T
T
he political
he political
system in the UK
system in the UK
Kamil Kominek, IV TD 2011/2012
Kamil Kominek, IV TD 2011/2012
T
T
he political
he political
system in the UK
system in the UK
Kamil Kominek, IV TD 2011/2012
Kamil Kominek, IV TD 2011/2012
The introduction:
The introduction:
United Kingdom > Great
United Kingdom > Great
Britain
Britain
United Kingdom of
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
created in 1801
created in 1801
.
.
Great Britain
Great Britain
:
:
England
England
,
,
Scotland
Scotland
,
,
Wales
Wales
.
.
The
The
introduction:
introduction:
Union Jack
Union Jack
British national flag is called "
British national flag is called "
Union Jack
Union Jack
".
".
It symbolises the Union of
It symbolises the Union of
England
England
,
,
Scotland
Scotland
and
and
Ireland
Ireland
and dates back from 1801.
and dates back from 1801.
The flag is made up of the crosses of the patron
The flag is made up of the crosses of the patron
saints of:
saints of:
England
England
(St George's red cross on a white field)
(St George's red cross on a white field)
Ireland
Ireland
(St Patrick's red diagonals on a white field)
(St Patrick's red diagonals on a white field)
Scotland
Scotland
(St Andrew's white diagonals on a blue
(St Andrew's white diagonals on a blue
field)
field)
Wales
Wales
is not represented because when the flag
is not represented because when the flag
first appeared it was already united with England.
first appeared it was already united with England.
The introduction
The introduction
Britain is administered from the
Britain is administered from the
Palace of
Palace of
Westminister
Westminister
in London (also known as the
in London (also known as the
Houses of Parliament)
Houses of Parliament)
The power of
The power of
Queen
Queen
is not absolute. It is
is not absolute. It is
limited by the Parliament.
limited by the Parliament.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland is a
Northern Ireland is a
constitutional monarchy
constitutional monarchy
.
.
T
T
he Constitution
he Constitution
U
U
nwritten
nwritten
, based on traditions and common
, based on traditions and common
law
law
.
.
I
I
t´s easy to change it (by an Act of Parliament
t´s easy to change it (by an Act of Parliament
or by general agreement)
or by general agreement)
.
.
D
D
ivides power between 3 independent
ivides power between 3 independent
branches:
branches:
1.
1.
l
l
egislative
egislative
,
,
2
2
.
.
executive
executive
,
,
3.
3.
judicial
judicial
.
.
1. T
1. T
he LEGISLATIVE power:
he LEGISLATIVE power:
THE PARLIAMENT
THE PARLIAMENT
make
make
s
s
laws, vote
laws, vote
s
s
taxes and public
taxes and public
expen
expen
ses
ses
checks the work of
checks the work of
the Government
the Government
(
(
the Sovereign
the Sovereign
,
,
the House of Commons
the House of Commons
,
,
the
the
House
House
of
of
Lords
Lords
)
)
H o u s e o f L o r d s
T h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s
T h e Q u e e n
The Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament
The Government
The Government
THE SOVEREIGN
THE SOVEREIGN
at present
at present
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II
,
,
mainly symbolical function (she takes part at ceremonials,
mainly symbolical function (she takes part at ceremonials,
traditional celebrations,..)
traditional celebrations,..)
,
,
she appoints ministers, judges and governors
she appoints ministers, judges and governors
,
,
she is the head of
she is the head of
the Armed Forces
the Armed Forces
and of
and of
the Church of England
the Church of England
.
.
THE HOUSE OF LORDS
THE HOUSE OF LORDS
has over 1000 members
has over 1000 members
,
,
the head is
the head is
the Lord Chancellor
the Lord Chancellor
,
,
made up of
made up of
the Lords of Temporal
the Lords of Temporal
(about 900)
(about 900)
,
,
the Lords Spiritual
the Lords Spiritual
(2 Archbishops of Canterbury
(2 Archbishops of Canterbury
and York
and York
+ 24 bishops of the Church of England)
+ 24 bishops of the Church of England)
,
,
they sign the bills to consider it as a law,
they sign the bills to consider it as a law,
they can refuse bills got from The House of
they can refuse bills got from The House of
Commons
Commons
.
.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
consists of 651
consists of 651
Members of Parliament
Members of Parliament
(MPs) – each represents
(MPs) – each represents
a particular part of the country
a particular part of the country
,
,
they pass the bills
they pass the bills
,
,
the Speaker (elected by MPs)
the Speaker (elected by MPs)
=
=
the chief officer
the chief officer
-
-
he preside
he preside
s
s
over the house
over the house
,
,
elections – every 5 years
elections – every 5 years
,
,
minimum voting age – 18 years
minimum voting age – 18 years
,
,
candidates must be over 21
candidates must be over 21
.
.
Benches in the
Benches in the
House of Commons
House of Commons
Chamber are
Chamber are
coloured green.
coloured green.
In contrast, the
In contrast, the
House of Lords is
House of Lords is
decorated in red.
decorated in red.
2. T
2. T
he EXECUTIVE power:
he EXECUTIVE power:
THE GOVERNMENT
THE GOVERNMENT
the head is
the head is
Prime Minister
Prime Minister
(the leader of
(the leader of
the party, which has the majority in
the party, which has the majority in
The
The
House
House
of Commons
of Commons
)
)
,
,
Present PM is
Present PM is
Tony
Tony
Blair
Blair
– the
– the
representative of the
representative of the
Labour Party
Labour Party
(lives
(lives
at 11 Downing Street)
at 11 Downing Street)
,
,
he chooses his
he chooses his
government ministers
government ministers
(about 20) =
(about 20) =
the Cabinet
the Cabinet
(formally
(formally
appointed
appointed
by the Queen)
by the Queen)
,
,
the second strongest party forms an
the second strongest party forms an
Opposition (Shadow-Cabinet)
Opposition (Shadow-Cabinet)
,
,
the Prime Minister with the Cabinet
the Prime Minister with the Cabinet
have real political power
have real political power
.
.
2. T
2. T
he EXECUTIVE power:
he EXECUTIVE power:
Cabinet
Cabinet
The Cabinet is a
The Cabinet is a
committee of ministers
committee of ministers
.
.
2. T
2. T
he EXECUTIVE power:
he EXECUTIVE power:
THE GOVERNMENT
THE GOVERNMENT
S e n io r M P - s
T h e y a ll f o r m t h e c a b in e t
G o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n ts
M e m b e r s o f th e L o r d s
P r im e m in is t e r
3. T
3. T
he JUDICIAL power:
he JUDICIAL power:
The United Kingdom does not have a single legal system due to it
The United Kingdom does not have a single legal system due to it
being created by the political union of previously independent
being created by the political union of previously independent
countries with the terms of the Treaty of Union guaranteeing the
countries with the terms of the Treaty of Union guaranteeing the
continued existence of Scotland's separate legal system.
continued existence of Scotland's separate legal system.
Today the UK has three distinct systems of law:
Today the UK has three distinct systems of law:
English law
English law
,
,
Northern Ireland law
Northern Ireland law
and
and
Scots law
Scots law
. Recent constitutional changes
. Recent constitutional changes
saw a new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom come into being in
saw a new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom come into being in
October 2009 that took on the appeal functions of the Appellate
October 2009 that took on the appeal functions of the Appellate
Committee of the House of Lords.
Committee of the House of Lords.
The
The
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
, comprising the same
, comprising the same
members as the Supreme Court, is the highest court of appeal for
members as the Supreme Court, is the highest court of appeal for
several independent Commonwealth countries,
several independent Commonwealth countries,
the UK overseas
the UK overseas
territories
territories
and
and
the British crown dependencies.
the British crown dependencies.
Political System
Political System
of Great
of Great
Britain
Britain
Great Britain
Parliamentary
Monarchy
The Prime-
Ministers
Parliame
nts
The
Queen
The official
residence –
Downing Street,
10
The
House
of
Commo
ns
The
House
of
Lords
Residence –
Buckingham
Palace
The
Cabinet
The
opposition
Department
s
Electoral systems
Electoral systems
The
The
first-past-the-post
first-past-the-post
system is used for general elections to the
system is used for general elections to the
House of Commons, and also for some local government elections
House of Commons, and also for some local government elections
in England and Wales.
in England and Wales.
The
The
plurality-at-large voting
plurality-at-large voting
(the bloc vote) is also used for some
(the bloc vote) is also used for some
local government elections in England and Wales.
local government elections in England and Wales.
The
The
Additional Member System
Additional Member System
is used for elections to the Scottish
is used for elections to the Scottish
Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales (Welsh Assembly) and
Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales (Welsh Assembly) and
London Assembly. The system is implemented differently in each
London Assembly. The system is implemented differently in each
of the three locations.
of the three locations.
The
The
single transferable vote
single transferable vote
system is used in Northern Ireland to
system is used in Northern Ireland to
elect the Northern Ireland Assembly, local councils, and Members
elect the Northern Ireland Assembly, local councils, and Members
of the European Parliament, and in Scotland to elect local councils.
of the European Parliament, and in Scotland to elect local councils.
Electoral systems
Electoral systems
The
The
Alternative Vote
Alternative Vote
system is used for by-elections in
system is used for by-elections in
Scottish local councils.
Scottish local councils.
The
The
party-list proportional representation
party-list proportional representation
system is
system is
used for European Parliament elections in England,
used for European Parliament elections in England,
Scotland and Wales.
Scotland and Wales.
The
The
supplementary vote
supplementary vote
is used to elect directly-
is used to elect directly-
elected mayors in England, including the mayor of
elected mayors in England, including the mayor of
London.
London.
P
P
olitical parties in the UK
olitical parties in the UK
today:
today:
The Labour Party
The Labour Party
-
-
left wing, their program includes
left wing, their program includes
many social reforms and active social politics
many social reforms and active social politics
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party
– right wing, they put more
– right wing, they put more
emphasis in private enterprise
emphasis in private enterprise
The Liberals
The Liberals
Social and Liberal Democrats
Social and Liberal Democrats
- left of centre
- left of centre
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
- the oldest political movement in Ireland
- the oldest political movement in Ireland
Local
Local
government
government
The UK is divided into a variety of different types of
The UK is divided into a variety of different types of
Local Authorities
Local Authorities
, with different functions and
, with different functions and
responsibilities.
responsibilities.
England has a mix of two-tier and single-tier councils
England has a mix of two-tier and single-tier councils
in different parts of the country. In
in different parts of the country. In
Greater London
Greater London
, a
, a
unique two-tier system exists, with power shared
unique two-tier system exists, with power shared
between the
between the
London borough
London borough
councils, and the
councils, and the
Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
which is headed by an
which is headed by an
elected mayor
elected mayor
.
.
Unitary Authorities
Unitary Authorities
are used throughout
are used throughout
Scotland
Scotland
,
,
Wales
Wales
and
and
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
.
.
European
European
Union
Union
The United Kingdom first joined the
The United Kingdom first joined the
European
European
Economic Community
Economic Community
in January 1973, and has
in January 1973, and has
remained a member of the
remained a member of the
European Union
European Union
(EU)
(EU)
.
.
UK citizens, and other EU citizens resident in the
UK citizens, and other EU citizens resident in the
UK, elect 78 members to represent them in the
UK, elect 78 members to represent them in the
European Parliament
European Parliament
in Brussels and Strasbourg.
in Brussels and Strasbourg.
Sources:
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.google.com/
http://www.google.com/
http://www.schrapnel.cz/skotsko/mapaanglie.htm
http://www.schrapnel.cz/skotsko/mapaanglie.htm
http://www.kralovstvimap.cz/katalog/velka-britanie-
http://www.kralovstvimap.cz/katalog/velka-britanie-
londyn/7
londyn/7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_United_Ki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_United_Ki
ngdom#England.2C_Wales_and_Northern_Ireland
ngdom#England.2C_Wales_and_Northern_Ireland
Thank you for attention!
Thank you for attention!