This lecture is an introduction to British institutions. It covers the following topics: Britain's uncodified constitution The Monarchy The division of powers The House of Commons The House of Lords

1. BRITISH INSTITUTIONS

2. Politics of the United Kingdom
 A constitutional monarchy
 Monarch is head of state
 Prime Minister is head of government.
 Executive power is carried out by HM's Government,
on behalf of and by consent of Monarch

3. Principles of the Constitution
Two basic principles govern the
Constitution:
The Rule of Law
The Supremacy of Parliament

4. • The Legislative Power: makes the law (ie.
Debates, votes and passes new laws)
• The Judicial Power: interprets the law (ie.
Decides what punishment should be given for
those that break the law)
• The Executive Power: implements and enforces
the law (ie. Makes sure that the decisions of the
legislature are carried out)
The division of powers

5. The division of powers
• The Legislative Power : Parliament
(House of Commons, House of Lords,
the Monarch)
• The Executive : the government
(the party or coalition with a
majority in the Commons)
• The Judiciary : the judges and
especially the Supreme Court

6. Monarch
(Representative
Function)
Supreme Court
(since 2009)
House of
Lords
House of
Commons
Government
Prime
Minister
Nation
(electorate)
Partiament
elects
elects
can
dissolve
appoints aristocrats
can dissolve appoints
appoints justices
Legistative
Executive
Judiciary
Separation of powers
appoints
Parliamentary monarchy in the United Kingdom

7. The British Constitution
A constitution is a set of laws on how a
country is governed.
The British Constitution is unwritten
It is referred to as an uncodified
constitution.
Amendments to constitution are made
by a majority support in both Houses of
Parliament to be followed by the Royal
Assent.

8. Sources of the Constitution:
Statutes such as the Magna Carta of
1215, the Bill of Rights and the Act of
Settlement of 1701.
Laws and Customs of Parliament;
Political conventions
Decisions in a court of law
Constitutional experts who have
written on the subject such as Walter
Bagehot and A.V Dicey.

9. Magna Carta
1215
Meaning the great Charter
Primarily served the
interests of the upper class
by limiting the power of the
king
Deals with feudal rights,
customs and the
administration of justice.

10. 10
Why is the Magna Carta
important?
The Magna Carta was the first
example of an English king setting
specific limits on royal power.
The Magna Carta tried to prevent the
king from abusing his power and it
made clear that the king was subject
to the law, not above it.

11. 11
Which clauses of the Magna
Carta are valid today?
the liberties of the English Church;
the privileges of the city of London and
other towns;
no free man shall be imprisoned,
dispossessed, outlawed or exiled
without the lawful judgement of his
equals or by the law of the land.

12. English Bill of Rights1689
 Parliament approval for army & taxation
 No special courts for political ends;
 Freedom of petition guaranteed;
 free elections and annual parliaments;
 Freedom of speech inside Parliament;
 Protestant monarchy guaranteed, reinforced by Act of
Settlement 1701.

13. For or Against
Pros: Flexibility and change
Cons: no public access– Only
constitutional experts know where to
look and how to interpret it.

14. Strengths
• Coherent system of government
• Evolved over time: flexible & changes,
reflecting the values of the British People
 • Parliamentary sovereignty ensures a
clear centre of authority
• The rule of law protects the rights of
citizens • Government is accountable to
parliament and the electorate

15. Weaknesses
• centralised government
• Local and sub-national governments are
not constitutionally protected
• The rights of citizens are weak and not
safeguarded effectively
• Undemocratic elements survive e.g. the
monarchy, House of Lords
•The separation of powers remains
ambiguous
Monarch

23. The Monarchy
Ahh
When I think ath

24. The Monarch: Head of Nation
and Head of State
Monarch (referred to as
the Sovereign or "His/Her Majesty",
abbreviated H.M.) is Head of State
and head of government.
Oaths of allegiance are made to the
Monarch
 "God Save the Queen" (or "God Save
the King") is the British national.

25. Primogeniture
 Throne is inherited:
 Throne goes to the eldest son when a monarch dies
 when no sons, the eldest daughter ascends the throne.
 This was the case when Elizabeth II succeeded to
the throne in February 1952 upon the death of her
father, George VI.
 Her husband, Prince Philip, has the title of Prince
Consort, but no rank or privileges.
 The current heir to the throne is Elizabeth II’s
eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales.
 A regent may be appointed to rule for the sovereign if
he or she is underage or incapacitated

26. The Queen
Her picture appears on postage
stamps, but her personal mail is
franked.

27. Queen appears on coins and
banknotes

28. What the Queen Can Do
She can drive as
fast as she likes
in a car which
needs no license
number.

29. What the Queen Can Do
She can confer Britain’s highest civilian
decoration, the Order of Merit—one
honour in which the Sovereign retains
freedom of choice.

30. What the Queen Can’t Do
Her Majesty cannot vote.
Nor can she express her political
opinion in public.
She cannot sit in the House of
Commons (building royal property).
She cannot write her own speech.
She cannot refuse to sign a bill, and
she cannot appear as a witness in
court.
Law, Conv. &
prcedent

32. Law vs. Convention &
Precedent
Role of the Monarch is determined by
law, but also by convention and
precedent: by law , the monarch
 has, the right to take a more active
role – to refuse to sign new legislation,
for example, but by convention she
never makes use of this right.

33. The role of the monarch: By
law
Prerogatives of the monarch :
opens and dissolves parliament
gives her assent to all legislation by
signing parliamentary bills so they become
law
Appoints prime minister after general
election.
has weekly audience with the prime
minister.

34. The role of the monarch: By
convention and Precedent
In accordance with unwritten
constitutional conventions, Sovereign
appoints the Prime Minister, usually
the leader of the party or coalition
that has a majority in that House.
The monarch is commander-in-chief of
the British Armed Forces.
The monarch can dissolve parliament
on the advice of the PM.

35. Reigns but does not rule!
Monarchy is a ‘dignified’ institution,
plays vital role BUT no meaningful
political power.
Fount of Honours
Defender of Faith
Fount of Justice
Head of Nation
Head of State
Head of the Commonwealth!

36. The Queen’s role
Constitutional Arbitration – In times of
Crisis
Stability –1,000 years of Sovereignty
Continuity –helps to bridge the discontinuities
of party politics
Experience –reading state papers, meeting
heads of state and ambassadors, and weekly
audiences with Prime Ministers

37. The Queen’s role (2)
Unity: Party politics = disagreement and
confrontation. (rich vs poor, north vs south,
management vs unions, Catholic vs Protestant…)
Moral Leadership & Model Behaviour
Custodianship of the Past – Through its
ceremony, pageantry and ritual, the monarchy
preserves the link with Britain’s history

38. Coronation ceremony

39. QUEEN’s DIAMOND JUBILEE
1952- 2012

40. Shall the monarchy be
abolished?
The head of state should be elected in a
democratic country.
·The royal family is elitist.
· It is a very expensive institution.
· Functions formal and automatic.
Royal family not always a good example
in family life and private morals.
 Secession within a monarchy does not
guarantee competency.

41. Coming next
The House of Lords!

43. The House of Lords
Parliament's second chamber.
Role: 'double check' new laws.
About 800 members. Not elected.
No power to stop a new law but can
delay it (veto lost in 1911)
Bills must go through both Houses
before becoming 'Acts' (laws).

44. Who sits in the House of
Lords?
Peers!
Life peers appointed by the Queen on
advice of Prime minister and 26 bishops
Lords Spiritual (bishops)
Hereditary peers: 90

45. The House of Lords Debated
unelected
unaccountable
Too much
power
mostly live in
London, the
east and the
south east
 Experience &
expertise
 Retired
generals, trade
union leaders,
academics and
judges
 Stability

46. House of Commons
The most powerful of the two houses.
659 elected members. (427 green
seats)
Members are called MPs.
The Commons is the most important
place for discussing policies and
making laws.

47. House of commons
ON A PASSAGE OF A BILL

48. PASSAGE OF A BILL
House of Commons
House of Lords
House of Lords
House of Lords
3RC21
1 2 C R 31 2 C R 3
3RC21
Royal Assent
Bill starting in the
House of Lords
Bill starting in the
House of
Commons
Royal AssentA
A
Britain

49. And politics

50. 2017 General Elections

51. Two-party system
majority of MPs in the House of
Commons belong to:
The Conservative party (the tories), or
The Labour Party
Power has always alternated between
the two major parties.

52. Electoral system
Elections every 5 years.
First-past-the-post: voting system in
which a person is elected because they
get more votes than anyone else in
the area that they want to represent.
System is said to favor major parties.

53. Electoral system

54. Political Parties
Conservative Party Labour Party
 support mainly from
business interests
and middle and
upper classes
 strongholds tend to
be in southern
England
 support from trade
unions, working
class & middle-class
 electorate in south
Wales, Scotland,
and the Midland and
northern English
industrial cities.

55. Public
vs Private
 1783
 Individuals should
own and control
businesses and
profits;
 The government
should not
interfere.
 1900
 The government
should provide good
public services such
as schools &
hospitals.
 The government
should help close
the gap between
rich and poor

56. Money
 Tax should be low.
 Private businesses
will provide services
which will improve
their quality.
 Different levels of
tax depending on
earnings.
 taxes used to
provide services for
everybody, rich and
poor.

57. Community
 Traditional values
should be
encouraged to build
strong communities
and families.
 Strict discipline and
respect will cut
crime and criminals
should be treated
harshly.
 Communities need
to be strong by
promoting tolerance
and respect for all.
Everyone should
enjoy their
individual while
aware of their
responsibilities

58. The
Future
 Traditions (monarchy
and House of Lords)
are an essential part
of Britain's history (no
change)
 little involvement or
interference from the
European Union. The
UK must stand strong.
 Britain has a very
important part to
play in Europe &
should play a
leading role.
 Cease arms exports
to countries
accused of violating
humanitarian law.
 The end

59. They are laughing…
Shall I tell them there
will be a quiz next
week?