case study: politics in britain copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 pearson education, inc. all rights...

Case Study:

Politics in Britain

Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Country Bio: United KingdomCountry Bio: United Kingdom


Policy Challenges Facing BritainPolicy Challenges Facing Britain General Election of 2010 - no party won

majority in House of Commons. Conservative Party of David Cameron -

307 seats Labour Party of Gordon Brown - 258 seats Liberal Democratic Party of Nick Clegg -

57 seats. Conservatives, Liberal Democrats formed

coalition Government’s offices divided between

Cameron as prime minister and Clegg as deputy prime minister

General Election of 2010 - no party won majority in House of Commons.

Conservative Party of David Cameron - 307 seats

Labour Party of Gordon Brown - 258 seats Liberal Democratic Party of Nick Clegg -

57 seats. Conservatives, Liberal Democrats formed

coalition Government’s offices divided between

Cameron as prime minister and Clegg as deputy prime minister


Policy Challenges Facing BritainPolicy Challenges Facing Britain

British Empire = Commonwealth Antigua and Australia to India,

Pakistan, Zambia differ in wealth, culture, commitment to democracy.

Special relationship with U.S. Britain’s world position has declined European Community (1957) – now

EU Britain did not join until 1973 Created more policy challenges

British Empire = Commonwealth Antigua and Australia to India,

Pakistan, Zambia differ in wealth, culture, commitment to democracy.

Special relationship with U.S. Britain’s world position has declined European Community (1957) – now

EU Britain did not join until 1973 Created more policy challenges


The Structure of GovernmentThe Structure of Government

Crown rather than a constitution symbolizes the authority of government. Monarch only ceremonial head of state.

What constitutes the Crown? Government Government officials Whitehall Downing Street Parliament Collectively referred to as Westminster

Crown rather than a constitution symbolizes the authority of government. Monarch only ceremonial head of state.

What constitutes the Crown? Government Government officials Whitehall Downing Street Parliament Collectively referred to as Westminster


What the Prime Minister Says and DoesWhat the Prime Minister Says and Does

Political Leader Ambiguous Duties Imperatives of the Prime

Minister: Winning elections Campaigning through the

media Patronage Parliamentary performance Making and balancing

policies

Political Leader Ambiguous Duties Imperatives of the Prime

Minister: Winning elections Campaigning through the

media Patronage Parliamentary performance Making and balancing

policies


The Cabinet and Cabinet MinistersThe Cabinet and Cabinet Ministers

Cabinet is senior ministers appointed by prime minister

Must be members of House of Commons or House of Lords

Remain important as department heads Major Whitehall departments differ

greatly from each other Political reputation of ministers depends

on success in promoting interests of their department in parliament, in media, in battles within Whitehall

Cabinet is senior ministers appointed by prime minister

Must be members of House of Commons or House of Lords

Remain important as department heads Major Whitehall departments differ

greatly from each other Political reputation of ministers depends

on success in promoting interests of their department in parliament, in media, in battles within Whitehall


The Civil ServiceThe Civil Service

Largest number of civil servants are clerical staff with little discretion

Most important group of civil servants is smallest group Advise ministers, oversee work of

their departments Top civil servants are bipartisan,

ready to work for whichever party is winner

Thatcher: focus on making civil service more businesslike

Largest number of civil servants are clerical staff with little discretion

Most important group of civil servants is smallest group Advise ministers, oversee work of

their departments Top civil servants are bipartisan,

ready to work for whichever party is winner

Thatcher: focus on making civil service more businesslike


The Role of ParliamentThe Role of Parliament

Principal division in Parliament is between party with majority of seats in House of Commons and opposition party.

If bill or motion is identified as vote of confidence in government, government will fall if it is defeated

MPs from majority party generally vote as party leadership instructs

Whitehall departments draft bills presented to Parliament

Government rather than Parliament sets budget

Principal division in Parliament is between party with majority of seats in House of Commons and opposition party.

If bill or motion is identified as vote of confidence in government, government will fall if it is defeated

MPs from majority party generally vote as party leadership instructs

Whitehall departments draft bills presented to Parliament

Government rather than Parliament sets budget


The Role of ParliamentThe Role of Parliament

Functions of MPs: weigh political reputations publicize issues scrutinize legislation examine how Whitehall

departments administer public policies

MPs in the governing party have private access to the government ministers

Functions of MPs: weigh political reputations publicize issues scrutinize legislation examine how Whitehall

departments administer public policies

MPs in the governing party have private access to the government ministers


The Role of ParliamentThe Role of Parliament House of Lords

Unique as second chamber because initially composed of hereditary peers

1999: Labour abolished right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit in House of Lords

Government often introduces noncontroversial legislation in Lords if it deals with technical matters

Uses Lords as revising chamber to amend bills

Lords cannot veto legislation, but can amend or delay passage of government bills

House of Lords Unique as second chamber because

initially composed of hereditary peers 1999: Labour abolished right of all but

92 hereditary peers to sit in House of Lords

Government often introduces noncontroversial legislation in Lords if it deals with technical matters

Uses Lords as revising chamber to amend bills

Lords cannot veto legislation, but can amend or delay passage of government bills


The Courts and Abuses of PowerThe Courts and Abuses of Power Supreme Court created as highest

judicial authority, 2009 Replaced old practice of highest court

being committee of House of Lords Court consists of president and 11

justices Serves as final appeal on points of law Limited powers, cannot declare Acts of

Parliament unconstitutional

Supreme Court created as highest judicial authority, 2009

Replaced old practice of highest court being committee of House of Lords

Court consists of president and 11 justices

Serves as final appeal on points of law Limited powers, cannot declare Acts of

Parliament unconstitutional


Government as NetworkGovernment as Network

Within Whitehall network, core set of political figures are important in determining policies Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers In coalition government major

decisions cannot be made by single politician

Within Whitehall network, core set of political figures are important in determining policies Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers In coalition government major

decisions cannot be made by single politician


Political Culture and LegitimacyPolitical Culture and Legitimacy

Trusteeship Theory of Government: leaders take initiative

Collectivist Theory of Government: government balances competing demands

Individualist Theory of Government: parties represent people not geoups

Trusteeship Theory of Government: leaders take initiative

Collectivist Theory of Government: government balances competing demands

Individualist Theory of Government: parties represent people not geoups


Political Culture and LegitimacyPolitical Culture and Legitimacy Evidenced by readiness of British

people to comply with basic political laws

Not related to economic calculations

Symbols of common past as major determinants of legitimacy

Habit and tradition

Evidenced by readiness of British people to comply with basic political laws

Not related to economic calculations

Symbols of common past as major determinants of legitimacy

Habit and tradition


Political SocializationPolitical Socialization

Socialization influences the division between those who do and do not participate Family and Gender: create youthful

identification with party Education: more educated not as

likely to be conservative as once were Class: Conservative = middle class,

Labour = working class Mass Media: only a few papers, TV is

primary source of news

Socialization influences the division between those who do and do not participate Family and Gender: create youthful

identification with party Education: more educated not as

likely to be conservative as once were Class: Conservative = middle class,

Labour = working class Mass Media: only a few papers, TV is

primary source of newsCopyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Organizing Group InterestsOrganizing Group Interests

Civil society institutions flourished in Britain for centuries Confederation of British

Industries: big business, direct contacts with Whitehall

Trades Union Congress: labor Voluntary/Charitable

Associations

Civil society institutions flourished in Britain for centuries Confederation of British

Industries: big business, direct contacts with Whitehall

Trades Union Congress: labor Voluntary/Charitable

Associations


Party System and Electoral ChoiceParty System and Electoral Choice General election must occur at least once

every five years Prime minister is free to call election any

time Winner is candidate who is first past the

post (plurality) Winner nationally is party that gains most

seats Two party system vs. multiparty system Distribution of seats in House of Commons

different from distribution of share of votes

General election must occur at least once every five years

Prime minister is free to call election any time

Winner is candidate who is first past the post (plurality)

Winner nationally is party that gains most seats

Two party system vs. multiparty system Distribution of seats in House of Commons

different from distribution of share of votes


Why Public Policy MattersWhy Public Policy Matters

Government relies on three major resources to produce benefits of public policy: Laws – unique resource of government;

contracts are only effective if enforced Money – taxes on incomes and

consumption and stealth taxes Personnel – public employees are needed

to administer laws and deliver services Social security most costly program of

British government

Government relies on three major resources to produce benefits of public policy: Laws – unique resource of government;

contracts are only effective if enforced Money – taxes on incomes and

consumption and stealth taxes Personnel – public employees are needed

to administer laws and deliver services Social security most costly program of

British government


case study: politics in britain copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 pearson education, inc. all rights...

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majority party

opposition party

whichever party

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