Culture and Civilization – Lecture VI

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT IN THE UK

Keywords: politics, parliament, government, monarchy, sovereign state, devolution, hereditary peer, law,
constitution, Prime Minister, House of Lords, House of Commons, the Cabinet, Privy Council, heir.

Early political history in the islands is the story of four geographical areas (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland) and their turbulent struggles for independent nationhood. English political and military expansionism over
the centuries conditioned the development of the other three nations. Ireland was invaded by England in the 12 th
century; England and Wales were united by the 1536-1542 Acts of Union; the thrones of England and Scotland
were dynastically amalgamated in 1603; England/Wales and Scotland were united as Great Britain by the 1707
Acts of Union; the 1801 Act of Union joined Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom; and southern
Ireland became independent in 1921 (the Republic of Ireland). In this process, English governmental systems were
generally adopted in the modern period for all of the UK until Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland regained some
of their former political identities under devolution (transfer of power to local administration) in 1998.

1. UK PARLIAMENT
The UK constitution has three branches: Parliament, which makes laws; Government, which ‘executes’
laws (puts them into effect) and the Courts, which interpret laws. The UK Parliament is housed in the Palace of
Westminster in London. The Parliament (the legislative body) is the highest authority of the UK. Parliament is
made up of the monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. All three parts of Parliament must
normally pass a bill before it can become an Act of Parliament and law. Parliament also votes money to
government; examines government policies and administration; scrutinizes European Union legislation; and
debates political issues. A Parliament has a maximum duration of five years, except in emergency situations. But it
is often dissolved earlier.
The two Houses (of Lords and Commons) contain members from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland. The members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 650 constituencies. They are known
as Members of Parliament. The Prime Minister is advised by a Cabinet of about twenty other ministers. The Prime
Minister, or leader of the Government, is usually the leader of the political party. The Cabinet includes the
ministers in charge of major government departments or ministries. Departments and ministries are run by civil
servants, who are permanent officials. Even if the Government changes after an election, the same civil servants are
employed. Members of the House of Lords are not elected. About 70 % (per cent) of them are “hereditary peers”
because their fathers were peers before them. The 30 % are officially appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the
Government, for various services for people.

2. UK GOVERNMENT
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. Politics in the United
Kingdom takes place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the monarch (Queen Elizabeth
II) is head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of the UK Government. The monarchy is the oldest institution
of government in the United Kingdom. Most of the powers once exercised by the monarch have now been
devolved (transferred) to ministers. The people vote in elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent
them. The United Kingdom doesn’t have a single, written constitution. But this doesn’t mean that the UK has an
‘unwritten constitution’. The British constitution is formed from various sources including statute law, case law
made by judges, international treaties (EU law), and some unwritten sources, including parliamentary conventions
and royal prerogatives.
The Cabinet is a formal body made up of the most senior government ministers chosen by the Prime
Minister. It is the committee at the centre of the British political system and the supreme decision-making body in
government. Most members are heads of government departments with the title ‘Secretary of State’. Formal
members of the Cabinet are drawn exclusively from the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Most
ministers are members of the House of Commons, although the government is also fully represented by ministers in
the House of Lords. The composition of governments can vary both in the number of ministers and in the titles of
some offices.

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3. THE MONARCHY
The UK is a parliamentary democracy. This means that state and government business is carried out in the
name of the monarch by the politicians and officials of the system. The UK Parliament is a ‘sovereign parliament’
– this means that the legislative body has ‘absolute sovereignty’ (supreme power or authority). In the UK, it is still
Parliament (and not the judges) that decides what the law is. Judges interpret the law, but they do not make the law.
The UK has a unitary system of government, meaning a system where power is held in the centre, although some
powers have been devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The monarchy is the oldest secular institution in Britain and there is hereditary succession to the throne, but
only for Protestants, according to the Bill of Rights (1689) (creates separation of powers, limits the powers of the
king and queen, enhances the democratic election and bolsters freedom of speech).
The monarchy’s continuity has been interrupted only by Cromwellian rule (1653-60), although there have
been different dynasties such as the Tudors, Stuarts and Hanoverians. Royal executive power has disappeared but
the monarch has still formal constitutional roles and is head of state, head of the executive, judiciary and
legislature, ‘supreme governor’ of the Church of England and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Government ministers and officials are the monarch’s servants and many public office holders swear allegiance to
the Crown. However, the monarch is expected to be politically neutral; is supposed to reign but not to rule; and
cannot make laws, impose taxes, spend public money or act unilaterally.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, performs important duties such as the opening and dissolving of the UK
Parliament; giving the Royal Assent (signature) to bills which have been passed by the both Houses of Parliament;
appointing government ministers and public figures; granting honours, leading proceedings of the Privy Council
(advisors on state matters); and fulfilling international duties as head of state. A central power still possessed by the
monarch is the choice and appointment of the UK Prime Minister.

4. THE ROYAL FAMILY

At present the British royal family is headed by Queen Elizabeth. When the Queen was born on the 21 st of
April 1926, her grandfather, King George V, was on the throne and her uncle (Edward) was his heir. The death of
her grandfather and the abdication of her uncle brought her father to the throne as King George VI.
As a child she studied constitutional history and law as well as art and music. As she grew older she began
to take part in public life, making her first broadcast at the age of 14. The marriage of the young Princess Elizabeth
to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh took place in November 1947. She came to the throne after her father’s death in 1952
and was crowned in Westminster Abbey in June 1953.
Among Queen Elizabeth’s many duties are the regular visits she makes to foreign countries, and especially
those of the Commonwealth, whose interests and welfare are very important to her. The annual Christmas
broadcast made by the Queen on radio and television has become a traditional and popular feature of the season.
The Queen is widely known for her interest in horses and horse-racing.
The Queen’s heir is Charles, Prince of Wales, was married to Lady Diana Spencer and has two children,
Prince William and Prince Harry. The Prince of Wales is well-known as a keen promoter of British interests. The
Queen’s other children are Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Anne, Princess Royal, has acquired a
reputation for being arrogant, but in recent years has become quite popular with the general public. Prince Andrew,
Duke of York, served as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy. In 1986 he married Miss Sarah Ferguson and has two
daughters. Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, is keen on the theatre. This interest began while he was at
university. He supports her Majesty in many of her official duties.

Questions:
1. What kind of state is the UK?
2. Who is the head of government in Britain?
3. How many parts does Parliament have?
4. Who elects the Prime Minister? /the Members of Parliament?
5. What can you tell about the House of Lords?
6. What duties does Queen Elizabeth II carry?

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REFERENCES:

LawTeacher (2013) The UK System of Government. [online]. Available from: <https://www.lawteacher.net/free-

law-essays/constitutional-law/the-uk-system-of-government-constitutional-law-essay.php>
Oackland, J. (2006) British Civilization: An Introduction. London: Routledge
Coursera (2021) What is Constitution? In “Introduction to English Common Law” [online] Available from:
<https://www.coursera.org/learn/intro-common-law/lecture/i8As5/what-is-a-constitution>
Coursera (2021) The Origins of Common Law. In “Introduction to English Common Law” [online] Available from:
< https://www.coursera.org/learn/intro-common-law/lecture/7PTRd/the-origins-of-common-law>
British Library (2015) What is Magna Carta? [online] Available from: <https://www.bl.uk/magna-
carta/videos/what-is-magna-carta#>
Quizlet Flashcards (2021) Politics and Government in the UK. [online] Available from:
<https://quizlet.com/_acl1de?x=1qqt&i=2czdy2 >