Since the 1920s, the two largest political parties in British politics have been the Labour Party and Conservative Party. This system of government, known as the Westminster system, has been adopted by other countries as well, such as Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Jamaica, countries that made up part of the British Empire. In this case, we will talk about the Political Life, the public attitude to politics, the style of democracy, the style of politics, the party system, and the modern situation at Britain.
Political Life
The public attitude to politics
In Britain it’s generally accepted politics is a dirty business, and necessary evil and the politician do not have a good reputation.
It also reflects insularity, or the feeling of separation from the continent of Europe.
The lack of enthusiasm for politicians maybe seen in the fact that surveys have shown a general ignorant of who they are.
There has been no real possibility of a revolution or even of a radical change in the style of government for almost two centuries now.
Politician criticism is typically not about policies. But it’s directed at the attitude of politicians, their allege dishonesty and disloyalty, and the general style of political life.
The style of democracy
Democrat : The government in Britain has a comparatively free hand. However, this democracy involves less participation by ordinary citizen in governing and law making than it does in many other countries.
Parliament
Parliament is the centre of the political system in the United Kingdom.
In 1066: William of Normandy brought a feudal system, where he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws.
In 1215, the tenants-in-chief secured the Magna Charta from King John, which established that the king may not levy or collect any taxes (except the feudal
Taxes to which they were hitherto accustomed), save with the consent of his royal council, which slowly developed into a parliament.
In 1265: Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester summoned the first elected Parliament. The franchise in parliamentary elections for county constituencies was uniform throughout the country, extending to all those who owned the freehold of land to an annual rent of 40 shillings (Forty-shilling Freeholders). In the boroughs, the franchise varied across the country; individual boroughs had varying arrangements. This set the scene for the so-called "Model Parliament" of 1295 adopted by Edward I. By the reign of Edward II, Parliament had been separated into two Houses: one including the nobility and higher clergy, the other including the knights and burgesses, and no law could be made, nor any tax levied, without the consent of both Houses as well as of the Sovereign.
Legislation
A. House of Lords
• was previously a hereditary, aristocratic chamber
• The House of Lords is currently also the final court of appeal within the United Kingdom, although in practice only a small subset of the House of Lords, known as the Law Lords, hears judicial cases. In accordance with the legal doctrine of stare decisis, the House of Lords supersedes all civil and criminal courts in England & Wales. However, the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 outlines plans for a Supreme Court of the United Kingdom to replace the role of the Law Lords.
B. House of Commons
• 646 MPs ( member of parliament ) there is currently only one who does not belong to a political party. In modern times, all Prime Ministers and Leaders of the Opposition have been drawn from the Commons, not the Lords.
Constitution
• Constitution theory says that parliament has absolute control over its
own affair and is, the fact the higher power in the land.
• There are the ancient traditions of procedure.
The Style of Politics
Political life in Britain is still influence by the traditional British respect for privacy and love of secrecy.
The Party System
Labour
• The party began in 1906 as an alliance of trade unions and socialist groups that were strengthened by the expansion of rights for the working class during the 19th century.
• It has controlled the British government since 1997 when their leader, Tony Blair became Prime Minister.
Conservatives (Tories)
• The Conservative Party was the dominant party in Britain between World War II and 1997
• The Conservative Party is the main party on the right, but they prospered partly because they traditionally have been a pragmatic, rather than an ideological party
The Liberal Democrat
• The Liberals and the Social Democrats - formed an alliance in the 1983 and 1987 elections, and formally merged in 1989, establishing the Liberal Democrats.
The Modern Situation
• Now, Britain is multicultural : This means that some section of society can sometime hold radically differences ideas about constitution
• There is no need to question the existence of laws or to update them. They are just interpreted in changing ways to match the change in prevailing opinion
• The number of crime increase
Refferences :
1. Nurhayati, Ari.2005.Compilation A Glance at Britain. Yogyakarta. UNY Press.
2. http://www.cambrige.com/history/assays/britain.html// at 24th October 2007 03.00 p.m
3. http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/magna.html// at 22nd October 2007 07.30 p.m
4. http://www.britanica.com/history/docs/rights.html// at 22nd October 2007 09.00 p.m
5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/britain/stu_glorious_rev.shtml// at 23rd October 2007 08.00 p.m
6. hhtp://slate.msn.com/id/31470// at 24th October 2007 01.00 p.m
7. http://orwell.ru/library/essays/lion/e/e_eye.htm// at 21st October 2007 11.00 a.m
SOURCES
1. Nurhayati, Ari.2005.A Glance At Britain.Yogya.UNY Press.
2. http://www.cambrige.com
3. http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/magna.html
4. http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/rights.html
5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/britain/stu_glorious_rev.shtml
6. http://slate.msn.com/id/31470/
7. http://orwell.ru/library/essays/lion/e/e_eye.htm
