British British GovernmentGovernment

Monarchy, Parliament , Prime Monarchy, Parliament , Prime Minister & the CabinetMinister & the Cabinet

I. General featuresI. General features The oldest representative democracyThe oldest representative democracy DefinitionDefinition A government in which the supreme power A government in which the supreme power

is vested in the people and exercised through is vested in the people and exercised through a system of representation, usually involving a system of representation, usually involving periodically held free elections.periodically held free elections.Example of U.K. Example of U.K.

The most important is the representation The most important is the representation itself, through which all major government itself, through which all major government decisions are made by popularly elected decisions are made by popularly elected officials, who are accountable to the officials, who are accountable to the electorate for their actions.electorate for their actions.

Q1: What are the basic Q1: What are the basic elements of British elements of British government?government?

II. MonarchyII. Monarchy

DefinitionDefinition

the undivided sovereignty or rule of the undivided sovereignty or rule of a single person. The term is applied a single person. The term is applied to states in which the supreme to states in which the supreme authority is vested in a single authority is vested in a single person, the monarch, who is the person, the monarch, who is the permanent head of the state.permanent head of the state.

Origin in the historyOrigin in the history

Beginning of monarchyBeginning of monarchy1.1. The divine rights of kingsThe divine rights of kings2.2. The hereditary system The hereditary system www.royal.gov.ukwww.royal.gov.uk

In 1603, James VI and I was the first monarch to rule over England, Scotland, and Ireland together.

As a constitutional monarch, The Queen is required to aAs a constitutional monarch, The Queen is required to assent to all Bills passed by Parliament on the advice of Gssent to all Bills passed by Parliament on the advice of Government ministers. Her Majesty also plays an importovernment ministers. Her Majesty also plays an important role in the ceremonial opening and dissolving of Parant role in the ceremonial opening and dissolving of Parliament.liament.

The Queen visits Ravenswood Village in Berkshire in DecThe Queen visits Ravenswood Village in Berkshire in December 2008.ember 2008.

The Duke of Edinburgh attends an Honorary Degree Congregation at Senate-House in his role as Chancellor,

University of Cambridge, in 2007.

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace in Westminster is the official London residence of the British sovereign. Its interior, open to the public during August and September while the queen is on vacation, contains many elegantly furnished apartments and noted collections of paintings. Funds raised from the summer visits go toward repairing Windsor Castle, a royal residence located just outside of London that was damaged by fire in 1992.

Holyrood Palace, the monarch's official Scottish residence

Q2: What is regarded as the Q2: What is regarded as the first document of limitation first document of limitation on the monarch’s power?on the monarch’s power?

The weakening process of kings’ divThe weakening process of kings’ divine rightsine rights

1.1. Common views of absolute power in tCommon views of absolute power in the medieval agehe medieval age

2.2. Conflicts between kings & church anConflicts between kings & church and feudal baronsd feudal barons

1215 1215 Magna Carta Magna Carta ((the Great Chartethe Great Charterr))

Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell

Charles IICharles II

Court Party & Community Court Party & Community PartyParty

1679 Tory Party & Whig Party1679 Tory Party & Whig Party James IIJames II William IIIWilliam III 1689 the Bill of Rights1689 the Bill of Rights

III. The ParliamentIII. The Parliament

Source of the word “parliament”Source of the word “parliament”

“ “to parley”: to negotiate, to discuss to parley”: to negotiate, to discuss and talkand talk

Houses of Parliament (Westminster Palace) and Big Ben

Across the street of Houses of ParliamentAcross the street of Houses of Parliament

Q3: What was the predecessor Q3: What was the predecessor ((前身前身 ) of the British Parliamen) of the British Parliament?t?

Functions of parliament in the historFunctions of parliament in the historyy

1.1. Advantages for the king at the beginnAdvantages for the king at the beginninging

1236 to pay for royal expenses1236 to pay for royal expenses the Great Council (the Great Council ( 大议会大议会 ))

The expansion of the gatheringThe expansion of the gathering

kings’ dissatisfactionkings’ dissatisfaction

the Parliament: the House of Lordsthe Parliament: the House of Lords

the House of the House of CommonsCommons

Calls from the CommonsCalls from the Commons

a formula since Henry IVa formula since Henry IV

law-making powerlaw-making power

Westminster PalaceWestminster Palace

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

IdeasIdeas

1.1. Freedom from royal interference Freedom from royal interference with the lawwith the law

2.2. Freedom from taxation by royal Freedom from taxation by royal prerogatives without agreement by prerogatives without agreement by ParliamentParliament

3.3. Freedom to petition the kingFreedom to petition the king

4.4. Freedom to elect members of Freedom to elect members of ParliamentParliament

The English Bill of Rights of 1689 curtailed the monarch's

governmental power.

ImplicationsImplications

1.1. Parliamentary supremacyParliamentary supremacy

2.2. Curtailment of rights of the Curtailment of rights of the monarchymonarchy

3.3. An important step toward An important step toward constitutional monarchyconstitutional monarchy

Q4: Who are the people Q4: Who are the people with the real political with the real political power nowadays in British power nowadays in British government?government?

IV. The Prime Minister & IV. The Prime Minister & CabinetCabinet

CabinetCabinet

1.1. Who composes the Cabinet?Who composes the Cabinet?

2.2. What is the function of the What is the function of the Cabinet?Cabinet?

The structure of the Cabinet?The structure of the Cabinet? Prime MinisterPrime Minister Deputy Prime Minister (Leader of the HDeputy Prime Minister (Leader of the H

C)C) Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chancellor of the Exchequer (财政大臣财政大臣 )) Secretaries of State Secretaries of State （各部部长）（各部部长） Lord Chancellor Lord Chancellor （上议院大法官）（上议院大法官） Leader of the HLLeader of the HL … …

Conventions in the CabinetConventions in the Cabinet

Government Whips Government Whips

"payroll vote" "payroll vote"

vote with the government on vote with the government on whipped votes, or else resign their whipped votes, or else resign their position position

Q4: What are the relations Q4: What are the relations between the Prime Minister between the Prime Minister and the Parliament, as well and the Parliament, as well as the political parties?as the political parties?

The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister

BeginningBeginning

AppointmentAppointment

Robert Walpole, the first prime minister

Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill

Margaret Thatcher, 1983.

John Major, 1990.

Tony Blair.

Gordon BrownGordon Brown

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

1832 establishment of the modern 1832 establishment of the modern political systempolitical system

From MPs to organized political From MPs to organized political partiesparties

Relations with the House of Relations with the House of CommonsCommons

Differences in representation Differences in representation between the monarch and the Prime between the monarch and the Prime MinisterMinister

Monarch — the peopleMonarch — the people

P.M. — a certain P.M. — a certain class/group/communityclass/group/community

Q5: What are the roles of the Q5: What are the roles of the monarch today?monarch today?

V. Contemporary British V. Contemporary British GovernmentGovernment

A combinationA combination Double systems: a parliamentary Double systems: a parliamentary

democracydemocracy a constitutional a constitutional

monarchymonarchy Influences on othersInfluences on others CanadaCanada AustraliaAustralia New ZealandNew Zealand IndiaIndia

Q6: What is special Q6: What is special about the British about the British Constitution?Constitution?

VI. ConstitutionVI. Constitution

General featuresGeneral features

1.1. No written constitutionsNo written constitutions

2.2. No particular document to list out No particular document to list out the basic principlesthe basic principles

British constitutional systemBritish constitutional system Acts of ParliamentActs of Parliament DecreesDecrees （教令）（教令） ConventionsConventions TraditionsTraditions Royal prerogatives (Royal prerogatives ( 特权特权 ))

Three typesThree types

1.1. Statute lawsStatute laws

2.2. Common lawsCommon laws

3.3. ConventionsConventions

VII. ParliamentVII. Parliament

FunctionsFunctions

pass of lawspass of laws

taxation by votestaxation by votes

supervisionsupervision

discussiondiscussion

Supreme statusSupreme status

to make lawsto make laws

to change or overturn establish to change or overturn establish conventionsconventions

to prolong its life without to prolong its life without consultationsconsultations

Composition of ParliamentComposition of Parliament

(the Queen)(the Queen)

the House of Lords <740>the House of Lords <740>

the House of Commons <646>the House of Commons <646>

The House of LordsThe House of Lords

StructureStructure

1. Lords Spiritual1. Lords Spiritual

26 Bishops 26 Bishops

2. Lords Temporal2. Lords Temporal

Hereditary Peers or Peeresses 800Hereditary Peers or Peeresses 800—92(91)—92(91)

Life Peers 608Life Peers 608

House of Lords ChamberHouse of Lords Chamber

RepresentationsRepresentations

Themselves or the public?Themselves or the public? BackgroundBackground

Why there exists so many clergy and Why there exists so many clergy and hereditary lords?hereditary lords?

Weakening influences of House of Weakening influences of House of Lords Lords

Requirement of reform in House of Requirement of reform in House of LordsLords

TreatmentTreatment

The House of CommonsThe House of Commons

The process of being electedThe process of being elected Treatment and termTreatment and term

FunctionsFunctions

Debates (the seating in parliament)Debates (the seating in parliament)

Question timeQuestion time

Making new lawsMaking new laws

House of Commons ChamberHouse of Commons Chamber

The MonarchyThe Monarchy

A symbolA symbol A contrast in lives of Royal familiesA contrast in lives of Royal families

Queen’s exemplary lifeQueen’s exemplary life

Her children’s bad behaviorsHer children’s bad behaviors Confidante of the Prime MinisterConfidante of the Prime Minister

The Queen visits the Channel Islands in 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the islands from Nazi occupation. The Channel Islands today retain autonomy in government, and owe allegiance to The Queen in her role as Duke of

Normandy.

Prince Charles and Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowles followed by Lord Hartington (back, right) leaving St C

arthage’s Cathedral, Lismore.

Questions for Questions for considerationconsideration

Do you think the British King/Queen Do you think the British King/Queen enjoys a supreme status in the enjoys a supreme status in the British society? Why or why not?British society? Why or why not?