Introduction to Great Britain

1. Introduction to Great Britain What is the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and England?? *Information in this presentation adapted from “Comparative Government and Politics” by Ethel Wood.

2. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

3. Geography Area: 244,820 sq km. (94,525 sq mi); slightly smaller than Oregon. Capital: London (pop. 7.2 million) Climate: Mild and temperate; frequent changes but few extremes of temperature.

4. People • Nationality: Noun Briton (s) Adjective – British • Population (1999 est) 59.1 million • Major ethnic groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian • Major languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

5. Government Intro • Constitutional Monarchy • Unwritten Constitution: partly statutes, partly common law and practice. • Branches: Executive: Monarch (head of state) Prime Minister (head of gov’t) Legislative: Bicameral Parliament Judicial: magistrates’ courts, county courts, high courts, appellate courts, House of Lords. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

6. Queen and Prime Minister AP Comparative Government - Watkins

7. More on Legislative Branch: • House of Commons and House of Lords • Scottish Parliament • Welsh Assembly • Northern Ireland Assembly AP Comparative Government - Watkins

8. Political Parties • In Great Britain: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats • In Scotland: Scottish National Party • Wales: Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) • Northern Ireland: Ulster Unionist Party, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Fein, Alliance Party and smaller parties. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

9. Suffrage • British subjects and citizens of other Commonwealth countries and the Irish Republic resident in the UK, at 18. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

10. Economy • GDP: 1.4 trillion • GDP per capita: $24,300 • Trade: • Exports- manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, food, beverages, tobacco • Imports: manufactured goods, machinery, foodstuffs, fuels. • Major Markets: US, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Ireland AP Comparative Government - Watkins

11. History • Norman conquest in 1066 • Institutions developed which are characteristic of Britain: • political, administrative, cultural and economic center in London; • a separate but established church; • a system of common law; • distinctive and distinguished university education; and • representative government. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

12. Union • Both Wales and Scotland were independent kingdoms which resisted English rule. • 1707 England and Scotland unified as Great Britain. • Legislative union of Ireland and Great Britain completed 1801 under name United Kingdom. • 1921 Irish Free State established (Republic after WWII) • Six northern, predominantly Protestant, Irish counties have remained part of the United Kingdom. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

13. British Expansion and Empire • Foreign trade • Sea power protected English trade and opened up new routes • British empire = roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of the world’s area and population. • Colonies contributed to the UK’s economic growth and strengthened its voice in world affairs as well as developing and broadening its democratic institutions at home. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

14. British Empire 1719 AP Comparative Government - Watkins

15. The Sun Never Sets AP Comparative Government - Watkins

16. 20th Century • By early 1900’s, UK’s comparative economic advantage had lessened. • UK’s preeminent international position eroded • Ireland gained independence in 1921. • Nationalism grew in other parts of the empire (ex. India, Egypt) AP Comparative Government - Watkins

17. Commonwealth of Nations • Autonomy granted to number of states within the Empire • Commonwealth formed • British empire dismantled – became independent members of the Commonwealth. • 13 colonies have chosen to continue their political links. (UKOT) • Benefits of the Commonwealth: AP Comparative Government - Watkins

18. Government • UK does not have a written constitution. • Body of law is based on statute, common law and “traditional rights.” • Changes come through new acts of Parliament, informally through acceptance of new practices and usage, or by judicial precedents. • Tradition restrains actions. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

19. Executive Government • Rests nominally with the Monarch, but actually is exercised by a Committee of Ministers (Cabinet). • Cabinet selected from among members of the House of Commons and, to a lesser extent, House of Lords. • Prime Minister is normally the leader of the largest party in the Commons. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

20. Parliament • Represents the entire country • Maximum parliamentary term is 5 years, but 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. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

21. House of Commons • 659 members • Sole jurisdiction over finance. • Lower house, but main parliamentary arena for political battle. • A Government can only remain in office for as long as it has the support of a majority in the House of Commons. • Debates new primary legislation as part of the process of making an Act of Parliament • The House also scrutinizes the work of the Government. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

22. House of Lords • Reduced power • Can review, amend, or delay temporarily any bills except those related to budget. • Debates public issues • Current house consists of appointed life peers who hold their seats for life and 92 hereditary peers. • 176 members AP Comparative Government - Watkins

23. Principal Government Officials • Head of State: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. • Head of Government (Prime Minister) – The Honorable Tony Blair • MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – The Honorable Robin Cook AP Comparative Government - Watkins

24. Political Conditions • Tony Blair – Current Labour Prime Minister elected May 1, 1997. • 176 seat majority in House of Commons • Labour’s victory ended an 18 year run of Conservative (Tory) Party rule in UK • UK’s participation in EU AP Comparative Government - Watkins

25. Tony Blair AP Comparative Government - Watkins

26. US – UK Relations • Close ally of US • Common language, ideals, and democratic practices • Allied during both World War’s and founding members of NATO. • UK permanent member of UN Security Council AP Comparative Government - Watkins

27. United Kingdom The Commonwealth Labour Party New Labour Party Liberal Democrats Conservative Party Monarchy Prime Minister Parliament Constitution Unwritten constitution Cabinet Whitehall Thatcherism Industrialization First-past-the-post electoral system Central political roles Party discipline The Alliance Collective responsibility Official secrets Council housing Northern Ireland IRA Terms to know *Information in the above presentation adapted from “Comparative Government and Politics” by Ethel Wood. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

28. Discussion Questions 1 • Why does the author call England a ‘deviant case’ in comparative politics? • What were the major reasons for popular disillusionment in the 1960’s and 1970’s? • Compare the leadership styles of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

29. Discussion Questions 2 • Was Mrs. Thatcher a leader of women or a Prime Minister who incidentally happened to be a woman? • What is the difference between ‘isolation’ and ‘insularity’? • England is often accused of failing to identify a role for itself in the EU. Discuss contemporary trends and provide future scenarios based on those trends. AP Comparative Government - Watkins

30. Discussion Questions 3 • Should the US adopt an ‘Official Secrets Act’? Why or not? • Why was the poll tax so controversial? • Compare the British cabinet and the United States cabinet with regard to recruitment and responsibilities AP Comparative Government - Watkins

31. Discussion Questions 4 • Compare the basic assumptions regarding the responsibilities of government held by the British and American publics and their effects on process and policy. • Trace the changes in Britain’s world role. What are the contributing causes of those changes? What might be Britain’s future role in NATO? In EU? AP Comparative Government - Watkins