the united kingdom the british constitution the queen – the head of the state
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The British system of government. The United Kingdom The British constitution The Queen – the head of the state The three branches of Government Devolution Criticism. The United Kingdom. The United Kingdom. Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England 60 million people - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The United Kingdom
The British constitution
The Queen – the head of the state
The three branches of Government
Devolution
Criticism
The British system of government
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom
Wales, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and England
60 million people
646 constituencies
The United Kingdom
Wales, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and England
60 million people
646 constituencies
one of the oldest democrasies
of the world
constitutionally Monarchy
The British constitution
no single written document
combination of common laws
and practices
constitutional Monarchy
Westminster System
The Queen – the head of the state
The Queen – the head of the state
executive legislature judiciary
The Queen – the head of the state
many theoretical powers:
appoints the Prime Minister
can dissolve the parliament
her agreement is necessary
to pass laws
in reality the Queen has only a representative role
The Queen – the head of the state
she can avoid laws
she commands the army
final check on executive power
stability of democracy
but:
The legislature
Queen
The House of Parliament
The House of Lords The House of Commons
The legislature
Queen
The legislature
Queen
The House of Parliament
The House of Lords The House of Commons
The agreement of all 3 is necessary to pass laws
The legislature
Queen
The House of Parliament
maximum legislative period of 5 years
legislative period is divided into sessions
The House of Parliament
Functions: to pass lawsto debate about issuesto control the government
The House of Parliament
Functions:
Authorities
to pass lawsto debate about issuesto control the government
legislates for the whole United Kingdom
can prolong its legislative period
Members may not be arrested
statements may not be used as evidence
The House of Lords
The House of Lords
consists of: bishops, Law Lords,
hereditary peers and life peers
House of Lord Acts (1999)
Constitutional Reform Act (2005)
731 members:
603 life peers
92 hereditary peers
24 bishops
12 law lords
The House of Lords
Functions:
control laws passed by the
House of Lords
give advice
control the government
Authorities:
delay laws for one year
The House of Lords
Restrictions:
may not delay money bills for longer than a month
may not change laws which passed parliament
may not vote or campaign for the House of Commons
no salaries
The House of Lords
speaker
The House of Lords
woolsack
The House of Lords
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
The House of Commons
The House of Commons
consits of 646 members
England : 525
Wales : 40
Scotland : 59
Northern Ireland : 18
each member represents
a constituencie
Elections for the House of Commons
elections have to be at least every five years
candidate:
nomination paper
500 pounds caution money
voter:
British resident
citizen of the United Kingdom
or another Commonwealth state
Elections
Elections
first-past-the-post system:
safe majorities
discrimination against small
parties
voter:
British resident
citizen of the United Kingdom
or another Commonwealth state
The House of Commons
motion of no confidence
question time
privilege on money bills
exclude public
Rights and authorities:
the more powerful chamber
The speaker of the House of Commons
rights:
can exclude Members of
Parliament
can stop irrelevant debates
is allowed to close the sitting
leads the conversation
protects minorities
The House of Commons
Serjeant-at-Arms
The House of Commons
The House of Commons
Members of Parliament have to declare their financial interests
Parties
the Labour Party, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats own 95% of
all seats in the House of Commons
Parlamentarian Bills
three types of bills
Public Bills: affect general law
Private Bills: concern rights of individuals
Hybrid Bills: Public Bills that could affect
individuals
They are debated in committees
and in the cabinet
The executive - the government
Prime Minister:
appointed by the queen
usually the leader of the
strongest party
Unique position of authority:
holds several ministirial positions
can appoint and remove ministers
can choose the time of dessolution
The executive - the government
Unique position of authority:
holds several ministirial positions
can appoint and remove ministers
can choose the time of dessolution
he is also controlled by parliament, but the control is weak
The executive - the government
Ministers:
about 20 ministers
the House of Commons can
impeach them
earn 45000 to 65000 punds
The Privy Council
The Prime Minister und his ministers have to belong to the Privy Council
Judiciary
no single judicial system
some courts have the authority for
the whole united Kingdom
at present the House of Lords is the
highes court of appeal
there are criminal and civil courts
Devolution
process of decentralisation
Since 1999:
Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland have their own parliaments
The House of Parliament can
exptend or restrict rights
Disadvantages
power is concentrated
not much political diversity
the nobility has too much
influence
Sources
http://britannia.com/gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.parliament.uk/
http://www.google.de