamentary Sovereignty Parliament can make or overturn any law Limited now by EU law – overrides British law Unitary State With devolved powers to Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

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Part 2: Governance & Policy-Making

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  1. Part 2: Governance & Policy-Making Spring 2013

  2. Organization of the State • Parliamentary Democracy • Parliamentary Sovereignty • Parliament can make or overturn any law • Limited now by EU law – overrides British law • Unitary State • With devolved powers to Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland • Fusion of Powers • Fusion of Executive and Legislative branches • Constitutional Monarchy

  3. Constitutional Monarchy • Reigns but does not rule • All the power but no power • Head of state (PM = Head of Government) • Gives advice to PM (weekly meeting) • Speech from the Throne: “My government” (speech written by PM) • Gives “Royal Assent” to bills • Black Rod • Apolitical (neutral) Queen Elizabeth II (1952 - Present)

  4. The Executive • Prime Minister (PM) • MP and leader of majority party • “First among equals” • Serves only as long as he/she is leader of majority party • Chooses cabinet and shapes policy for govt • Current PM is David Cameron (2010) • Conservative Party

  5. How is Prime Minister Chosen? • Leader of party that has a majority (50% + 1) of seats in the House of Commons • If no party has a majority (Hung Parliament) – 2 options: • Coalition (group) of parties • (Formed by Conservatives and Lib Dems after 2010 election) • or • Minority Government: party most likely to get majority on bills

  6. The Executive • Cabinet • Center of policymaking • Members are party leaders from Parliament (both houses) chosen by PM • “Collective Responsibility” • Cabinet members don’t vote • Publicly support PM’s decisions • Cabinet Members are NOT policy experts • Rely on bureaucracy (Whitehall) to provide expertise

  7. Parliament • House of Commons (Lower House) • House of Lords (Upper House) Bicameral Legislature: Two Houses

  8. House of Lords (Upper House) • Membership: About 740 members • Life peers: appointed by monarch on advice of PM • Hereditary peers • Lords spiritual: Church of England officials • Role in Legislation • Debate, refine, amend, delay, but not block legislation

  9. House of Commons(Lower House) • Government: PM, Cabinet, and Collective Responsibility • Shadow Government referred to as “Loyal Opposition” • Backbenchers: not in government or shadow government • Speaker: • Non-Partisan MP • Decides who speaks during debate and Question Time • Keeps order • Votes only in the case of a tie

  10. Party Discipline • Since majority party = Govt, party discipline very important • Must vote party line • Majority party wants to avoid losing “vote of no confidence” • If issue is not supported, cabinet must resign immediately and elections for new MP’s must be held as soon as possible

  11. How to Get Elected to House of Commons • 650 members; 650 districts • Single Member District Plurality (First-Past-The-Post) • One MP (member of Parliament) per district • Do NOT have to live in district • Party leaders run in “safe” districts • Most votes wins (do not need majority (50% + 1 more)): First-Past-the-Post

  12. House of Commons • Conservative 306 • Liberal Democrat 57 HM Official (Loyal) Opposition • Labour257 Other Opposition • Democratic Unionist Party DUP 8 • Scottish National Party SNP 6 • Plaid CymruPlaid 3 • Sinn FéinSF 5 (Abstentions) • Social Democratic Labour Party SDLP 3 • Greens Greens 1 • Independent Independent 2 • Alliance Alliance 1 Speaker • Speaker and Deputies 4

  13. Judiciary - Supreme Court • 12 justices • Final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases. • Hears appeals in criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland • Determines devolution issues (have devolved governments acted within their powers) • Ensures laws are consistent with EU laws and the European Convention on Human Rights • cannot overturn any primary legislation made by Parliament (judicial review) • Common law--precedent

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