BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

TOPIC 4
GOVERNMENT PARLIAMENT ELECTION ******

MEMBERS OF GROUP 4 1. Phm Th Thu Hin 2. Nguyn Th Hip 3. H Th Hiu 4. L Th Qunh Hoa (Group Leader) 5. Nguyn Th Phng Hoa 6. Lng Khnh Ha 7. Nguyn Th Hoi 8. Phm Th Minh Hu 9. Th Hu 10. Cnh Th Lan Hng 11. Hong Th Hng

GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

OUTLINE TOPIC 4
I. II. Overview of British country and people Detailed content 1. Government 1.1 Organizational structure of British government 1.1.1 The cabinet 1.1.2 The Prime Minister 1.1.3 The civil service 1.1.4 Central & local government 1.1.5 Local government services 1.2 Comparison between British government & Vietnamese government 2. Parliament 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The party system in Parliament House of Commons House of Lords Comparison between British and Vietnamese parliament
GROUP 4

3. El ec tio n 3.1 E l e c t o r a l s y s t e m

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

3.2 3.3

Formal arrangement The campaign 3.3.1 Polling day 3.3.2 Election night

11

16 17 22 25

3.4 3.5

Recent results and future Comparison between British and Vietnamese electoral system

III. IV.

Statistics References 31 35 3 35 36 5 5 5 6 7 9 11 45 47 37 38 40

I. OVERVIEW OF BRITISH COUNTRY AND PEOPLE

GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Referring to famous landmarks such as The Nottingham Palance, University of Cambridge, Giants Causeway along with one-time famous men known as The Beatles Band, Robin Hood - a hero character, anyone also thinks instantly to the land to which God had awarded these great value. That land is the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is known as many different names such as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or only simply Britain. It is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. It is made up of four nations including England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Britain is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and north, the North Sea in the east, the English Channel in the south, and the Irish Sea in the west. The United Kingdom has a long history as a major player in international affairs and fulfils an important role in the European Union (EU), the United Nations Security Council, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the G7, the G8, the G20 and NATO. It is considered as a major economic and military power, with considerable political and cultural influence around the world. It has the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and eighth-largest economy by purchasing power parity. British not only make an impression of its economic power, but also catch an attention about culture and people in here. The UK has been at the forefront of youth culture since the heyday of the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the 1960s. It has a rich literary heritage encompassing the works of English writers such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, Scot Robert Burns, Welshman Dylan Thomas and Northern Irishman Seamus Heaney. Traditional music has deep roots
GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

across the UK, which has also produced classical composers from Henry Purcell in the Baroque period to Benjamin Britten in the 20th century. The British are rather formal. Many from the older generation still prefer to work with people and companies they know or who are known to their associates. Younger businesspeople do not need long-standing personal relationships before they do business with people and do not require an intermediary to make business introductions. Nonetheless, networking and relationship building are often key to long-term business success. Rank is respected and businesspeople prefer to deal with people at their level. If at all possible, include an elder statesman on your team as he/she will present the aura of authority that is necessary to good business relationships in many companies.

II. DETAILED CONTENT

GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

1. GOVERNMENT 1.1 Organizational structure of British government The United Kingdom is a sovereign state and its form of government is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government which based on the Westminter system that has been emulated around the world - a legacy of the British Empire.
MONARCH (Sovereign)

Central Government

Legislature

Executive

Judiciary

Parliament

Prime Minister

The cabinet

House of Lords

House of Lords

House of Common

Civil Services

Organizational structure chart of British government

1.1.1 The cabinet The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majestys Government of the UK, composed of the Prime Minister and some 21 Cabinet ministers, the most senior of the government ministers.

Ministers of the Crown, and especially Cabinet ministers, are selected primarily from the elected members of House of Commons, and also from the House of Lords, by the Prime Minister. Cabinet ministers are heads of government department, mostly with the office of Secretary of State. The collective co-

GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

ordinating function of the Cabinet is reinforced by the statutory that all the Secretaries of State jointly hold the same office, and can exercise the same powers. The Cabinet is the ultimate decision-making body of the executive within the Westminster system of government in traditional constitutional theory. The political and decision-making authority of the cabinet has been gradually reduced over the last several decades, with some claiming its role has been usurped by a prime ministerial government.

The Cabinet is the executive committee of Her Majestys Privy Council, a body which has legislation, judicial and executive functions, and whose large membership includes members of the Opposition. Its decision are generally implemented either under the existing powers of individual government departments, or by Orders in Council.

The Cabinet meets once a week and takes decisions on new policies, the implementation of existing policies and the running of the various government departments. All government members summarize the topics discussed and the decisions taken, but they never refer to individual or what they said.

Cabinet office runs busy communication network, keeping ministers in touch with each other and drawing up the agendas or cabinet meetings.

1.1.2 The Prime Minister The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (PM) is the head of Her Majestys Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet (consisting of all the most senior ministers, who are government department heads) are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Monarch, to Parliament to their political party and ultimately to the
GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

electorate.

The current Prime Minister, David Cameron, leader of the

Conservative Party, was appointed by the Queen on 11 May 2010. The office is not established by any constitution or law but exists only by longestablished convention, which stipulates that the Monarch must appoint as Prime Minister, the person most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that holds the largest number of seats in that chamber. The Position of Prime Minister was not created; it evolved slowly and erratically over three hundred years due to numerous acts of Parliament, political development, and accidents of history. By 1830s, the Westminter system of government had emerged, the Prime Minister was the first among equals in the Cabinet and the head of government in the UK. The political position of PM was enhanced by the development of modern political parties, the introduction of mass communication and photography. By the turn of the 20th century the modern premiership had emerged; the office had become the pre-eminent position in the constitutional hierarchy vis-a-vis the Sovereign, Parliament and Cabinet. The strength of the Prime Ministers power of patronage is apparent from the modern phenomenon known as the cabinet reshuffle. A few cabinet members are dropped, and a few members are brought in, but mostly the existing members are shuffled around, like a pack of cards, each getting s new department to look after. Everybody in the country can recognize the Prime Minister, while many cannot put a name to the faces of other ministers. As a result the PM can, if the need arises, go over the head of the other ministers and appeal directly to the public. 1.1.3 The Civil Service The Civil Service executes government decisions and therefore plays a vital part in the British Politics. The Civil Service currently employs at about 500,000. It is
GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

split into a number of departments to a government department. A Cabinet minister head one of these department and those civil servants within that department are meant to work for that minister in carrying out government policies. This specific role is very important as a government minister is a working MP and has been elected by the voters in his/ her constituency. Civil servants are not elected; they apply for a post in the Civil Service. The Civil Service in Britain is very hierarchical. At the top are the Permanent Secretaries and the so-called mandarins. These hold the most senior positions in the Civil Service. Their tasks are many and varied. They prepare policy papers and speeches for ministers. They deal with a ministers correspondence and help to prepare him/her for question that might arise in the House of Common. The Civil servants maintain a ministers official diary and minute meetings. They also can consult with pressure group to develop their knowledge on certain issues.

The next layer down is the permanent career official who works within a government department and carry out government policies. As with all civil servants, these people are meant to be neutral in a professional sense. They might have their own political views, but these must not be allowed to interfere or jeopardise their work. In theory, this level should not be having policy making powers, but they might be called upon to give advice if it is thought that their knowledge on s topic is sufficiently expert.

While the civil servants for the department (and therefore the government) she/he is in, there are a number of legally enforceable restrictions placed on all civil servants. They can vote in elections, but while they are a member of the Civil Service, they cannot stand for a political office. They are bound by the Official Secrets Act, and they may not speak to the media or write about their experiences

GROUP 4

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

without permission. Civil servants must not members of extreme left or right wing political parties, though they can be members of mainstream parties.

There are modern criticisms of the Civil Service which do not question on its loyalty but its efficiency. The criticism is that the civil servant does not have enough expertise in matters such as economics or technology, and that it lives too much in its own closed world, cut off from the concerns of most people in society.

1.1.4 Central & local government The pattern of Local government in England is complex, with the distribution of functions varying according to the local arrangements. Legislation concerning local government in England is decided by the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom, because England does not have a devolved parliament or regional assemblies. Local government authorities (known as councils) only have powers because the central government has given them powers. Indeed, they only exist because the central government allows them to exist.

The system of local government is very similar to the system of national government: The elected representatives are called councilors (the equivalent of MPs). There is a council chamber in the Town Hall or County Hall (the equivalent of Parliament).
GROUP 4

10

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

There are local government officers (the equivalent of civil servants) to make and implement policy. * Local councils: Local councils traditionally manage nearly all public services. In practice, therefore, local councils have traditionally been fairly free from constant central interference in their day to day work. grants, Council Tax (a locally set tax based on house value), Business Rates, and fees and charges from certain services including decriminalised parking enforcement. Local councils are funded by a combination of central government

Councillors cannot do the work of the council themselves, and so are responsible for appointment and oversight of officers, who are delegated to perform most tasks. Local authorities nowadays have to appoint a "Chief Executive Officer", with overall responsibility for council employees, and who operates in conjunction with department heads. The Chief Executive Officer position is weak compared to the council manager system seen in other counties. The modern trend has been towards greater and greater control by central government. There are now more laws governing the way councils can conduct their affairs. England is devided into 9 regions including: 6 metropolitan couties, 27 nonmetropolitan couties, 56 unitary authorities and the Greater London.

GROUP 4

11

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Sizes of council areas vary widely. The most populous district in England is Birmingham (a metropolitan borough) with 977,087 people (2001 census), and the least populous non-metropolitan unitary area is Rutland with 34,563. However, these are outliers, and most English unitary authorities have a population in the range of 150,000 to 300,000. The smallest non-unitary district in England is West Somerset at 35,400 people and the largest Northampton at 194,458. However, all but 9 non-unitary English districts have fewer than 150,000 people. Responsibility for minor revisions to local government areas falls to the Boundary Committee for England. Revisions are usually undertaken to avoid borders straddling new development, to bring them back into line with a diverted watercourse, or to align them with roads or other features.

1.1.5 Local government services In Britain, most of the numerous services that a modern government provides are run at local level. These include public hygiene and environmental health inspection, the operation of police and fire, the collecting of rubbish from outside
GROUP 4

12

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

peoples houses, the cleaning and tidying of all public places, the provision of public swimming pools.

Public libraries are another well known service. Anybody can go into one of these to consult the books, newspapers and magazines there free of charge. There are about 5000 public libraries (thats about one for every 12000 people). On average, each one houses about 45000 books.

1.2 Comparison between British & Vietnamese government British government The Government's powers statutory powers, delegated legislation, and numerous powers of appointment and patronage; however, some Power powerful officials and bodies are legally more or less independent of the Government, and Government powers are legally limited to those retained by the Crown. Capital city London Ha Noi Vietnamese government The Government of Vietnam is the state, and the members of the Government are elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam.

include general executive and executive arm of the Vietnamese

GROUP 4

13

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

+ David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, who Prime Minister (Current) was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 11 May 2010. + The Prime Minister heads

The current prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung has served since 2005, and he is serving his last term. The prime minister directs the work of government members, and may

the Government and appoints propose deputy prime ministers to Ministers who head individual the National Assembly. government departments. British voters do not choose The National Assembly elects the President of the State and the Prime Minister.

Election

their Prime Minister. They vote for their political party.

Multi - party system with 3 Single - party state: the Communist Political Party political parties: Conservative Party of Vietnam. All Vietnamese Party, Labour Party, and Liberal Democratic Party. political organizations are under Vietnamese Communist Party control + The leader of the government is the Prime Minister. + The new PM chooses a team of people from Parliament Structure who will run the country with him. + There are normally about 100 people in the government. The government is also different from the rest of the + The PM has the right to nominate candidates for some important positions such as Chief Justice of the Supreme Peoples Court, and the Procurator-General of the Peoples Office of Supervision and Control. + The PM has the right to nominate and dismiss the members of his cabinet, though only with the approval of the National Assembly.

GROUP 4

14

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

party who won the election.

+ The PM also has powers to cancel or suspend decisions or directives issued by the ministries.

The PM and other members of + The Vietnamese Communist the cabinet (formed by a week and take decisions about new policies, the implementation of existing Decisionmaking mechanism policies and the running of the various government departments. Party has a monopoly on power. A consists of the Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary, the PM, and the President. + President is the chief of state while PM is head of government. General Secretary heads up not only the Vietnamese Communist Party but also the 15 member Politburo. A decision by any member of the triumvirate is vetted by the others. + Most heads of government departments have the title The Secretaries of State. + There are 17 departments. + The most important Secretaries of State are: The Chancellor of the Ministers and Exchequer (Finance). The Foreign Secretary + Heads of the government departments have the title Ministers. + There are 18 ministries. + The Vietnamese government has ministers in the following areas: Agriculture and Rural Development; Construction; Defense; Education and Training; Finance, Fisheries; Foreign Affairs;
GROUP 4

Secretaries of State) meet once three-person collective leadership

departments (International Affairs). 15

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

The Home Secretary (Internal Health; Home Affairs; Industry; Affairs). The Lord Chancellor (The Legal System). The Secretary of State for Education. The Secretary of State for Transport and the Environment. Justice; Planning and Investment; Posts and Telecommunications; Public Security; Science and Technology; Trade; Transport; National Resources and Environment.

Organizational Structure of Vietnam government

2. PARLIAMENT The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , commonly known as the British Parliament , Westminster Parliament or simply "Westminster", is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom , British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories . It is located in the Palace of Westminster , Westminster , London. The word Parliament which comes from the French word parler was first used in England in 13rd century to describe an assembly of nobles called together by the
GROUP 4

16

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

King. It was in the Medieval Period that parliament began its gradual evolution into the democratic body which it is today. In 1925, the Model Parliament set the pattern for the future by including elected representatives from urban and rural areas. In 16th century, due to the Wars of the Roses and bubonic plague, the power of the great barons had been weakened and the tie between feudal lords and peasant reduced. In the Tudor dynasty (1485-1603), parliament was split into 2 Houses. The House of Lords consisted of the feudal aristocracy and the leader of the Church; the House of Commons consisted of the representatives from the town and the less important landowners (the people with the money) in rural areas. It was now more important for monarchs to get the agreement of the Commons for policy-making because that was where the newly powerful merchants and landowners were represented. It was in the 17th century when the inextricably relation between religion and politics happened - that Parliament established its supremacy over the monarch in Britain. The conflict between ideological Protestantism and Catholicism led to the Civil War, which ended with complete victory for the parliamentary forces. The leader of the parliamentary army encompassed the whole of British Isles. In 18th century, the Scottish parliament joined with the English and Welsh parliament in Westminster in London. Scotland retained its own system of law, which is more similar to continental European systems than that of England, it

GROUP 4

17

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

does so to this day. During this century, the habit of the monarch appointing Prime Minister from the ranks of Parliament to head the government was established.

Interactive map of Parliament

2.1 The party system in Parliament Most divisions take place along party lines. MPs know that they owe their position to their party, so they nearly always vote the way that party tells them to. The people who make sure that MPs do this are called the Whips. The Whips act as intermediaries between the backbenchers and the frontbench of a party. They keep the party leadership informed about backbench opinion. They are powerful people. Each two major parties have several MPs who perform this role. It is their jobs to inform all MPs in their party how they should vote. By tradition, if the government loses a vote in Parliament on a very important matter, it has to resign. Therefore, when there is a division, MPs are expected to go to the House and vote even if they have not been there during the debate. Sometimes the major parties allow a free vote, when MPs vote according to their own beliefs and not according to party policy such as the abolition of the death penalty and the decision to allow television cameras into the Commons, etc.

2.2 House of Commons The House of Commons is the Lower House of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which, like the House of Lords (The Upper House), meets in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is an elected body consisting of 659 members known as Members of Parliament (MPs). Members are elected to represent constituencies by first-past-the-post and hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved.
GROUP 4

18

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

The House of Commons evolved at some point in England during the 14th century, becoming the House of Commons of Great Britain after the political union with Scotland in 1707 and in the nineteenth century the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the political union with Ireland before assuming its current title after independence was given to the Irish Free State in 1922. Under the Parliament Act 1911, the Lords' power to reject legislation was reduced to a delaying power. The Government is primarily responsible to the House of Commons and the prime minister stays in office only as long as he or she retains its support.
2.2.1 Lay-out of The House of Commons

The current Commons' layout is influenced by the use of the original St. Stephen's Chapel in the Palace of Westminster. The rectangular shape is derived from the shape of the chapel. Benches were arranged using the configuration of the chapel's choir stalls whereby they were facing across from one another. This arrangement facilitated an adversarial atmosphere that is representative of the British parliamentary approach.

GROUP 4

19

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Commons Chambers design and layout differ from the interior of the parliament in most other countries. These differences tell us a lot about what is distinctive about the British Parliament. Commons chamber is small and modestly decorated in green, in contrast with the large, lavishly furnished red Lords chamber. There are benches on two sides of the chamber, divided by a centre aisle. This arrangement reflects the design of St Stephen's Chapel, which served as the home of the House of Commons until destroyed by fire in 1834. The Speaker's chair is at one end of the Chamber; in front of it is the Table of the House, on which the Mace rests. The Clerks sit at one end of the Table, close to the Speaker so that they may advise him or her on procedure when necessary. Members of the Government sit on the benches on the Speaker's right, whilst members of the Opposition occupy the benches on the Speaker's left. In front of each set of benches a red line is drawn on the carpet, which members are traditionally not allowed to cross during debates. It has been suggested that the distance between the lines in front of each set of benches is the length of two swords, thus stopping a member from attacking a member on the opposing side. However, the only person who is allowed to wear or carry a sword in the chamber is the Serjant-at-Arms. Government ministers and the leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Cabinet sit on the front rows, and are known as "frontbenchers". Other Members of Parliament, in contrast, are known as "backbenchers". Not all Members of Parliament can fit into the Chamber at the same time as it only has space to seat 427 of the 650 Members. Members who arrive late must stand near the entrance of the House if they wish to listen to debates. Sittings in the Chamber are held each day from Monday to Thursday, and also on some Fridays. During times of national emergency, the House may also sit at weekends.
2.2.2 Functions

GROUP 4

20

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

The House of Commons is the most important place for discussing policies and making laws. It has 4 main functions as showing below:

Firstly, legislation is the main function, as it is the job of the House of Commons to introduce and pass bills. Bills can be passed, amended or dropped altogether in the Commons, before it even reaches the House of Lords. Parliament collectively makes law, but it is mainly the government that introduces and passed legislation, for example the Criminal Justice Bill

Secondly, it is scrutiny, where the government must explain and defend its actions to the House of Commons. This can be done in several ways, including Prime Ministers Question Time. Also, select committees such as the Public Accounts Committee are set up to scrutinize and question the work of Parliament, holding it to account.

Thirdly, The House of Commons supports the Government as well as opposites to that Government. Most MPs are elected because of the party label they carry. They go to the Commons to support their parties: the majority to support the Government, and the rest to support opposition to that Government - that is why they have been elected. Usually the Government wins, but not always. The Commons can kill the Government by voting it has no confidence in the Government, as in 1924 and in 1979 when by one vote the Labour Government of James Callaghan was destroyed, a general elected was called and Mrs Thatchers party won. Parliament is the location for an adversarial confrontation between the parties with words. The power to end a Government is always there, in the background. The Government knows it, and so it does not act in a way that would provoke the MPs to vote against it on vote of no-confidence. From that power to kill the Government flows the influence of the Commons over the Government.

GROUP 4

21

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Finally, Recruitment, training and assessment ministers of the Government is one of the main functions. The House of Commons is the recruiting centre for ministers. The UK draws its ministers overwhelmingly from the Commons, and not from other walks of life, lik business, banking, universities and law firms. It is their training college, where they learn how to perform as ministers. New MPs watch how ministers perform in the House, and learn what to imitate and what to avoid. If they perform well in the Commons, they come to the notice of their party leaders and, if successful there, are promoted to ministerial jobs in the Government. Then the Commons becomes their assessment centre, since they have to speak in the House on behalf of the Government and their department. They face the opposition and its critical questioning, and they have to convince their own party supporters that they have a grip on their departments, can beat the opposition and raise the morale of their own MPs. Poor performances in the Commons can damage the career prospects of ministers, and they ay be removed from the Government .

2.2.3 Key people There are 5 key roles in the House of Commons such as:

The Speaker: The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer

of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The Speaker presides over the House's debates, determining which members may speak. The Speaker is also responsible for maintaining order during debate, and may punish members who break the rules of the House. Unlike presiding officers of legislatures in many other countries, the Speaker remains strictly non-partisan, and renounces all affiliation with his or her former political party when taking office. The Speaker does not take part in debate nor vote (except to break ties, and even then, subject to conventions that maintain his or her non-partisan status).
GROUP 4

22

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Aside from duties relating to presiding over the House, the Speaker also performs administrative and procedural functions, and remains a constituency Member of Parliament (MP). The Speaker has the right and obligation to reside in Speaker's House at the Palace of Westminster. The current Spe aker is Mr.Rt Hon John Bercow, MP for Buckingham.

The Commons Deputy Speakers: The Commons Deputy Speakers chair

debates in the absence of the Speaker. There are 3 Commons Deputy Speakers. The principal Deputy Speaker is the Chairman of Ways and Means.The current Deputy Speaker is Mr.Lindsay Hoyle. The other two Deputy Speakers are known as the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means and the Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means. The other two current Deputy Speakers are Mr. Nigel Evans and Mrs.Dawn Primarolo.

The Lord Chancellor: The Lord Chancellor is a senior and important

functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He also is a Cabinet minister and currently a Member of the House of Commons. The Lord Chancellor has a role in appointing many judges in the courts of England and Wales.

The Leader of the House of Commons is a government minister whose

main role is organising government business in the Commons. The Leader of the House does this by working closely with the government's Chief Whip. The Leader can deputise for the Prime Minister, either at Prime Minister's Questions or for formal duties. Mr.Rt Hon Andrew Lansley is the current Leader of the House of Commons.

Clerk of the House & Chief Executive: The Clerk of the House advises the

Speaker and MPs on the formal and informal rules of the House of Commons, and
GROUP 4

23

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

manages the Commons' departments and services. Currently, Mr.Sir Robert Rogers is the Clerk of the House of Commons and Chief Executive.

2.3 House of Lords The House of Lords (the Upper House of the British Parliament) is part of the Palace of Westminster, more commonly known as the Houses of Parliament. It is an essential part of the UK Parliament. It scrutinises and challenges the work of government and considers all legislation. Its members come from different social, political and professional backgrounds and most faiths and ethic groups in the UK are represented. 2.3.1 Lay-out of the House of Lords The Lords Chamber, the masterpiece of the rebuilt Palace, was first occupied in 1847. It is 24 m long, 14 m wide and 14 m high (80 ft x 46 ft x 46 ft). At its southern end is the Throne, from which the Queen reads her speech at the opening of Parliament. In front of the Throne is the red cushion known as the Woolsack. In front of this are two similar woolsacks used by judges at the opening of Parliament, and the Table of the House at which the Clerks sit. The Lords' benches, upholstered in red leather, are arranged on both sides of the House, in five rows divided into three blocks. The Government benches are on the right of the Throne and the Opposition benches on the left. Facing the Woolsack below the Table are the cross benches, used by members who do not belong to any political party.
GROUP 4

24

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

2.3.2 Functions There are 3 main functions of the House of Lords such as : checking bills and making better laws; questioning government action, seeking information and debating current issues; and breadth of knowledge and independence of thought.

Firstly, checking bills and making better laws. The House of Lords spends most of its time in the chamber checking bills. It plays an essential role in improving the content of bill (draft draws): highlighting potential problems and ensuring they will be workable laws. The value of the House of Lords is that the lack of a government majority, the more relaxed party discipline, and the fact that the Houses procedures give members great freedom to propose and debate amendments, mean that the Lords sometimes reaches different conclusion on bills, and agrees amendments asking the Commons and the government to think again.

Secondly, questioning government action, seeking information and debating current issues. Questions are asked in the chamber at the start of business. They are also asked in writing. They are a chance to seek information about government decisions and actions. The government makes statements to the House about developments and emergencies, or to report back after international meetings. They provide valuable time for members to ask questions and probe government activity. Debates take place on public policy and on specialist issues. They are an opportunity to draw the governments attention to concerns.

Finally, breadth of knowledge and independence of thought. Members of the House of Lords come from different backgrounds and professions. Most members have a political background, some dont. All come from different walks of life , from across the UK, and represent a wide range of professions in medicine, law,
GROUP 4

25

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

business, the arts, sports, education, science..So it is a reason why is said that it is diversity and breadth of knowledge. The House of Lords is characterised by independence of thought. Members who belong to the political parties are not subject to the same degree of discipline as in the House of Commons they do not necessarily vote according to their partys policy. A significant part of the membership is non-party political: the crossbenchers and the bishops. Member of the House of Lords represent the issues that concern them, not geographical constituencies.

2.3.3 Key people There are 4 principal office holders who play important roles in the work of the House of Lords Lord Speaker: The Lord Speaker oversees proceedings in the chamber. The House of Lords is self-regulating so, unlike the Commons Speaker, she does not call the House to order or choose who will speak next in questions and debates. The Lord Speaker is elected by the House and is politically impartial. Leader of the House of Lords: is a member of the cabinet and the most senior member of the government in the Lords, reponsible for its business in the House. He leads a team of about 25 ministers and whips. The Leader also had obligations to the House as a whole : expressing its collective feelings on formal occasions and giving procedural advice, eg in disputes over who will speak next during questions Government Chief Whip: is responsible for ensuring the successful passage of government business in the House of Lords. She is also one of panel of deputy Speakers, along with her opposition counterpart.

GROUP 4

26

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Chairman of Committees: is politically impartial. He chairs internal administrative committees and answers questions in the House on related matters. He is also the senior Deputy Speaker so can sit on woolsack in the chamber. 2.4 Comparison between British and Vietnamese parliament British government The Government's powers statutory powers, delegated legislation, and numerous Power powers of appointment and patronage; Government powers are legally limited to those retained by the Crown. Government implement the executive functions of the country on behalf of Kingship Management all areas of social life: - lead the organization of the bureaucratic from the central to grassroots level - Ensure the implementation of the Function Constitution and the law; - manage the construction of the national economy, - Implement monetary and financial policy of the states - Manage medical , education, state Vietnamese government As the executive organ of the administrative offices of State of the Republic of Vietnam Socialist.

include general executive and National Assembly, the

GROUP 4

27

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

budget - Implement necessary measures to protect the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, Manage foreign affairs, social policy implementation ... of the State. + Government consists of the + Government consists of the Prime Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, The Cabinet and ministers. + All ministers come from the ranks of Parliament. Structure The leader of the government is the Prime Minister. Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, ministers and heads of agencies by the prime minister of choice, not necessarily the national parliament, and parliament approved the proposal. + Government does not hold a permanent body, instead, a deputy

+ The new PM chooses a team prime minister assigned to of people from Parliament undertake the permanent deputy who will run the country with prime minister. him. + There are normally about 100 people in the government. The government is also different from the rest of the party who won the election Election British voters do not choose their Prime Minister. They The National Assembly elects the President of the State and the Prime
GROUP 4

28

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

vote for their political party.

Minister.

Prime Minister

Head of the UK government. Prime Minister is introduced by the He is ultimately responsible for all policy and decisions. He:

President, elected and dismissed by the National Assembly among the deputies of the National Assembly for the 5-year period. Vietnam Prime Minister is the head of the Government of Vietnam. Prime Minister run the Government and be responsible for supervising ministers. The Prime Minister has the right to: - Lead of the Government, members of the Government and People's Committees at all levels and preside over meetings of the Government; - Propose the National Assembly to establish or abolish ministries and ministerial-level agencies, report to the National Assembly and ask the Standing Committee to recommended approval of the appointment, dismissal, the Deputy Prime Minister, other members of the
GROUP 4

oversees the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies appoints members of the government is the principal government figure in the House of Commons

29

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Government when the National Assembly is not in session; - Appoint and dismiss the Deputy Ministers and equivalent positions; approved the election; dismissal, transfer, demotion Chairman, the Vice Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities ; - Suspend or annul the decisions, directives and circulars of the Minister, other members of the Government, decisions and directives which are on the contrary to the Constitution, laws and documents of superior State agencies of the People's Committee and chairman of the provincial People's Committee, the city centrally; - Suspend the execution of the resolutions of the People's Councils of provinces and cities under central authority contrary to the Constitution, laws and documents of
GROUP 4

30

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

superior State agencies, simultaneously proposed the National Assembly Standing Committee abolished; - Implement reporting mechanism to the people through the mass media about the important issues that the David Cameron, leader of Current Prime Minister the Conservative Party, who was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 11 May 2010. government must address Nguyen Tan Dung has served since 2005, and he is serving his last term.

Decisionmaking

The PM and other members of + The Vietnamese Communist the cabinet (formed by a week and take decisions about new policies, the implementation of existing policies and the running of the various government departments. Party has a monopoly on power. A consists of the Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary, the PM, and the President. + President is the chief of state while PM is head of government. General Secretary heads up not only the Vietnamese Communist Party but also the 15 member Politburo. A decision by any
GROUP 4

mechanism Secretaries of State) meet once three-person collective leadership

31

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

member of the triumvirate is vetted by the others. + Most heads of government departments have the title The Secretaries of State. + There are 17 departments. + The most important Secretaries of State are: The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance). Ministers and departments The Foreign Secretary (International Affairs). + Heads of the government departments have the title Ministers. + There are 18 ministries. + The Vietnamese government has ministers in the following areas: Agriculture and Rural Development; Construction; Defense; Education and Training; Finance, Fisheries; Foreign Affairs; Health; Home Affairs; Industry;

The Home Secretary (Internal Justice; Planning and Investment; Posts and Telecommunications; Affairs). Public Security; Science and The Lord Chancellor (The Legal System). The Secretary of State for Education. The Secretary of State for Transport and the Environment. Technology; Trade; Transport; National Resources and Environment.

3. ELECTION 3.1 Electoral system

GROUP 4

32

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

There are 6 types of elections in the United Kingdom:

United Kingdom general elections

Elections to devolved parliaments and assemblies

Elections to the European Parliament

Local elections Mayoral elections Police and Crime Commissioner Elections. Elections are held on Election Day, which is conventionally a Thursday. General elections have fixed dates, and must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. Other elections are held on fixed dates, though in the case of the devolved assemblies and parliaments early elections can occur in certain situations. Currently, six electoral systems are used: The single member plurality system (First Past the Post) The multi member plurality system Party list PR The single transferable vote The Additional Member System The Supplementary Vote However, there are only 2 types of electoral systems in the UK such as: First Past the Post & Proportional Representation (PR).

3.1.1 First Past the Post (FPTP)

GROUP 4

33

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

FPTP is the voting system used for the election of MPs to 'seats' in the UK Parliament. It is a system in which the 'winner takes all' and usually gives a clear majority both at constituency and national level. This means that a candidate in a constituency only needs one more vote than the nearest rival to win the seat. Similarly, political parties only need to win one more seat in the House of Commons to have a majority. Advantages of FPTP There is very little chance of extremist parties being elected to Parliament under FPTP because they are unlikely to gain enough votes in any one constituency. Generally the results of elections using FPTP can be calculated quickly. When necessary, this makes the transfer of power from one party to another much easier. The 1997 and 2001 elections were clear evidence of this. Disadvantages of FPTP + The main criticism of FPTP is that the number of votes cast for a party in general elections is not accurately reflected in the number of seats won. An example of this was the 1997 election when the Conservatives gained 18% of the vote in Scotland but not one seat. This is mirrored at constituency level, where the winning candidate may have received only one third of the votes cast. Indeed, a government may be elected on a minority vote, as happened in February 1974 when Labour won the general election on the number of seats gained but the Conservatives had a larger share of the vote across the country. + Smaller parties are not fairly treated under FPTP. Although they may have a sizeable national support across the country, they do not get a proportional number of MPs because there are not enough votes concentrated in constituencies to let them win seats. This was shown in the 1983 general election when the Liberal/SDP Alliance won 25.4%
GROUP 4

34

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

of the vote and gained 23 seats while the Labour Party won 27.7% of the vote and gained 209 seats. + FPTP also encourages tactical voting. This means voting for a party, other than your preferred party, to prevent another party from being elected. An example of this would be when a Labour supporter in a marginal Liberal/ Conservative seat votes Liberal Democrat in order to keep the Conservatives from winning. + Another disadvantage of FPTP can occur in marginal constituencies, where voters tend to change their party loyalty from election to election, and among 'floating' or 'swing' voters, who have no firm party loyalty. The outcome of an election can be decided on the voting patterns in these situations, even although the constituents may number only a tiny proportion of the electorate. 3.1.2 Proportional Representation (PR) There are a number of systems that use PR such as the Single Transferable Vote (STV) (the Regional and National Lists) and the Alternative Vote. There is a third system that combines these two, known as the Additional Member System (AMS) or the hybrid or top-up system. The AMS system is presently used in elections for the Scottish Parliament, where voters can vote for single candidates in their constituencies but also for candidates from regional 'lists' put forward by each party. If there is a discrepancy between the percentage of seats the party has won and the percentage of votes cast, the seats are 'topped up' from the regional list. Advantages of PR + In PR systems there are no wasted votes in elections. Every vote is counted and so there is no need for tactical voting. As a result, there is a far greater degree of

GROUP 4

35

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

proportionality; the number of seats more accurately reflects the number of votes cast for each party. + PR encourages coalition governments, where different parties can work together as part of the Executive. This encourages a lessconfrontational form of politics because of the need for coalition parties to co-operate. This also means that there are fewer dramatic changes in policies as the two parties tend to keep a balanced 'middle way'. + Under PR in Britain, constituencies are multi-party. This means that several different parties can be represented which gives voters a choice of MSPs to consult. List systems can also increase the numbers of women, ethnic minority and disabled representatives in a parliament, if the party leaders choose to put them near the top of the List. Disadvantages of PR + A criticism of PR is that, in elections, voters do not vote for coalition governments. The compromises that are made between politicians from different parties in coalition can sometimes be without public backing. Small parties in coalition without a majority vote from the electorate can become 'kingmakers'. This means that small parties can have unfair power over the larger parties by threatening to withdraw from coalitions. + In the regional or national list systems, party leaders may draw up lists of only like-minded candidates which may disadvantage minority groups within a party. Although there is a larger than average number of women in the Scottish Parliament, there are few representatives from other groups such as ethnic minorities or the disabled. This is not desirable for effective democracy. 3.2 Formal arrangement

GROUP 4

36

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

In fact, it is the government which decides when to hold an election. The law says that an election has to take place at least five years. However, the interval between elections is usually much shorter than this. A party in power does not normally wait until the last possible moment. In Britain, to be eligible to vote, a person must be at least eighteen years old and be on the electoral register. This is compiled every year for each constituency separately. People who have moved house and have not had time to get their names on the electoral register of their new constituency can arrange to vote by post. After the date of an election has been fixed, people who want to be candidates in a constituency have to deposit 500 with Returning officer. They get this money back if the get 5% of the votes or more. The local association of the major parties will have already chosen candidates. 3.3 The campaign The country is divided into approx 635 constituencies. Each constituency votes separately. Each voter in each constituency votes for one candidate to be the Members of Parliament (MPs) for that constituency. The candidates have to put down a deposit (to keep the list short) which they lose if only a few people vote for them. The candidates are only allowed to spend a limited amount on publicity so that the rich do not have an advantage. The party which gets most MPs elected forms the government and can stay in power for 5 years maximum before having another general election. The Prime Minister is selected by the MPs of the majority ruling party. British elections are more comparatively quiet affairs. There is no tradition of larges rallies and parades as there is in USA.The campaign reflect the contrast between the formal arrangements and the politic reality. Formally, a different campaign takes place in each constituency... Local newspapers give coverage to
GROUP 4

37

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

the candidates, the candidates themselves hold meetings, and party supporters stick up posters in their windows But the reality is that all these activities and regulations do not usually make much the difference. Nearly everyboby votes for a candidate on the basis of the party which he or she represents, not because of his or her individual qualities or political opinions. Few people attend candidates meetings; most people do not read the local newspapers. Candidates energetically go from door to door to mobilze people. It is a national level that the real campaign takes place. The party spend millions of pounds advertising on hoarding and in newspapers. Each party will hold a daily televised conference. All of this puts the emphasis on the national party personalities rather than on local candidates. 3.3.1 Polling Day Elections are held on Election Day, which is conventionally a Thursday. There are several ways in which to vote, including by post and by proxy, as alternatives to the traditional trip to the polling station. Voting at a polling station Voting in person at a polling station is the traditional way of voting on polling day. Each voter will be allocated a polling card detailing their nearest polling station, which is typically schools, churches, libraries, even department stores; hairdressers are chose as polling stations. Polling stations are open between 0700 and 2200 on polling day.

Voting by post In England, Scotland and Wales you can vote by post if you are either unable to or do not want to attend your polling station. You do not need a specific reason in
GROUP 4

38

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

order to vote by post and you can apply to vote by post for a specific election, a specific time period or indefinitely. Since January 2007, all applicants must give their date of birth and signature. Voting by proxy Voting by proxy is where you appoint someone to vote on your behalf at a polling station. Unlike postal voting you need to provide a reason for voting by proxy and you can only vote by proxy indefinitely if you meet certain criteria. In terms of the election turnout, the recent figures show that the number of people going for vote is decreasing from 2000 to 2011, reaching around 60% to under 70% .Meanwhile in Vietnam, the turnout is higher over 80%, in 2011 election the propotion reached 97%. This is attributed partly for our partys effort in communication and Vietnamese peoples interest in politics. Elections on the British mainland are always fairly conducted. Northern Ireland, however, is seen to have negative issues. Before 1960, slogan in Ulster on polling day is vote early and vote often- that is tried to vote as many times as you can can by impersonating other people. After the polls close at 10 p.m, the marked ballot papers are taken to a central place in the constiuency and counted. Then the result will announced by Returning Officer. 3.3.2 Election night The period after voting has become a television extravaganza. Party election broadcasts are carried on television and radio by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Classic FM, talkSPORT and Virgin 1215 services. If the count had gone smoothly, this usually occurs at just 11 pm. By midnight, after only a handful of results have been declared, experts will make prediction about the composition of the newly elected House of Commons .By two in the morning at least half of the constituencies will have declared their results. In the case that none of the parties
GROUP 4

39

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

achieved the 326 seats needed for an overall majority. Then there will be a hung parliament which happened in 1967. And that situation we reoccured in the 2010 election when the Conservative Party, led by David Cameron, won the largest number of votes and seats but still fell twenty seats short. The Conservative Liberal coalition government that was subsequently formed was the first coalition in British history to eventuate directly from an election outcome. In some constituencies are not able to declare their results until well into Friday afternoon. This is because they are very rural and so it takes a long time to bring all the ballot papers together or the race is so close that they wan to recount many times this is considered the ironies of the British system. 3.4 Recent results and future 3.4.1 During 1980s Since the middle of the 20th century, the contest to form the government has been a fight between the Labor and the Conservative parties. The north of England and most of the inner areas of English cities return Labor MPs to Westminster while the South of England and most areas outside the inner cities have a Conservative MP. This parties forms the government depends on which one does better in the suburbs and large towns of England. Scotland where used to be territory of Conservative, during the 1980s, the vast majority of MPs from there represents Labor. Wales has always returned mostly Labor MPs. Since the 1970s, the respective nationalist parties in both countries have regularly won a few seats in Parliament. Traditionally, the Liberal party was relatively strong in Scotland and Wales. Its modern successor, the Liberal Democrat party is not so geographically restricted and has managed to win some seats or over Britain with a concentration in the southwest of England.

GROUP 4

40

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

Protestant Unionist and Catholic Nationalist MPs have the same proportion in Northern Ireland. During thirteen elections from 1945 to 1987, the Conservatives were generally more successful than Labor. Although Labor achieved a majority on five occasions, on only two of these were the majority comfortable. On other three occasions it was in constant danger of disappearing as a result of election defeats. Whereas, in the same period, the Conservative won a seven times majority nearly always comfortably. IV.4.2From 1992 election In the 1992 election, the Conservatives won for the fourth times in a row - the first time in more than 160 years. Moreover, there achievement happened in the middle of an economic recession. Many people wondered whether the Labor could ever win again. Labors share of the total vote had generally decreased in the previous for decades while support for the third party had grown since the early 1970s. Many sociologists believed this trend to be inevitable because Britain had developed a middle - class majority. Many political observers worried about this situation. It is considered the basic of British system of democracy - power should change hands occasionally. However, in 1997, the picture changed dramatically. The Labor won the largest majority in the House of Commons while the Conservatives share was lowest in 165 years.

3.5 Comparison between British and Vietnamese electoral system 3.5.1 Vietnamese electoral system Vietnam elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The National Assembly (Quoc Hoi) has 498 members, elected for a five-year
GROUP 4

41

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

term. Vietnam is a single-party state. This means that only one political party, the Communist Party of Vietnam is legally allowed to hold effective power. At the last elections, 20 May 2007, only the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, a front of the Communist Party of Vietnam, mass organizations and affiliated, and some nonpartisans were allowed to participate. 1 member is self-nominated and is not a member of the VFF. 42 seats were won by non-party candidates. The president is elected for a five-year term by the parliament. More than 99% of all candidates were selected by Communist Party and most of them were from their own party. Constituencies: 158 multi-member constituencies divided into electoral units. Voting system: Absolute majority vote. Within each electoral unit, candidates exceed the number of seats to be filled. Those obtaining more than one-half of the votes cast in the unit are declared elected. If, within a unit, all seats are not filled or if the number of voters is less than half of those registered, a simple majority second round vote takes place among the original candidates. The number of electoral units and number of Deputies to be elected by each is based on population. Each unit may elect no more than three Deputies, and each province and city directly under the central government authority is allotted at least three seats; Hanoi, the capital, is allocated 23 Deputies. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections, unless the remaining parliamentary term is less than two years. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements: - Age: 18 years

GROUP 4

42

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

- Vietnamese citizenship - Disqualifications: insanity Eligibility: Qualified electors - Age: 21 years - Vietnamese citizenship Incompatibilities: (not applicable) Candidacy requirements: Candidates' lists are presented by the Viet Nam Fatherland Front

3.5.2 Comparison between two nationselectoral system Britain - Take place at least every 5 years. to the evening. - Each person has one vote, but if they do not want to choose, they might not to go to do - The government decides when to hold an election. Time and manner - The general election is held on the first Thursday in May every five years; however the interval between elections is usually a bit shorter than this. - Most voting takes place in polling stations but anyone - National Assembly Standing Committee decides when to hold an election and announced sooner than 105 days before election days. - The election days must be held on Monday because it is a day off and
GROUP 4

Vietnam

- The whole country vote in a particular day from the morning

43

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

eligible to vote can apply for a postal vote. Bristish citizens to a postal vote as long as they have been living abroad for less than 15 years. - Who can vote? Aged 18 or over A legal citizen

everyone have free time to vote in that day. that citizen can elect such as school, workplace, people committee.

living in broad are also entitled - There are so many places

Resident in a constituency and on the electoral register, and not in a category barred from voting. - Who cannot vote? Those in the prison Lack of civil capacity - Members of the House of Lords. - It is commonly thought Voters that members of the Royal family are not allowed to vote, but this is not true. The Queen can vote, as can members of her family, but they do not do so because in practice it would be considered unconstitutional. Condition: +The candidate is British or Vietnam citizen. + The winner will get the highest vote of people. At least 18 years old At least 21 years old
GROUP 4

Not have members of House of Lord or Queen.

44

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

A citizen of a commonwealth country who does not require leave to enter or remain Candidates in the UK, has indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Unacceptable candidate: Members of the police forces Members of the armed forces Civil servants and judges People who are subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order in the England or Wales or a debt relief restrictions order People who have been adjudged bankrupt in Northern Ireland People who have had their estate sequestrated in Scotland Candidates and parties campaign until poling day Voting ends counting of votes conducted publicly Criminal or who have no citizenship Lack of civil act capacity

The candidate with the most If the total number of ballots votes becomes the local Voting for Member of Parliament in the ballot box in accordance with the number
GROUP 4

45

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

political parties

( MP)for that area represent everyone in the Commons. Under this system of electing representatives every citizen gets one vote, and the candidate with the most votes wins. The system is known as First-PastThe-Post The UK has many political parties, the main three being

of votes the election shall conduct the vote count.

constituency in the House of Before opening the ballot box invite voters who are not candidates to witness the counting of votes.

Since Vietnam is a singleparty state, the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam is guaranteed to win. The winner will work for National Assembly.

Party system

Labour , Conservative, Liberal Democrat. These three work in both the House of Commons and The house of Lords

III. STATISTICS 1. Parliament To pass laws

GROUP 4

46

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

To provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government

Main functions
To scrutinise government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure To debate the major issues of the day

2. Queen - a constitutional monarch Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary)

laws are passed in her name.

The Queen is the official Head of State. The Queen herself plays no part in determining

decisions made in Parliament although the Queen 'opens' Parliament each year and

Her Majesty The Queens title in the United Kingdom is: Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3. Prime Minister - who runs government The Prime Minister is head of the UK

government. He is ultimately responsible for all policy and decisions The current Prime Minister of the UK is

David Cameron MP
GROUP 4

47

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

3 key roles of the Prime Minister : + Oversee the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies. + Appoint members of the government + Be the principal government figure in the House of Commons 4. Ministers

01
Prime Minister

21
Cabinet Ministers

99
Other Ministers

121
Total Ministers

Ministers are chosen by the Prime Minister from the members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. They are responsible for the actions, successes and failures of their departments. 5. Government departments and agencies

24
Ministerial Departments

21

Nonministerial Departments

300+
Agencies & Other public bodies

Departments and their agencies are responsible for putting government policy into practice.

6. Civil Services

GROUP 4

48

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

The Civil Service does the practical and administrative work of government.

It is co-ordinated and managed by the Prime Minister, in his role as Minister for the Civil Service. Around half of all civil servants provide services direct to the public,

including: Paying benefits and pensions, running employment services, issuing driving licences Over two-thirds of civil servants work in the four largest departments. 23%

working in Department for Work and Pensions, 16% in HM Revenue & Customs, 16% in Ministry of Justice, 14% in Ministry of Defence, 31% in other departments./. IV. REFERENCES 1. www.gov.uk 2. www.projectbritain.com 3. www.en.wikipedia.org 4. www.parliament.uk 5. www.news.bbc.co.uk

GROUP 4

49

BRITISH CULTURE

Government - Parliament - Election

GROUP 4

50