Riassunto esame Lingua e cultura inglese I, prof. Fusco

CAP. 4 - POLITICS AND GOVENEMENT

Politics

The first limitations on monarchs started long time ago, at the time of the feudal system.

The governement in London, is accused of being too secretive, too centralized, too remote, too media-reactive, too

controlling and insufficiently, responsive to the needs of diverse peoples of the United Kingdom.

1997 costitutional and political

The previous Labour Govenement in embarked on a process of

„modernization“,

involving such matters as -devolution,

-reform of the House of Lords and

-introduction of human right and freedom of information legislation.

But these developments have been criticized for creating more problems than they have solved.

England Political history

(England is now known as England + Scotland + Wales + Northern Ireland)

DECLINE OF THE MONARCHY AND THE RISE OF PARLAMENT

Early monarch or political leaders in the 4 nations had a considerable power, but generally accepted

advice and feudal limitations on their authority.

King John and Magna Charta 1215

Later English kings, ignored these restraints and powerful (French-Normans) barons opposed Jhon's

dictatorial rule by forcing him to sign Magna Carta in 1215:

it restricted the monarch's powers

forced them to take advice

increased the influence of the aristocracy

stipulated that citizens should not be impersoned without trial.

Simon the Montfort,

In 1258 an English Council was founded under these aristocratic and part-time

were followed by

(In 1275) the Model Parliament of Edward I, wich was the frist representative English Parlament.

Its 2 houses consisted of :

the Lords/ Bishops

1. the Commons (male commoners).

2.

THE GROWTH OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND

COSTITUCTIONAL STRUCTURES

Tudor dynasty (1485-1603)

During the there was a return to royal dominance (pre-eminence) caused

by many conflicts.

The Stuarts and king Charles I:

Tudor monarchs (of Welsh ancestry) united England and Wales administratively, politically and

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legally in the 16 ceuntry.

Following the Tudors, James 6 of Scotland became James 1 of Engalnd in 1603,

in 1603 formed a Stuart dynasty

and considered himself to be king if Great Britain.

The Petition of Rights in 1628: Stuard Charles 1

The English power now showed more resistance to royal rule and forced the to sign

the Pentition of Ringhts.

It refused royal requests for money and late forced the Stuart Charles 1 to sign Pentition of rights in

1628. (which prevented him from raising taxes without Parliament's consent.

The Civil war (1642)

Charle's raction of parliamentary ideals and belief in his right to rule without opposition provoked

anger against the Crown and

a Civil War broke out in 1642.

The Protestant Parliament 1642.

The mainly Protestant Parliamentarians under Oliver Cromwell won the military struggle against the

Royalists.

King Charles was beheaded 1649:

the monarchy was abolished;

Britain was ruled as a Protectorate by Cromwell and his son Richard (1653-60);

and Parliament comprised only the House of Commons.

Cromwell's Protectorate become unpopular and most people wanted the restoration of the monarchy.

The 2 Houses of Parliament were re-established and in 1660 they restored the Stuart Charles 2 to the

throne.

After Cromwell the monarchy was restored with king Charles II.

During the 17 century there was the rise of political parties.

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WHIGS AND TORIES:

In 1275 under king Edward I there was a first example of English Parliament divided in the

Lords/Bishops and the Commons.

2 groups become dominant:

The Whigs Tories.

THE WHIGS

The w whigs s were mainly Cromwellian Protestant and gentry who did not accept the Catholic James

2 as successor to Charles 2 and wanted religiuos freedom for all Protestants.

THE TORIES

The Tories generally

supported royalist belifs

– helped Charles 2 to secure James's right to succed him.

– But Jame's attempt to rule without Parliament and his ignoring of its laws caused a further

–

reducation in royal influence.

His manipulation forced the Tories to join Whigs in inviting the Dutch Protestant William of

–

Orange to intervene.

William of Orange and the Glorious Revolution 1688

WILLIAM arrived in England in 1688.

James fled to France and William succeded to the throne as Britain's frist constitutional monarch.

GLORIOUS REVOLUTION.

Since no force was involved, this event is called the BLOODLESS or

The Glorious Revolution affected the constituction and politics.

division of powers

It effectively created a between an executive branch, a parliamentary legislative

branch and the judiciary.

King James II:

Declaration of rights 1689:

Royal powers were further restricted under the Declaration of Rights (1689), which strengthened

Parliament.

Act of Settlement in 1701 Act of Settlement

Future monarchs could not reign or act without Parliament's consent and the

(1701) specified that monarchs must be Protestant.

Hannoverian Dynasty saw the election of Britain’s first Prime Minister Robert

Walpole: th

Parliamentary influence grew in the early 18 century beacouse the Hanoverian George 1 lacked

interest in British politics. He destrusted the Tories with their Catholic sympathies and appointed

Whigs like Robert Walpole to his Privy Council.

WALPOLE BECAME CHIEF MINISTER IN 1721.

Walpole increased the parliametary role and has been called Britain's frist prime minister.

Act of Union in 1801:

In 1801, Ireland was united with Great Britain by the Act of Union to form the UK. The Irish

Parliament was abolished and Irish members sat in both Houses of the London Parliament.

THE EXPANSION OF VOTING RIGHTS

First Reform Act 1832.

The Tories were against electoral reform (as tehy were the Wings initally). But the country was rapidly

increasing its population and developing industrially and economically.

Pressures for political reform became irresistable.

The Wings:

reformed the Parliamentary system

– extended voting rights to a small number of the growing middle class

–

in the Frist Reform Act of 1832.

1918: The expansion of voting rights to all man.

In 1928 women also obtained the right to vote :

All males and females aged 21 possessed the vote (with some exceptions) and

the age limit was further reduced to 18 in 1969.

THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF WOMEN of all calsses had been confined to that of mother

in the home, althought soem found employement in home industries and factories or as domestic

servants, teachers and governesses. th

Women's social position became marginally better in 19 century.

PANKHURSTS in 1903

The most famous suggrage movement was that of PANKHURSTS in 1903.

Their Women's Social and Political Union campaigned for votes for women and an increased female

role in society.

Howevr there was a substantial change in women's status in mid-20 century beacous of a recognition

of the essential work that they performed during 2 World Wars. Stuard Charles 1

*The English power now showed more resistance to royal rule and forced the to

sign the Pentition of Ringhts. Charles ignored these political developments and was beheaded.

The monarchy was abolished. Britain was ruled as a Protectorate by Cromwell and his son Richard

and Parliament comprised only the House of Commons.

THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT

STRUCTURES

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In the 19 century:

the political parties were more organized.

TORIES CONSEVATIVE

The became known as the in teh early 1830s.

WINGS

The , were becoming a progressive force and wated social reform and economic freedom

without governement restrictions.

Teh Wings developed into the Liberal Party ( Labour Party).

1980s

Then Labour Party and Social democrats marged in =

Liberal Democrats.

and became the

How Britain is Run Nowadays

The Britain has a 'MULTI-LEVEL GOVERNANCE' model.

The Uk is a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY.

MONARCH HEAD OF THE STATE,

Its - either king or a queen – is (formally) the

he/she has very little power.

Queen Elizabeth II reigns but she does not rule.

Parliament and the existing government have the power.

Practical politics operate mainly at naitonal, devolved and local government levels. Local government

throughout Britain organizes society at a smaller community levels.

THE CONSTITUTION

not written constitution

The UK does have a or printed set of rules for governing the country.

Significant changes have occurred over the yars such as ENTRY IN EU in 1973 and devolution in

1998-99.

The Constitution has been formed in 3 ways:

LAWS DECREES

1 - by all the and that they have been made for centuries;

by the way these laws have been interpreted in the Law Courts

2 -

in the past and now re-interpreted from time to time (such as Magna Carta)

by the way things have been done for centuries

3 - although some of these practices have

never been formally written down (Magna Carta and Acts of Parliament)

4 – EU law

THE COSTITUTIONAL ELEMENTS ARE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO

NEW CONDITIONS.

DEMOCRACY:

Britain is a men and women over 18 have a vote.

Voting is not compulsory.

They have the right to elect a representative to Parliament.

The representative is the M.P. the Prime Minister.

At the opening of parliament the Queen reads a speech written by the prime minister from the throne in the

House of Lords.

IN BRITAIN THERE IS NO CLEAR SEPARATION OF POWERS

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

government loses

Parliamentary elections must be held if the its majority support in the house of

commons if the Prime Minister decides to hold an election or if the Parliament is coming to the end

of a five year period.

The Westminisyer Parliament

The Westminister Parliamet consists in:

HOUSE OF COMMONS (elected House of Commons)

• HOUSE OF LORDS (non-elected House of Lords)

• formally monarch.

•

The Westminister Parliamet in London is the legislature and possesses the supreme power to make

laws in UK matters.

EU LAW is directly applicable in Britain and coexist with Acts of Parilamet as part of the British

Constituction.

The EU's COUNCIL OF MINISTERS consist of the heads of government and ministers from

the member states and is the EU's supreme law-making or law-initiating body.

The Scottish Parliament can legislate on devolved matters in wich Westminister has no say.

Conflicts between the 2 parliaments will be resolved by the Supreme Curt.

The House of Commons (the executive UK government)

650 MP

The are to the House of Commons

but holy 3 hundred and 70 seats in the debating Chamber for them to sit on.

passing it policies throught Parliament

It governs by

by Act of Parliament.

The members of House of Commons are chosen from all parts of the UK, elected by voters (from the

age of 18).

The Highest court is the Supreme Court (2009)

it has jurisdiction to determine devolution disputes

concerning Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

The House of Lords

All peers (Lords) peereses who have inherited their titles have the right to take their seat in the House

of Lords. But not everyone does so. titles cannot be

Distinguished men and women who have been made peers for their life-time. Their

inherited.

Certain clergy of the Church of England.

Some judges called the Law Lords.

FUNCTION OF HOUSE OF LORDS

the same power as the House of Commons.

It does not have

Many people want to abolish it because the members have not

been elected by the people.

The House of Lords can:

Pass Bills sent to it from the House of Commons.

1. Amend Bills and send back to the Commons for approval.

2. Delay Bills for a limited time.

3. Start its own Bills, but it must send them to the House of Lords for approval.

4. The House of Lords is also the highest Court of Law in Britain.

5. Bills must both the Houses of Parliament and then receive the Royal Asset (be

6. signed by the Queen) before they become Acts of Parliament.

THE MONARCHY 'QUEEN-IN-

The correct constitutional title of British Parliament is the

PARLIAMENT'.

This means that state and government buisiness is carried out in the name of the monarch by

the policians and officials of the system.

The monarch acts only on the advice of government ministers (which cannot be ignored),

and Britain is governed by Her Majesty's Government in the name of the Queen.

The monarchy's continuity has been interrupted only by Cromwellian rule (1653-60), althougt there

has been different dynasties such as Tudors, Stuarts, Hanoverians.

Royal executive power has desappeared, yet THE MONARCH:

has a formal constitutional roles

is head of state

head of executive

judicary

legislature

'supreme governator' of the Church of England

commander – in – chief of the armed forces

THE MONARCH IS EXPECTED TO BE:

politically neutral

1. to reign but not to rule

2. cannot make laws

3. impose taxes

4. spend public money

5. act unilaterally

6.

THE MONARCH performs important duties such as:

the opening and dissolving of the UK Parliament

➢ giving the royal assent (or signature) to bills

➢ (which have been passed by both Houses of Parliament)

➢ appointing government ministers and public officials

➢ granting honours

➢ leading proceedings of Privy Council

➢ fulfilling international duties as head of state.

➢

THE PRIVY COUNCIL

The privy council deals with the group of advisers of the monarch,

they work mostly though small groups

300 members

composed by more than : legislators,

judges,

distinguished scholars.

Middle Ages,

It was created in the

but it has lost MOST OF THE JUDICIAL AND POLITICAL FUNCTIONS since the 17° century

now replaced by the Cabinet.

and

The Party System

The British democratic system depends on political parties:

Conservative Labour.

and G

THE OVERNMENT.

When one party wins more seats than the other in an election, it forms

O

THE PPOSITION.

The other party is called:

In 1981 there was a split in the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party was formed.

650 areas CONSTITUENCIES.

The U.K. is divided into called

Each constituency returns one member of Parliament.

Before an election a candidate is chosen the local support for a party, it may decide not to have a

candidate.

But the two parties always fight the election in every constituency.

Elections in Britain are decided on a simple majority, the candidate with the most votes is elected.

The Civil Service

IS NON-POLITICAL,

In Britain the Civil Service

it has a tradition of serving and giving advice to whatever government is in power.

“servants of the Crown” of the Queen.

Civil Servants are

Since World War II there has been a big increase in the number of civil servants because governments

now provide many more services for the citizen: the National Health Service, for example.

Local Government

Central government affects the citizen in many ways:

it provides him with hospital treatment

1. and with a pension in old age.

2. But it also provides the organization of: schools, dustbin, police, fire service.

3. COUNCILLORS

The people elect for both County and District Councils.

The Councils elect their Chairman to preside over meetings.

Borough Councils call the chairman “Mayor”.

SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES elect Parish Councils or Community Councils.

They have very little power but give local people a chance to express their opinions about local affairs

in public.

Devolution

A transfer (decentralization) of political parties from Westminster to gain independence first started

Ireland.

in

Political and cultural nationalism also in

Wales

and Scotland.

Regional Development Agencies.

The authority of the Mayor.

(da p99 a 120 fatte sugli schemi, se vuoi leggile.

p.98 vedi ULTERIORE DIVISIONE HOUSE OF LORDS:LORDS SPIRITUAL and LORDS

TEMPORAL)

Cap.5 – International Relations

Britain's position in the world today is that of a medium-sized country.

It ranks economically in sixth place behind USA, Japan, Germany, France, China.

Britain's foreign policy and self-image do not reflect the reality of its world position.

BRITAIN IS A LARE EXPORTER OF GOODS AND SERVICES, has substantial overseas or

outward investments and imports much of its food and basic manifacturing requirements.

It is dependen upon maintaining global commercial links, althought it is increasingly committed to

Europe, whose 27 EU member.

1. Foreign Affairs

The main topics concerning the international British policy are:

British relations with the U.S.A.

The Commonwealth

The European Union

The Irish question th

20 century DECLINE OF THE BRITISH COLONIAL

The beginning of the testifies the

EMPIRE.

Canada and Australia gained independence.

Other countries in Africa and Asia wanted to be decolonized at the end of the II World War.

The rise of the Cold War, moreover, drastically reduced the worldwide importance of the U.K.

Great Britain felt the urgency to reinvent a new identity .

BRITAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY

Britain's foreign policy is based on the principal that overseas objective in the contemporary world can

be beast attained (raggiunto) by PERSUASION,

cooperation,

actively working with other nations on a regional or global basis.

BRITISH RELATIONS WITH THE U.S.A.

1.1 -

The USA has often been Britain's closest ally.

A ''special relaitonship'' supposedly exist between the 2 based on a common language, cultural

traditions, history and military partnership.

Britain's major defense alliance is with the NATO.

26 members.

This currently comprises

THE GIUSTIFICAITON FOR NATO'S CREATONS was that

it provided its members with greater security than any could achieve individually.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DEFENSE SPENDING has reduced the number of armed forces

personel, ships, aircraft and equipment, but has increased other priority areas such as caapabilities

a