Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Introduction
- Political history in Britain and Ireland over the past 800 years illustrates the growth of
what is now the UK and modern changes in its composition.
- Changing social conditions resulted in the growth of political parties, the extension of
the vote to adults, the development of local government and a 20th century devolution
(transfer) of some political power to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- The political structures are still vigorously debated. Public disillusionment.
2. Political history
Early political history in the islands is the story of four geographical areas, now known
as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and their turbulent struggles for
independent nationhood.
2.1 Decline of the monarchy and the rise of Parliament
- Early monarchs: lot of power but advice from feudal lords
- However, King John (1199-1216) ignored limitations and powerful French-Norman
barons opposed his dictatorial rule by forcing him to sign the Magna Carta in 1215.
Importance of this document.
- Embryonic Parliamentary structures. Simon de Montfort summoned a broader
Parliament in 1264. The Model Parliament (1275) of Edward I (1272-1307): the first
representative English Parliament. Two houses (as now).
- As the English Parliament was too large to rule the country, a small Privy Council
(royal government outside Parliament) comprising the monarch and court advisers
developed.
- Tudor England (1485-1603): a return to the power by the monarch. Tudor monarchs
(of Wales ancestry) united Wales and England administratively, politically and legally
in the 16th century.
- James VI of Scotland - James I of England: The Stuarts.
- Charles I (Stuart dynasty) was forced by Parliament to sign the Petition of Rights in
1628. The Petition prevented him from raising taxes without Parliaments consent
- 1642: Civil War. Charles I was beheaded in 1649 and the monarchy was abolished.
- Cromwells Protectorate and his son Richard
- Peoples discontent with the Protectorate. Charles II restores the monarchy.
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It is tied to the monarchy. It developed from a small group of royal advisers into
the executive branch of the monarchs government. Today its members (such as
Cabinet Ministers) advise the monarch on the approval of government business
which does not need to pass through Parliament.
There are 400 Privy Councillors.
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The British political system has existed since the 17th century.
The Labour Party: left-of-centre. Its ideas and geographical/social support.
The Conservative Party: right-of-centre. Its ideas and geographical/social
support
The Liberal Democrats (Lib/Dem) formed in 1988.
Small parties are also represented in the House of Commons.
Tactical voting/ hung Parliament/ coalition deal
Sitting arrangements in the House of Commons. The backbenchers.
The Whips: Whips are MPs or Lords appointed by each party in Parliament to
help organise their party's contribution to parliamentary business. One of their
responsibilities is making sure the maximum number of their party members
vote, and vote the way their party wants. Party discipline.
Etimology: The use of the word 'whip' within Parliament has its roots in the 18th
century hunting terminology 'whipper-in'. It refers to a huntsman's assistant who
drives straying hounds back to the main pack using a whip.
7. The UK government
- The UK government is the executive arm of the political system. It is centred on
Whitehall in London, where its ministries and the primer ministers official residence,
10 Downing Street, are located.
- The prime minister is appointed by the monarch and is usually the leader of the
majority party in the Commons. Weekly audience with the monarch. The prime minister
is accountable for government actions.
- The Cabinet is a small executive body in the government and usually comprises about
20 senior ministers, who are chosen and presided over the primer minister.
- Decisions at Cabinet meetings/ primer ministers personality and his/her decision to
control each of the cabinet members duties.
- Civil servants and their duties.
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9. Devolved structures
-
Polls consistently reveal that British politicians and political parties do not rate
highly in public opinion. Respondents say that politicians are the least admired
group of professionals (apart from journalists) and that they never answer the
questions people put to them.
Cronyism = favouring political supporters for public and official positions
The 2008-2009 scandal (parliamentarians claims of expenses for a range of
dubious and often excessive expenses.
Increasing political apathy, particularly among the young.
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However, MORI opinion research in 2001 showed that interest in politics had
actually remained stable in Britain for thirty years and that people had positive
attitudes to voting. People appear to be more interested in the political process
and issues than is popularly assumed.
What seems is that there is a disconnection between voters and politicians.
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QUESTIONNAIRE
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6.
When did all women over 21 first get the vote in England?
7.
What percentage of women MPs are there in the new parliament of 2010?
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14.
How does the public find out what has happened in the Cabinet?
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