18. System of government in UK

• establishes constitutional monarchy

• it lays down limits on the powers of the monarch and sets out rights of Parliament

• unwritten constitution (it’s written, but not in one document)

• it’s made up of European law (Parliamentary act)

• in 18th century they have union of English and Scottish Parliament

• in early 1700s Scottish and British Parliament become one

• time of George I (he was German, couldn’t speak English) he needed someone who will represent his politics in Parliament

• idea of prime minister (he will be the leader of the biggest group in parliament) – 1715

• later executive branch from king – to prime minister

• Tories and Whigs

• max 10% has the vote

• industrial period and agricultural revolution 1850s

• majority of people don’t have political representation

• Britain less democratic – NPs – not correct number, some don’t have the vote

• 1820/30 – suffrage = right to vote, idea of universal suffrage (Europe 1848 – no vote – revolution) in BR no need for that, feudalism was swept with civil war, bit ahead

• 3% of the country has the vote (votes can be sold and bought)

• oligarchy is unrepresented

• reformist movements

• 1819 demonstration for democracy (Peterloo Massacre)

• increase of suffrage (more representation, more mas are given votes)

• 1899/1900 working class has real vote in politics – FPs – whigs doesn’t represent, Tories – industrial class new moeny

• socialist and reforming groups get together – Labour party

• three party system Whigs (the liberal party), Tories (cocommonnservative party), Labour party (social democrats…smallest, after WW1, 1920S)

• Britain becomes democracy in 1918/1929

• women under 30 unmarried need to wait to 1927 to have vote

• women fighting for their rights, 1918 – some votes

- no one is representing working class – The labour party 1899 – representing working class

1920 Whigs – split – conservative joines to conservatine (name for Tories), others liberal party, radical to labour party

1920 elections – labour party first government

• Labour vs. Conservatives (who is going to be more successful)

• - the liberal democrats

Devolution – power is devolved from central government in London – to Scottish parliament, Northern Irish

Common law – easily changeable

Parlamentiary act -

European law – ratified by parliament, European laws became British law

- European human rights act – in process of going, laws transferred into british – zalezi ktere nechaji a které prevedou – concern bc Brexit, tise muzou nektere odstranit

- after WW2 – twilight of emperial greatness- colonies cost us more than what they are making – economic decline, multicultural country – POST WAR DECLINE

• 1945 Labour – creation of full welfare state after WW2, offered people housing, employment benefit, state which would take care of people

• Churchill didn’t win the elections for prime minister (people voted against him)

• Creation of socialized country

• services under government control (coal mining)

• 1950s/80s trade unions are almost as powerful as government (miners)

• industries decline, empire, new economies

• trade unions were guaranteed by government

• miners – if they are going to strike, they can stop the country