MUN 4 Take out your timeline to turn

MUN 4 • Take out your timeline to turn in and pick up the notes on your way in. • Any applications to chair middle school committees—turn them in now.

Government ________ in the UK

Head of State vs Head of Government • Head of state— Figurehead position, responsible for symbolizing and representing the people • Head of government— Head of day to day operations of the government, directing policy, and running the executive branch

A unitary state • The United Kingdom is a unitary state • Unitary state—The central government has overwhelming control of the policy making process • Unitary vs. Confederate vs. Federal

Legislative Branch in the UK • Bicameral Legislature • MP—Member of Parliament • Lower House—The House of Commons – Very powerful • Upper House—The House of Lords – Delay legislation for review of concepts – Debate technicality of proposed bills (add amendments)

Elections—The Plurality Winner-Take. All System • British elections are “winner-take-all, ” like the U. S. – Single member districts, the candidate with the most votes wins (first past the post) – Limits the power of 3 rd Party Candidates – In the UK, candidates don’t have to live in the district they run in, so party leaders run in very “safe” districts – Elections every 5 years in the UK 2010 Election Party Votes Recieved Seats Won Conservatives 10, 703, 654 306 Labour 8, 606, 517 258 Liberal Democrats 6, 836, 248 57

Presidential System • Describe a presidential system of government.

Parliamentary System • The lower house elects the head of government, not citizens • As a result, no separation between executive and legislative branch • No checks and balances • Head of state IS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT • As a result, the majority party in the House of Commons IS THE GOVERNMENT

Choosing a head of government in a hung Parliament • Let’s say there’s an election where: – Conservatives win 306 seats – Labour wins 258 seats – Liberal Democrats win 62 seats – You need 326 seats to have a majority of votes – Hung Parliament – What do you do?

Coalition Government • 2006—Conservatives had a clear majority • 2010—Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats form a coalition government • Conservatives needed Liberal Democrat support to win a majority • Liberal Democrats just happy to be there because of plurality system

2015 elections • Conservatives win outright majority, no coalition needed • HUGE drop-off of Liberal Democrats, disappointment for Labour party (both selected new party leadership) • Rise of Scottish National Party! • David Cameron was PM, but he resigned after the Brexit vote loss

2017 Snap election results • Again, you need 326 votes • Dopey Conservatives blew their majority, and needed to form another coalition with Democratic Unionist Party

Review! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. How would the United States be different if we had a unitary system of government? How do first-past-the-post (winner take all) elections hurt 3 rd party candidates? Who directly votes for a president? Prime minister? Do you prefer a Presidential or a Parliamentary system? Why? Why did the UK have a coalition government? What years did they have a coalition government? Who do you think is more powerful right now, Boris Johnson or Donald Trump? Why? Describe checks and balances in British government institutions. Is Mr. Bordelon a head of state or a head of government? Explain.

Prime Minister vs. President Prime Minister • Elected as a _____ President • Elected as _____ • Serves 5 years OR only as long as he/she remains leader of the majority party/coalition • Elected every four years by an electoral college based on popular vote • Has an ________ chance of getting programs through Parliament • Cabinet members are MP’s, not bureaucratic experts • Has an excellent chance of ______ with Congress • Cabinet members usually not from Parliament, head huge bureaucracies

Prime Minister’s Cabinet • Collective Cabinet— Center of policymaking in Great Britain • All MP’s from the same party • Without the support of his party, a PM’s government loses legitimacy • What happens if the PM and his cabinet lose legitimacy?

Forced Elections in Great Britain • Vote of no confidence—A VOTE ON WHETHER THE PM SHOULD STEP DOWN • If the majority party loses: – The Queen calls for new elections – PM and Cabinet resign – ALL MP’s stand up for election • Examples: 1979, 2005 (almost), 2018, 2019

Other powers parliament has • Censure cabinet members —Same as vote of no confidence • Refuse executive proposed legislation(Boris Johnson and hard Brexit – can lead to a vote of no confidence) • Questioning time! More on this coming up

Organization in the House of Commons • Parties that lose—The Loyal Opposition • Parliament is weird: – Set up with long benches – PM and cabinet sit on front bench on one side – “Shadow cabinet”— The leaders of the loyal opposition – “Back benchers”— The MP’s with the least power (so they sit in the back)

Parliament Organization, 2010 -2015 • Which party is which? • Red=_______ • Blue=______ • Yellow=______

Debate in the House of Commons • Awesome • Questioning Time—Weekly period where the ___________and his cabinet have to defend their policies • Opposition Party—Seen as a “_______” on the majority party/coalition • MP’s trying to become future party leaders • England is awesome • Questioning time

Attempts to combat corruption in the UK • Least corrupt of our 6 countries • Independent media serving as a watchdog (right? ) • Bribery Act of 2010— Strengthened penalties for corruption, broadened crimes that could be tried • Low level of trust in MP’s— Scandals relating to expenses • Worries about lobbying and interest groups in Parliament • RECALL ACT OF 2015

Pros and Cons of Parliamentary System Pros Cons • Don’t have the gridlock that we have in the United Sates between executive and legislative branches • Lack of separation between PM and Parliament leads to a dangerous concentration of power

House of Lords • Upper House in Great Britain • Nowhere near as powerful as the House of Commons • Some seats are hereditary • Some seats approved by monarch with recommendations from the prime minister and an independent commission

British Bureaucracy • Hundreds of thousands of civil servants • Top civil servants have discretionary power • Hired based on merit, not elected

Rising health care costs • Caused by aging population, declining working age population (sucks that they hate immigrants to much)

Threats to Parliamentary Sovereignty • Parliamentary Sovereignty— Parliamentary decisions are final, very little judicial review • The British _______— – Historically, only decided innocence or guilt, not judicial review • Supreme Court—Created in 2009 • Final court of appeals • Protect human rights and civil liberties • Rule on devolution disputes • Ruled against Boris Johnson’s prorogue of Parliament—Big deal • 2 nd threat to Parliamentary sovereignty?

European Union (won’t apply for much longer) • Britain is a part of the European Union, so they have to follow EU laws • Parliament’s laws now have to be confirmed by the European Court of Justice – – Monetary issues Environmental issues Human rights/immigration Austerity measures • British judiciary—Has the power to decide if European Union treaties violate parliament’s sovereignty (gives them more power)

President vs. Prime Minister • More likely to be able to enact his policies • Elected by national vote • Elected as a representative of a district • Can be removed if he loses a vote of confidence • Because there are few checks on his power, some think too much concentration is in his hands • Likely to face stiff opposition from other branches of government

Government Institutions Matching 1. 2. Does not have the authority to declare Parliamentary policy unconstitutional A possible threat to parliamentary sovereignty in that Britain is forced to follow policies and treaties that they enact 3. Can be dissolved to face new elections if there is a vote of no confidence 4. Supranational organization 5. Decides if an international agreement violates Britain’s sovereignty 6. Positions are not won by election 7. Positions are not won by election 8. High level employees have the power to make technical decisions of how to implement laws passed by Parliament 9. Backbenchers are the least powerful members of this institution 10. Most powerful political institution in Britain 11. Some seats are passed down along family lines 12. Wear stupid wigs

House of Commons Simulation • • • Theresa May--Magaly Damian Green--Katherine Philip Hammond--Jorge Amber Rudd--Delia Boris Johnson—Arthur David Davis--Bruce Michael Fallon--Victor Jeremy Hunt--Immanuel Sammy Wilson--Rougi • Jeremy Corbyn--Claire • John Mc. Donnell--Ricardo • Emily Thornberry-Domingo • Tom Watson--Adam • Diane Abbott--Kinderlyn • Rebecca Long-Bailey • Angela Rayner--Kelley • Keir Starmer--Claudia

• FRQ— 2011 #6