英语国家社会与文化入门课件.doc

The Government of the United Kingdom
The long road to Democracy
The Monarchy
• The oldest type of government
• First English monarch – King Egbert
• Divine Right of Kings
• There has always been a King or a Queen
• Only one period without a monarch
Divine Right of Kings
• The monarch did not get his authority from the people
• The sovereign got his authority from God
• This meant the existence of the monarchy has rarely been challenged
• However, there have often been battles for the throne
Kings, Queens, Monarchs and Sovereigns
• King is from the Old English language
• Queen is from the Old Norse language
• Monarch is from the Greek language
• Sovereign is from the French language
Absolute Power
• It was not considered wise for the king to have absolute power
• He should take advice from his top men
• Old saying “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”
The First Serious Conflict
• King John falls out with his Barons
• Barons force John to sign Magna Carta
• The Barons gain more rights
• The common people still not protected
PARLIAMENT
• Parler – to talk – French (remember the Normans?)
• Parley – to talk – English
• Word first used in 1236
• Gathering of representatives
• Barons (Lords)
Financial problems in the 13th century
• If the king wanted money he had to ask the barons, he had to persuade them to give him money!!
• They were a small group and could not give enough money
• The Great Council was enlarged to include representatives of the community (Commons)
Henry IV
• 1407 – Henry IV decided that all money grants should be approved first by the Commons.
• After they had been approved by the commons they were considered by the Lords
CHARLES I
• Charles I had serious problems
• Main problem – he thought Parliament had no right to exist. It only existed because he allowed it.
• Second problem – his wife was a Catholic.
Charles I
• He dismissed Parliament and tried to rule without them
• He called them back when he needed money, then dismissed them again
• This lead to a serious conflict between the King and Parliament
• 1649 Charles was beheaded
Roundheads and Cavaliers
• The Royalists who followed Charles were called Cavaliers
• The soldiers who followed Oliver Cromwell were called Roundheads
• The Parliamentary side won and Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the realm
THE COMMONWEALTH
• 11 years of rule by Parliament alone
• House of Lords abolished
• Oliver Cromwell takes control of the country
• Government becomes military dictatorship
• House of Commons failed
CHARLES II
• Restored the Government
• Tried to govern with a small Council
• Tried to restore Catholicism to England
• Government resists and outwits Charles
JAMES II
• Did not get on well with the Government
• Defied the Tory Parliament
• James Catholic wife has baby
• James flees to France
WILLIAM AND MARY
• William of Orange and his queen Mary are asked to come to England.
• They are asked to sign a Bill of Rights 1689
• King and Queen meet regularly with a group of government ministers
• The group becomes known as The Cabinet
GEORGE I
• George of Hanover was made king
• He spoke very little English
• He gave the job of chairing the Cabinet to one of his ministers
• This man became known as Prime Minister
REFORMED PARLIAMENT
• 1830 Unrest and revolution in Europe
• 1832 Reformation of Parliament
• Middle Class Males allowed the vote
ELECTIONS
• 1832 The final step
• The people will choose instead of the King or Queen
• Members of Parliament (MP’s) grouped themselves together and the idea of a political party was born
Political Parties
• The party with the most support from the voters forms a Government
• The leader of that party becomes Prime Minister
Queen Victoria
• When Queen Victoria ascended the throne Lord Melbourne taught her the duties of a constitutional sovereign.
Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional Monarchy
• British Government is deeply influenced by its long history
• Similar forms of government exist in many former colonies
• e.g. Australia, Canada, New Zealand
• All but India recognize the Queen as their head of state
• A representative of the Crown, (Governor General) is present in order to fulfill the role of the crown
The Constitution
• British governance today based on terms and conditions of constitution
• Israel and Britain are the only two countries without a written constitution
• Foundations of British state are laid out in statute law
• i.e. Laws passed by Parliament
• Common Law established through common practice in the courts
Parliament 1
• Parliament passes laws
• Parliament provides a means of keeping a working government
• Parliament scrutinises government policy
Parliament 2
• Only Parliament can change terms of constitution
• e.g. decision to join E.U.
• No legal restraints on parliament
• Can make and change laws
• Can change or overturn conventions
• Must bear in mind the common law and precedent
Parliament 3
• Parliament today consists of Queen, House of Lords, House of Commons
• All three must agree to pass legislation
• Although Queen must consent to pass law, her consent is given as a matter of course
• Last royal refusal was 1707!!
Structure of State
• The Monarch
• House of Lords – Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal – 1213 Lords
• House of Commons – Members of Parliament (MP’s) – 650 members – can vary
Monarchy today
• Queen Elizabeth II - Head of State
• Head of executive
• Integral part of legislature
• Head of judiciary,
• Commander in Chief of armed forces
• Supreme governor of the Church of England
THE MONARCHY NOW
• Queen Elizabeth II has an advisory role
• She has an audience with PM each week.
• She is allowed into Parliament only once each year
• She gives an Opening Speech
SUMMARY
• The Government of Britain has developed from a Monarchy in which the King reigned supreme to a Democracy in which every almost every person has a voice
• This process has taken over eleven hundred years.
• The pathway to democracy has been steep and stony with many pitfalls along the way
QUESTIONS
1. What is the oldest form of democracy?
2. What was the Magna Carta?
3. Who signed the Magna Carta?
4. Where does the word Parliament come from?
5. Which king was beheaded?
6. When was the Bill of Rights passed?
7. Who began Cabinet meetings?
8. Who was the first king to use a Prime Minister
9. When did popular election begin?
10. What is the role of the Queen in government