Chapter 3 Goverment of the UK

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Chapter 3 The Government Of The United Kingdom

CONTENTI I II Constitution

II

Government

I

ConstitutionGreat Britain (UK) is a parliamentary (assembly, senate) democracy with a constitutional monarch (queen) as the head of state

British Constitution is made up of: Statutory Law Common Law Conventions

I

Constitution

1.1 Statutory Law passed by Parliament example the Magna Carta (1215) the Bill of Rights (1689) the Reform Act (1832) the European Communities Act (1972) the European Communities (Amendment) Act (1986)

I

Constitution

1.2 Common law deduced from custom or legal precedents and interpreted in court cases by judges 1.3 Conventions rules and practices which do not exist legally, but are regarded as vital (very important) to the working of government

II

Government

2.1 The Legislature

2.2 The Executive 2.3 The Judiciary

2.1 The LegislatureBasic Structure of UK Central GovernmentMonarch (non-political)

Legislature —Parliament

Executive

Judiciary (non-political)

House of Commons (political)

House of Lords (semi-political)

Prime Minister & Cabinet (political)

House of Lords

Ministers & Civil service (non-political)

Court of Appeal

2.1.1 Parliament Parliament – the law-making body of Britain – one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world – Strictly speaking, the parliament consists of the King or Queen, the House of Lords the House of Commons

2.1.2 Queen Elizabeth II

Queen

– Born: April 21, 1926 – Queen since June 2, 1953 Queen Elizabeth II is a “constitutional monarch” – Although she is officially the head of state, the country is actually run by the government and led by the Prime Minister.

2.1.2

Queen

Buckingham Palace

2.1.2

Queen

Queen Elizabeth II

2.1.2

Queen

Q. What powers does the Queen have? She reigns but does not rule! Theoretically, she is the source of all government powers: an integral (important) part of the legislature head of the executive, executive and judiciary branches the commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the Crown “supreme governor” of the Church of England

2.1.2

Queen

In reality, her role is “ceremonial (used of formal events of religious or public nature), unpolitical and symbolic”: State opening of the Parliament Royal assent to new law Meeting with the Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace Pay state visits to Commonwealth countries as head of state and non-Commonwealth countries on behalf of the British government

2.1.2

Queen

From Buckingham to Westminster The State Opening of Parliament Wednesday November 26, 2003

2.1.3 The House of LordsOften referred to as “the Upper House” Below the Queen is the House of Lords. It consists of: 1. The Lords Spiritual (archbishops and prominent bishops of the Church of England) 2. The Lords Temporal (hereditary peers and life peers and the Law Lords)

The House of Lords i

n the early 19th century

2.1.3 The House of LordsThe Upper House reforms

Reduce the number of seats from 705 to 666 (Mar. 1, 2004) Final court of appeal—Supreme Court

The House of Lords meets in a lavishly decorated chamber in the Palace of Westminster

2.1.4 The House of CommonsOften referred to as “the Lower House” (center of parliamentary power) Three major functions

to pass laws, bills and acts of Parliament to scrutinize (examine or inspect closely), criticize (indicate the faults) and restrain (prevent) the actions of the government to influence the future government policy

2.1.4 The House of Commons646 Members of Parliament, known as “MPs” for short, who represent the 646 geographical areas / constituencies

2.2 The Executive2.2.1 The Prime Minister—powerful leader

head of the government the leader of the majority party in Parliament controls the Parliament2.2.2 The Cabinet

supreme decision-making body in the British government Cabinet members are chosen by the Prime Minister from members of his own party in Parliament.

2.2 The Executive The Cabinet works on the principle of collective responsibility and individual ministerial responsibility Ministers responsible for their particular department (most senior members are the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary) Collective responsibility or resignation

2.2 The Executive

2.2.2 Privy Council

a body of advisors (450 members) current and former Cabinet members and important public figures Its main duty is to give advice

本文来源：https://www.bwwdw.com/article/fu81.html