What is the Political System in Great Britain?
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK for short) is a unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. It is composed of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. They are located in the western northern part of Europe, off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. In this article, we will explore the political system in Great Britain and the different components that make it up.
Overview of the Political System in Great Britain
The UK follows a unitary parliamentary system, which is typically defined as a system with a single, central government that resolves the principal policies that impact the nation. The Queen of the UK is the head of state, and the Prime Minister and Cabinet make up the executive branch, with powers to promote laws derived from Parliament. Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons, which makes up the majority of the legislature and is primarily composed of elected Members of Parliament (MPs). This is where the governing party sets its policies and implements laws. The House of Lords is an appointed body of peers, whose function is to provide advice, oversight, and consent of proposed legislation by the House of Commons.
Main Political Parties in Great Britain
Great Britain has a two-party system, meaning two main political parties (currently Conservative and Labour) dominate British politics. Everyone in the UK is entitled to vote and most elections are heldusing a single round-robin system, where voters give their support to one political party. Based on the party that obtains the most support, its leader typically becomes Prime Minister. The House of Commons is important for enacting legislation, and it is divided into 650 single-member electoral constituencies, each of which elects one Member of Parliament that then votes in the House of Commons on behalf of their constituents.
Local Governments in Great Britain
England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are each administered separately by their own local governments. England, Wales and Scotland are each broken into local areas or ‘counties’ with their own local governments and elected councillors who oversee local services like rubbish collection, education, housing, and health. These areas are made up of districts and local towns or cities, each of which also have their own local government that provides some services, like health care and education.
Northern Ireland has a slightly different system – it is divided into 11 districts that each have their own elected councils and are responsible for local community services, such as housing and waste collection. The Northern Ireland Assembly, which is the legislature for Northern Ireland, consists of 90 members elected through Single Transferable Vote.
The Monarch and the Constitution
The Monarch is the head of the UK and is currently held by Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen’s main role is ceremonial, with government being carried out by an elected Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Queen is formally addressed as ‘God Save the Queen/King’ and she is also the Head of the Church of England and holds supreme authority as the Supreme Governor of the church.
The UK has no single constitutional document setting out the basis of governance. Instead, it is composed of several sources, including ancient rights and customs, common law and statute law, conventions and precedents from European Union (EU) law. Constitutional conventions imply the Sovereign must act on the advice of the Cabinet, who is made up of the Prime Minister, other ministers and senior civil servants.
Supreme Court and the Judicial System
The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in the UK. It hears cases that are both criminal and civil which emanate from the High Court or lower court authorities. The membership of the Supreme Court is made of the President, 12 justices and a number of other specialist judges who are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor.
The UK judicial system is independent from the government and functions autonomously, although the government is able to pass laws which change or amend the UK legal system. Judges are appointed through a rigorous selection process, before beginning a judicial journey of seven years. These judges can then progress to the higher courts, such as the Supreme Court, and become even more influential in shaping the law.
Elections and Referendums
Most elections are held using a single Round-Robin system, where voters cast their vote for one political party and the person who obtains the most support becomes Prime Minister, and the respective party forms the majority in the House of Commons. Elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) are typically held every 5 years, unless an early election is called. The most recent general election was held in December 2019.
The UK also allows for public participation in the decision-making process and citizens can be consulted through referendums. These are usually used to determine public opinion on divisive issues and are legally binding on Parliament, which must act on the results or call another referendum. Recent referendums include the 2016 EU Referendum and the 2011 referendum on overhauling the voting system in the UK.
Overall Role of the Political System in Great Britain
Great Britain’s system of government is designed to maintain liberty, justice, and democracy. It is structured in such a way that all citizens have the power to vote and have their interests represented in Parliament. The House of Commons is the primary body for making laws and policies, while the House of Lords offers advise and consent. The Constitution outlines the rights of citizens, which is maintained and enforced by the Supreme Court.The country also relies heavily on public participation, allowing citizens to express their views through general elections and referendums.
All in all, the political system in Great Britain is designed to create a stable, democratic system where all citizens are given the fundamental right to participate in the decisions that affect them. This system has proven to be successful for more than 700 years and will continue to adapt to the ever–changing needs of the nation today.
