United Kingdom

Presented by: Agonias, Abaigar, Castaneda and Salas

Type of Regime
Liberal Democracy United Kingdom Western Polyarchy Constitutional Monarchy

Evolutionary Democracy

Structure of Government
UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT Features: Parliamentary

WESTMINSTER MODEL

Lack of separation of powers between the executive and assembly

Weakly bicameral Uncodified constitution First-past-the post electoral system Two Party System

Structure of Government
Monarch (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

The Executive Branch

Chief of State

Head of Government

The Legislative Branch

Its functions include: to examine proposals for new laws to observe government policy and administration to debate the major issues of the day

The Legislative Branch

House of Lords are composed of Lord Spiritual (clergies) and the Lords Temporal (senior judges, life peers; usually appointed by the monarch and hereditary): 775 members

The Legislative Branch

House of Commons however are elected through political parties has 650 seats

Political Parties in United Kingdom

UK Independence Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru

Green Party

British National Party

Conservative Party

British Parliament

Labour Party

Law Making Process

Passage of a bill (A)

Bill Starting in the House of Commons

House of Commons

House of Lords

Consideration of Amendments

Royal Assent

Law Making Process

Passage of a bill (B)

Bill Starting in the House of Lords

House of Lords

House of Commons

Consideration of Amendments

Royal Assent

The Judicial Branch

It is headed by Lord Chancellor and its function is to Interpret laws in practice

Comparison to other Countries

First nation to develop an effective parliamentary democracy Hence, supreme authority comes from the legislature (parliament) UKs democracy did not undergo radical changes, but rather gradual and evolutionary Allowed their overseas territories to gradually gain independence and in turn became part of the Commonwealth Still a relatively powerful state, although its hegemony declined in the latter half of the 20th century

References
British Embassy in Washington Editors. (2012). UK Government: How does Britains's system of government work? Retrieved October 27, 2012, from British Embassy in Washington: http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/aboutus/faqs/uk-government/uk-government-work Central Intelligence Agency Editors. (2012, October 4). World Factbook: United Kingdom. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from Central Intelligence Agency: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/geos/uk.html Heywood. (n.d.). Government, Systems and Regimes. Kreiger, J. (2008). Britain. The Making of the Modern British State, 36-49.

References
The Telegraph Editors. (2012). UK political parties list. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/partypolicy/7560271/UK-political-parties-list.html UK Parliament Website Editors. (2012). Passage of a Bill . Retrieved October 26, 2012, from UK Parliament Website : http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/passage-bill/ US Department of State Editors. (2012, March 22). Background Note: United Kingdom. Retrieved October 27, 2012, from US Department of State: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3846.htm