Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Professeur, LSHA
© Université de Strasbourg, 2011
Outline of the course
I – The UK Constitution
Well, the House of Lords, just as the Queen and the House of
Commons, is a main ingredient of British democracy (It was
abolished from 1649 to 1660). Together, the three forms of
constitution could not degenerate.
II – The UK Parliament
What is the difference between Parliament and Government?
The government runs the country. It has responsibility for
developing and implementing policy and for drafting laws. It is also
known as the Executive.
Parliament is the highest legislative authority in the UK. It has
responsibility for checking the work of government and examining,
debating and approving new laws. It is also known as the
Legislature.
PLAY VIDEO *** (Parliament and Government: An Overview) >>
(http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/videos/ygtp-
parliamentoverview.htm)
II – The UK Parliament
The Queen
Elizabeth II became queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland in 1952 upon the death of her father.
by convention, she
As a matter of fact,
Thirdly, even if she holds meetings with the PM every week, she
cannot discuss politics. It would raise a scandal if she did.
Lastly, even if she delivers the Queen’s Speech every year to open
every Parliamentary session, her speech is written by the PM in
office.
II – The UK Parliament
The Queen (ctd.)
The Queen also represents Britain to the rest of the world.
As 'Head of Nation', her role is to provide a focus for national
identity, unity and pride; give a sense of stability and continuity;
recognise success, achievement and excellence; and support service
to others, particularly through public service and the voluntary
sector.
The Queen is “Defender of the Faith”, i.e. she has a specific role to
play in the Churches of England and Scotland. There is no
established church in Northern Ireland and Wales.
The Queen is nominally the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces (That is, she is the only person to declare war and peace), but
de facto authority is exercised by the PM.
II – The UK Parliament
The Queen (ctd.)
Life Peers under the Life Peerages Act 1958 450 144 594
The House of Lords was part of the legislative as well as head of the
judiciary as the highest court in the UK – until last year.
The judicial role of the House of Lords as the highest appeal court in the UK
ended on 30 July 2009. See judiciary organization chart >>
On 1 October 2009, The Supreme Court replaced the Appellate Committee
of the House of Lords (i.e. the 12 Law Lords) as the highest court in the
United Kingdom.
It is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases. It is the highest
jurisdiction for criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (but
not in Scotland). It hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional
importance affecting the whole population.
II – The UK Parliament
The House of Lords (ctd.)
The Omega sign represents the highest degree in law / justice, and the three
flowers represent (from left to right) the national flowers of Scotland,
England, and Wales (the thistle, the rose, and daffodil).
The Lord President chairs the House of Lords.
II – The UK Parliament
The House of Commons
Conservative 193
Liberal Democrat 63
Democratic Unionist 9
Sinn Fein 5
Have not taken their seats and cannot vote
Social Democratic & Labour Party 3
Independent 5
Independent Conservative 1
Independent Labour 1
Ulster Unionist 1
Respect 1
Members of the Commons (MPs) debate the big political issues of the day
and proposals for new laws. It is one of the key places where government
ministers and the principal figures of the main political parties, work.
The Commons alone is responsible for making decisions on financial Bills,
such as proposed new taxes.
On both houses:
Summary:
The main roles of the UK Parliament are:
Examining and challenging the work of the government (scrutiny)
Debating and passing all laws (legislation)
Enabling the government to raise taxes
II – The UK Parliament
The House of Commons (ctd.)
Another thing of interest: each house includes select committees, and there
are also joint select committes.
To go further
What are the different stages of the law-making process? (6’17) >>
Video: Democracy? You decide *** >>
II – The UK Parliament
The House of Commons (ctd.)
Another thing of interest: each house includes select committees, and there
are also joint select committees.
To go further
What are the different stages of the law-making process? (6’17) >>
Video: Democracy? You decide *** >>
II – The UK Parliament
III – The UK government
The UK government
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
II – The UK Parliament
Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, First Secretary and Lord President of
Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP
Rt Hon Lord Mandelson
the Council
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Rt Hon John Denham MP
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Rt Hon Ed Balls MP
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Rt Hon Edward Miliband MP
Secretary of State for Health Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Shaun Woodward MP *
Leader of the House of Lords and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rt Hon Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Minister for the Cabinet Office, and for the Olympics and Paymaster General Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP
Secretary of State for Scotland Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP
Secretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Peter Hain MP
Secretary of State for Defence Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP
Secretary of State for Transport Rt Hon Lord Adonis
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon Ben Bradshaw MP
III – The UK government
The UK government (ctd.)
Enterprise
The Conservative Party has always been the Party for the
entrepreneur. It means both innovation with the creation of new
products and communal growth with the creation of new jobs.
IV – The Political Parties
The Political parties (ctd.)
The CP is made up of 4 key principles (ctd.):
Responsibility
Responsibility is broken into three key areas
- It is responsibility for ourselves, our family, and people around us
- It is responsibility for your country -- in your right and freedom to
vote to control the way in which Britain is governed.
- It responsibility to the environment
Patriotism
The Conservative Party strongly believes in the "United Kingdom".
IV – The Political Parties
The Political parties (ctd.)
Another party, the Liberal-Democrats (FR. : les
démocrates-libéraux), is emerging. Its leader is Nick
Clegg >>
IV – The Political Parties
The Political parties (ctd.)
What the LibDems stand for >>
"The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free
and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental
values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one
shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We
champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals, we
acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience and their
right to develop their talents to the full. We aim to disperse power, to
foster diversity and to nurture creativity. We believe that the role of the
state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully
to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect
their lives."