Country Studies:

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Capital: London
Area: 244,1! "#$are %ilometer"
Official Lang$age: &ngli"h
'op$lation: (2,41,)* +21,
'olitical Indicator"
Go-ernment: Unitar. 'arliamentar. /emocrac.
and Con"tit$tional 0onarch.
0onarch: 1$een &li2a3eth II
'rime 0ini"ter: /a-id Cameron
&4ec$ti-e: 'rime 0ini"ter and Ca3inet
Legi"lat$re: Bicameral 5o$"e" of 'arliament
Upper 5o$"e: 5o$"e of Lord"
Lo6er 5o$"e: 5o$"e of Common"
'art. 7tr$ct$re": 0$lti part. "."tem
&conomic Indicator"
Gro"" /ome"tic 'rod$ct: 8291*! trillion +2: e"t9,
G/' per capita 8!4,(1: +2: e"t9,
/i"tri3$tion of GN': 7er-ice" );, ind$"tr. 2:;, agric$lt$re 1;
Ur3an pop$lation: *:;
7ocial Indicator"
5$man /e-elopment Inde4: 9:4) +21"t, -er. high
Infant mortalit. rate: ( per 1, li-e 3irth"
Life e4pectanc.: ))9! .ear"
Illiterac.: ; of people aged 1< and older
=eligion": 'redominantl. 'rote"tanti"m, 6ith

Catholic and 're"3.terian minoritie"
>he United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland i" act$all. fo$r co$ntrie" in one:
Great Britain ? made $p of &ngland, 7cotland and @ale" and Northern Ireland9 &ngland
predominate" 3eca$"e it con#$ered and a""imilated the other": 3eca$"e it i" home to more than
fo$r o$t of fi-e Briton", and 3eca$"e London i" the 6ealthie"t part of the co$ntr., and i" the
political, financial, c$lt$ral, and comm$nication" capital of Britain +0cCormic%, 24,9
It 6a" the 6orldA" fir"t ind$"triali2ed co$ntr. and the 6orldA" foremo"t po6er d$ring the 1:th and
earl. 2th cent$rie", 3$t the economic and "ocial co"t of t6o 6orld 6ar" and the decline of it"
empire in the latter half of the 2th cent$r. dimini"hed it" leading role in glo3al affair"9 >he
United Kingdom i" al"o a recogni2ed n$clear po6er "tate and ha" the third or fo$rth highe"t
defen"e "pending in the 6orld +en6i%ipedia9org,9
>he United Kingdom i" ro$tinel. incl$ded in co$r"e" on comparati-e politic", for "e-eral
important rea"on": Bir"t, it 6a" the 3irthplace of the parliamentar. "."tem", element" of 6hich
are fo$nd in e-er. li3eral democrac.9 7econd, it 6a" the 3irthplace of the ind$"trial re-ol$tion
and ha" long had an important infl$ence on economic de-elopment" in the re"t of the 6orld9
>hird, it i" a leading mem3er of all %e. international organi2ation", nota3l. NA>O, the UN
7ec$rit. Co$ncil, the &$ropean Union and the GC* gro$p of maDor economic po6er"
+0cCormic%, 24,9
II. Political Develoment
!. "arly Invasion from the Continent of "uroe
>he nati-e people of the Briti"h I"le" 6ere the Celt", 6ho arri-ed 3et6een * and 2
BCE the. are the ance"tor" of the Iri"h, 7cot", and @el"h of toda.9 >he =oman" in-aded in <<
BC and occ$pied 6hat i" no6 &ngland and @ale", the Celt" 6ere p$"hed 6e"t and north and
&ngland de-eloped a "ocial and political "."tem -er. different from that of the re"t of the Briti"h
I"le" ? it had road", planned to6n", and a thri-ing commercial "."tem9
In <:) A/, a mi""ion from the 'ope in =ome 3ro$ght Chri"tianit. to Britain, preceding a
6a-e of Fi%ing in-a"ion" in the *th and :th cent$rie"9 It 6a" follo6ed in 1(( 3. the la"t
in-a"ion of Britain, 3. @illiam, /$%e of Normand.9 It 3ro$ght a3o$t political "ta3ilit. and
centrali2ation to &ngland9 =eligio$" difference" 6ere added in 1<!4, 6hen King 5enr. FIII
di""ol-ed &nglandG" tie" 6ith the =oman Catholic Ch$rch and created the Ch$rch of &ngland9
B. "nd of #eudalism and "$ansion of the State %&'&()&*+*,
Until a3o$t * .ear" ago, Britain ? li%e all of &$rope ? 6a" a fe$dal "ociet.9 7o-ereign
po6er la. in the hand" of monarch", 6ho r$led 3. di-ine right and go-erned the pea"ant maDorit.
thro$gh a land o6ning ari"tocrac.9 /ecline in the po6er of the monarch" and ari"tocrat" 3egan
6hen King Hohn "igned the 0agna Carta in 121<9 A doc$ment that o3liged him to con"$lt 6ith
hi" ari"tocrat" 3efore le-.ing ta4e" and pre-ented him from ar3itraril. "ei2ing propert. of the
people9
In 12(< the fir"t Briti"h 'arliament con-ened, 3$t it 6a" $nelected, met onl. "poradicall.,
and 6a" dominated 3. the ari"tocrac., 3$t monarch" came to rel. on it for political "$pport9 >he
ten"ion" 3et6een the cro6n and 'arliament finall. 3oiling o-er in 1(42 6ith the o$t3rea% of a
ci-il 6ar 3et6een the monarchi"t" and the parliamentarian"9
>he &ngli"h Ci-il 6ar led to the declaration of a 3rief rep$3lic +1(4:C1((, $nder the
militar. dictator"hip of Oli-er Crom6ell9 @hen King Hame" II +1(*<C1(**, tried to 6in 3ac% the
di-ine right of the monarch", a Bill of =ight" 6a" dra6n $p 6hich confirmed the "$premac. of
the 'arliament o-er the monarch.9
>he dominance of &ngland o-er the Briti"h I"le" 6a" achie-ed thro$gh 6ar" and attrition,
6hich led "lo6l. to the incorporation of it" Celtic neigh3or"E a $nion 6ith @ale" 6a" formali2ed
in 1<!(C1<42 and 6ith 7cotland in 1))9 Bor it" part Ireland 6a" "teadil. "$3D$gated and 3. the
late 1*th cent$r. had to all intent" and p$rpo"e" 3ecome part of the Briti"h "tate9
D. British "mire %&,th Century - &./+s0
/$ring the 1*th cent$r., Britain 6a" a gro6ing mercantili"t "tate that ha" priorit. in
finding ne6 mar%et" and "o$rce" of ra6 material"9 >ho$gh Britain lo"t it" >hirteen Colonie",
6hich 3ecame the United 7tate", it had gained ne6 colonie" in Africa, A"ian 7$3continent,
A$"tralia, Ne6 Iealand, the Cari33ean, 7o$thea"t A"ia and 7o$thea"t A"ia9 @ith the"e ne6
colonie", Britain e"ta3li"hed ne6 mar%et" for it" good" and 3ro$ght 6ealth to the empire9
Britain 6a" a3le to maintain it" -a"t empire 3eca$"e it 6a" a3le to control the maDor "ea
lane" of the 6orld and protect it" national intere"t 6ith it" po6erf$l na-. and arm.9 At it" height
d$ring the late Fictorian era, the Briti"h &mpire incl$ded a3o$t a #$arter of the 6orldG"
pop$lation9 J>he "$n ne-er "et" in Great Britain9K
>he 3eginning of the end for the Briti"h &mpire came 6ith @orld @ar I, 6hen the cream
of a generation of .o$ng Briti"h men died in that 6ar9 Briti"h decline contin$e d$ring @orld @ar
II, 6hen the United 7tate" and the 7o-iet Union emerged a" the ne6 "$perpo6er"9 After the 6ar,
BritainG" econom. 6a" de-a"tated, it" political infl$ence dimini"hed, it" e4port earning" and
merchant "hipping hal-ed, and mo"t of it" colonie" 6ere agitating for independence9
>he po"t6ar period "a6 the completion of a 6elfare "tate and the "hift to a managed
econom.9 A National 5ealth 7er-ice 6a" created that pro-ided free care for almo"t e-er.oneE
there 6a" an e4pan"ion of 6elfare for the $nemplo.ed, the ill, and familie" 6ith children, and
3a"ic "er-ice" "$ch a" railroad" and the "teel ind$"tr. 6ere nationali2ed +Almond, et al9, 24,9
7$cceeding Con"er-ati-e go-ernment" agreed to follo6 ro$ghl. the "ame policie", and ?
6hether the Con"er-ati-e" or La3or 6ere in po6er ? Briti"h politic" 3ecame dri-en 3. con"en"$"
on the maintenance of 6elfare and of managing economic demand "o a" to "$"tain f$ll
emplo.ment +Almond, et al9, 24,9
#. United Kingdom 1oday
0em3er"hip in the &$ropean Union ha" com3ined 6ith the effect" of >hatcheri"m to
3ring great change to Britain9 It i" -i"i3le in the rene6al of citie", in the ri"e of entreprene$rial
"pirit that ha" tran"formed the attit$de" of 3$"ine"" and ind$"tr., and in the gro6th of the middle
cla"" and the con"$mer "ociet.9 In 2!, >he United Kingdom Doin" the United 7tate" in it"
in-a"ion of Ira# and it" 6ar on terror9 BritainG" ne6 prime mini"ter /a-id Cameron i" leader of
Con"er-ati-e 'art. +0cCormic%, 24,9
British Government:
According to Hohn 0cCormic%, the "tr$ct$re of the Briti"h Go-ernment i" a Con"tit$tional
0onarch.
1
and a 'arliamentar. "."tem9 In Britain, the monarch r$le" 3$t doe" not go-ern, the
parliament i" "o-ereign and the prime mini"ter ha" the re"pon"i3ilit. and a$thorit. o-er the
go-ernment9 >he "tr$ct$re of the Briti"h go-ernment can 3e "$mmari2ed in "i4 principle":
1
A "."tem of go-ernment 6herein the monarchG" po6er and a$thorit. in the go-ernment i" limited 3. an e4i"ting
con"tit$tion or "et of la6"9 >he parliament a""$me" the po6er and a$thorit. in the go-ernment 6ho"e mem3er" are
elected 3. the people9 Brom the principle of "ocial contract theor.9
It i" a $nitar. "tate in 6hich mo"t "ignificant political po6er" are concentrated in the
national go-ernment9
>here i" a f$"ion of the e4ec$ti-e and legi"lati-e department, the prime mini"ter and it"
ca3inet tho$gh 3elong to the e4ec$ti-e department are al"o mem3er" of the legi"lati-e
department9 Unli%e in o$r co$ntr. 6here there i" a "."tem of "eparation of po6er"9
2
It i" a con"tit$tional monarch. in 6hich the monarch ha" ".m3olic po6er, 3$t the prime
mini"ter i" the tr$e political leader9
'arliament i" "o-ereign, meaning that it ha" the $ltimate po6er and right to ma%e or
a3oli"h an. la6 it 6i"he"9
>here i" a 3elief in re"pon"i3le go-ernment, meaning that the go-ernment mini"ter" are
re"pon"i3le to 'arliament for the management of their department"9
Britain i" a mem3er of the &$ropean Union
!
and th$" i" "$3Dect to the common la6" and
policie" of the &U +0cCormic%, 24 pp9 :!,9
British Constitution
>he Briti"h people did not ha-e an e4i"ting 6ritten con"tit$tion9 >he. 3elie-e that
go-ernment "ho$ld contin$o$"l. e-ol-e to meet the changing demand" of the people9 >heir
con"tit$tion i" in a form of a3"tract, con"i"ting of la6" and c$"tom" that ha-e the "ame f$nction
a" a "ingle 6ritten doc$ment9 7o$rce" of Briti"h con"tit$tion are a" follo6":
Common la6 ? D$dgment" handed do6n o-er time 3. Briti"h co$rt" +"tare deci"i",9
Among the more "ignificant are tho"e dealing 6ith freedom of e4pre""ion and the
"o-ereignt. of 'arliament9
7tat$te la6 or act" of the 'arliament ? thi" o-erride common la6 and ha-e the effect of
con"tit$tional la69 >he. incl$de la6" that o$tline the relati-e po6er" of the t6o ho$"e"
of parliament9
&$ropean la6 ? "ince Britain i" "$3Dect to la6" adopted 3. the &U, 6hich o-erride
Briti"h la6" 6here the t6o conflict, in tho"e polic. area" 6here the &U ha" primar.
a$thorit.E thi" incl$de trade, agric$lt$re, "ocial i""$e", and the en-ironment9
>radition" and con-ention" ? it do not ha-e the force of la6 3$t ha-e 3een follo6ed for
"o long that the. are regarded a" 3inding9
Commentarie" ? 6ritten 3. legal l$minarie" that "er-e al"o a" reference"9
2
In a rep$3lican "."tem of go-ernment, the go-ernment i" di-ided among three "eparate 3ranche": legi"lati-e,
e4ec$ti-e and D$diciar.9 &ach department i" coCe#$al 6ith each other and ha" a re"pecti-e mandate and f$nction in
the go-ernment9
!
It i" a "$cce""f$l economic and political $nion of 2) mem3er "tate", located primaril. in &$rope9 It 6a" e"ta3li"hed
3. >reat. of 0aa"tricht on 1 No-em3er 1::!, $pon the fo$ndation" of the preCe4i"ting &$ropean &conomic
Comm$nit.9
1he British 2onarch
>he &ngli"h Ci-il @ar re"$lted in the limitation of po6er and f$nction of the monarch 3.
the 'arliament9 >oda., the Briti"h monarch r$le" 3$t doe" not go-ern, and "er-e a" ".m3ol of the
Briti"h people and it" head of "tate9 >ho$gh po6erle"" a" it ma. "eem, nonethele"", the Briti"h
monarch ha" "ome Jre"er-e po6er"K left at it" di"po"al:
7he ha" the right to di""ol-e the 'arliament and call for ne6 election", altho$gh in
practice "he doe" thi" onl. at the re#$e"t of the prime mini"ter9
>he #$een gi-e" her a""ent a" the =o.al A""ent to e-er. piece of legi"lation9
>heoreticall., "he ha" the "ame right to -eto a" in o$r pre"ident, 3$t the la"t time a
monarch -etoed a piece of legi"lation 6a" in 1))9
7he meet" 6ith the prime mini"ter at confidential 6ee%l. meeting", d$ring 6hich "he ha"
the right Jto 3e con"$lted, the right to enco$rage and the right to 6arn9K 7he al"o ha"
acce"" to "ecret go-ernment doc$ment"9
If no part. ha" an a3"ol$te maDorit. after an election, the #$een "tep" in a" an ar3itrator,
and ? on the ad-ice of the prime mini"ter ? can name the per"on "he thin%" i" mo"t li%el.
in practical term" to 3e a3le to form a go-ernment9 1$een &li2a3eth ha" had to do thi"
"ince "he came to the throne in 1:<29
At the ann$al 7tate Opening of 'arliament, "he gi-e" an addre"" in 6hich "he o$tline" the
go-ernmentG" program9 5o6e-er, the addre"" i" 6ritten 3. the go-ernment and the #$een
"impl. read" it alo$d9
A3o-e all, the #$een i" Ja -i"i3le ".m3ol of $nit.K and the ".m3ol of "$preme e4ec$ti-e
a$thorit.9 7he i" commanderCinCchief, man. p$3lic d$tie" are carried o$t in her name,
and Briti"h po"tage "tamp", coin", and 3an%note" 3ear the #$eenG" image in"tead of the
name of the co$ntr.9 7he i" al"o the head of the Common6ealth of Nation"9
4
1he "$ecutive: Prime 2inister and Ca3inet
>he monarch. ma. 3e the Briti"h head of "tate, 3$t the head of the go-ernment i" the
prime mini"ter, 6ho pro-ide" polic. leader"hip and o-er"ee" the implementation of the la6
thro$gh a ca3inet of "enior mini"ter"9 >he prime mini"ter i" the head of the political part. or
coalition 6ith the mo"t "eat" in the 5o$"e of Common"9 Briti"h prime mini"ter" doe" not ha-e a
fi4 term of office, a" long a" the. can %eep the "$pport of their part. in 'arliamentE the. can
remain in office a" prime mini"ter9 'rime mini"ter" ha-e con"idera3le po6er o-er deciding
6hich la6" 6ill 3e pa""ed and 6hich policie" adopted9 Being the head of the Briti"h
go-ernment, the prime mini"ter "et" the national political agenda, "$per-i"e" the militar.,
appoint" am3a""ador", manage" cri"e", lead" hi" or her part. and repre"ent" Briti"h intere"t"
o-er"ea" +0cCormic%, 24,9

4
Common6ealth of Nation" i" an intergo-ernmental organi2ation of fift.Cfo$r independent mem3er "tate"9 0o"t of
them 6ere formerl. part" of the Briti"h &mpire that con"ider" the Briti"h 0onarch a" their #$eenE a" a re"$lt the"e
co$ntrie" "till ha-e clo"e tie" 6ith the United Kingdom9
#oundations of the Prime 2inister4s !uthority:
'o6er to call election" to the 5o$"e of Common" ? election of the mem3er" of the 5o$"e
of Common i" held e-er. < .ear", and prime mini"ter" 6ill $"$all. call them 6hen the
poll" "$gge"t that their part. ha" the 3e"t chance of 6inning9 On rare occa"ion", the. ma.
ha-e to call an election 3eca$"e the. ha-e lo"t a parliamentar. -ote or the "$pport of their
part.9
'o6er of appointment of the ca3inet mini"ter" ? the prime mini"ter appoint" mem3er" of
the ca3inet ? 6ho are al"o mem3er" of the 5o$"e Common"9 >he prime mini"ter decide"
on the "i2e of the ca3inet, call" and chair" ca3inet meeting", appoint" and remo-e"
mem3er" of the ca3inet and other "enior go-ernment official", re"h$ffle" the ca3inet, and
can e-en organi2e go-ernment department"9
Briti"h prime mini"ter" are con"idered "ea"oned politician" 6ho ha-e 6or%ed their 6a.
$p thro$gh the ran%" of their part. and 'arliament9 >he. m$"t 3e mem3er" of the 5o$"e of
Common" and $"$all. "er-e a long apprentice"hip 3efore 6inning the leader"hip of their partie"9
'rime mini"ter" are the part. leader" of the political part. that achie-ed the maDorit. of "eat" in
the 5o$"e of Common"9
>he prime mini"ter admini"ter" the go-ernment 6ith the help of the ca3inet of mini"ter"
6hich are con"i"t" of "enior go-ernment department" n$m3ering a3o$t 2 to 24 in all9 B$"ion of
the e4ec$ti-e and legi"lati-e department i" pre"ent in the Briti"h go-ernment, "ince the ca3inet of
mini"ter" are al"o mem3er" of the 'arliament9 >he ca3inet i" directl. re"pon"i3le to the
'arliament and the 'rime mini"ter9 If the prime mini"ter decided to di"mi"" one of hi" ca3inet
mini"ter, "till the ca3inet di"mi""ed 3. the prime mini"ter 6ill remain a mem3er of the
parliament9 >he ca3inet f$nction" on the 3a"i" of collecti-e re"pon"i3ilit., meaning that once it
ha" made a polic. deci"ion, all mem3er" are e4pected to "$pport that deci"ion in p$3lic
regardle"" of their per"onal feeling" and to ta%e re"pon"i3ilit. for it" "$cce"" or fail$re9 If the
go-ernment lo"e" an important -ote in 'arliament, or -ote of confidence, the 6hole ca3inet i"
e4pected to re"ign +0cCormic%, 24,9
1he Parliament:
5ouse of 6ords
>he 5o$"e of Lord" i" the $pper ho$"e of the Briti"h 'arliament, the Lord" recall" the
da." 6hen Britain 6a" r$led 3. ari"tocrat"9 0em3er" m$"t 3e peer", 6hich meant ? $ntil 1::: ?
that the. 6ere either hereditar. or 6ere appointed to the 5o$"e for a life term a" a re6ard for
p$3lic "er-ice or political lo.alt.9 Nearl. 1,2 peer" had the right to "it in the Lord", altho$gh
onl. a3o$t * e-er act$all. attended, and onl. a3o$t ! 6ere reg$lar participant" ? mem3er"
6ho attended recei-ed no "alar., onl. e4pen"e"9 0em3er" of the 5o$"e of Lord" 6ere not
elected, "o it 6a" 3oth $nrepre"entati-e and $ndemocratic, 3$t it had little po6er9
It co$ld introd$ce it" o6n legi"lation, and all 3ill" going thro$gh 'arliament had to 3e
appro-ed 3. the Lord"9
It "er-e a" a $"ef$l point of acce"" for lo33.i"t"9
/$ring the 1:*", there ha" 3een a mo-ement initiated 3. the La3or 'art. to a3oli"h the
5o$"e of Lord" altogether9 In"tead, the go-ernment of 'rime mini"ter >on. Blair too% a
moderate po"ition 3. remo-ing the right" of hereditar. peer" to "it in the 5o$"e in 1:::,
appointed a commi""ion to decide 6hat form the ne6 cham3er "ho$ld ta%e9 >he tran"itional
5o$"e of Lord" no6 ha" fo$r %ind" of mem3er":
A gro$p of :2 hereditar. peer" 6ho ha-e 3een allo6ed to "ta. on pending the ne4t
"tage in the proce"" of reform9
=eligio$" leader", con"i"ting of the t6o arch3i"hop" and 24 3i"hop" of the Ch$rch of
&ngland9
>he La6 Lord" ? the"e are 2* nominated D$dge" 6ho f$nction a" the "$preme co$rt of
appeal for ci-il and criminal ca"e"9 >he. are headed 3. a Lord Chancellor and hold
their po"ition" $ntil the age of )9
Life peer" ? n$m3ering a3o$t (, the"e are mainl. people 6ho ha-e 3een in p$3lic
"er-ice and are re6arded 6ith a life peerage 3. the 1$een on the recommendation of
the prime mini"ter9
5ouse of Commons
>he 5o$"e of Common" i" the lo6er ho$"e of the Briti"h parliament and it" more
po6erf$l cham3er than the 5o$"e of Lord"9 It i" compo"e of (<: mem3er" of 'arliament elected
3. direct $ni-er"al -ote from "ingleCmem3er di"trict"9 >he primar. f$nction of the 5o$"e of
Common" i" legi"lation and the de3ate" rele-ant in la6ma%ing are pre"ided o-er 3. a 7pea%er,
6ho i" elected 3. the 5o$"e from among it" mem3er" and $"$all. come" from the maDorit. part.9
Unli%e "pea%er" in a pre"idential "."tem of go-ernment, 6ho act a" the parti"an leader" of their
re"pecti-e political part.E the Briti"h "pea%er i" more of an ar3iter that %eep" order and maintain"
the flo6 of 3$"ine"" in the 5o$"e of Common"9
>o enco$rage de3ate, the cham3er of the 5o$"e of Common ha" 3een deli3eratel. %ept
"mall, 6ith 3enche" rather than "eat"9 >he go-erning part. "it" on one "ide, 6ith the prime
mini"ter and "enior mini"ter" on the front 3ench9 0em3er" of the 'arliament 6itho$t
go-ernment office, or 6ith onl. D$nior office, "it 3ehind the front 3ench and are %no6n a"
3ac%3encher"9 >he "econd 3igge"t part. in the 'arliament "it" acro"" from the go-erning part.
and act" a" the official oppo"ition9
>he real 6or% of the 'arliament i" done in committee", 6here "peciali"t" go o-er the
detail" of 3ill" and in-ite o$t"ide e4pert" to gi-e te"timon.9 >he cham3er of the Common" i"
normall. #$iet and "par"el. attended9 0em3er" of the Briti"h parliament ha-e the a$thorit. to
#$e"tion or to ha-e a con-er"ation 6ith the 'rime 0ini"ter d$ring the #$e"tion ho$r ? a halfCho$r
"e""ion that i" held e-er. @edne"da. afternoon, d$ring 6hich the mem3er" of the parliament can
a"% the prime mini"ter for information on go-ernment polic. +0cCormic%, 24,9
1he 7udiciary
>he Co$rt of Appeal and the 5o$"e of Lord" "er-e" a" the D$diciar. that admini"ter"
lo6er co$rt" in all of the United Kingdom9 0em3er" of the 5o$"e of Lord" that "er-e a" La6
Lord" hear" the appeal" in fi-e per"on 3enche"9 Appointment" to the higher co$rt" are made
either 3. the Lord Chancellor +6ho i" part of the ca3inet, or 3. the prime mini"ter after
con"$ltation 6ith the Lord Chancellor, "o the. are highl. political9
7ince the United Kingdom i" a mem3er of the &$ropean Union, the Briti"h go-ernment
"$3mitted a certain degree of it" "o-ereignt. to the &U9 It i" mandated to carr. o$t it"
o3ligation", hence, the Briti"h go-ernment ac%no6ledge" the role that the &$ropean Co$rt of
H$"tice
<
perform" on D$dicial matter" pertaining to it" citi2en"9
6ocal Government
>he admini"trati-e geograph. of the United Kingdom i" comple4, m$ltiCla.ered and nonC
$niform a" each co$ntr. of the United Kingdom ha" it" o6n "."tem of admini"trati-e and
geographic demarcation 6ith origin" that preCdate the United Kingdom it"elf9 Con"e#$entl.,
there i" Lno common "trat$m of admini"trati-e $nit encompa""ing the United KingdomL9 Until
the 1:th cent$r. there 6a" little change to tho"e arrangement", 3$t "ince then there ha" 3een a
con"tant e-ol$tion of role and f$nction9 Change did not occ$r in &ngland, Northern Ireland,
7cotland and @ale" in a $niform manner, and the de-ol$tion of po6er o-er local go-ernment to
7cotland, @ale" and Northern Ireland mean" that f$t$re change" are $nli%el. to 3e $niform
either9 Britain, 3. contra"t, i" a $nitar. "tate, 6here local go-ernment $nit" ha-e "o little
independent po6er that the. can 3e reformed, re"tr$ct$red, or e-en a3oli"hed 3. the national
go-ernment9
>he organi2ation of local go-ernment in &ngland i" comple4, 6ith the di"tri3$tion of
f$nction" -ar.ing according to the local arrangement"9 Legi"lation concerning local go-ernment
in &ngland i" decided 3. the UK parliament and the go-ernment of the United Kingdom, 3eca$"e
&ngland doe" not ha-e a de-ol-ed parliament9
Local go-ernment in Northern Ireland ha", "ince 1:)!, 3een organi2ed into 2(
di"trict co$ncil", each elected 3. "ingle tran"fera3le -ote 6ith po6er" limited to "er-ice" li%e
collecting 6a"te, controlling dog", and maintaining par%" and cemeterie"9


Local go-ernment in 7cotland i" di-ided on a 3a"i" of !2 co$ncil area",
6ith 6ide -ariation in 3oth "i2e and pop$lation9 >he citie" of Gla"go6, &din3$rgh, A3erdeen and
/$ndee are "eparate co$ncil area" a" al"o i" 5ighland Co$ncil, 6hich incl$de" a third of
7cotlandA" area 3$t D$"t o-er 2, people9 >he po6er in-e"ted in local a$thoritie" i"
admini"tered 3. elected co$ncilor", of 6hich there are c$rrentl. 1,222 6ho are each paid a partC
time "alar.9 &lection" are cond$cted 3. "ingle tran"fera3le -ote in m$ltiCmem3er 6ard" that elect
either three or fo$r co$ncilor"9
Local go-ernment in @ale" con"i"t" of 22 $nitar.
a$thoritie", incl$ding the citie" of Cardiff, 76an"ea and Ne6port, 6hich are "eparate $nitar.
a$thoritie" in their o6n right9

>he @el"h Local Go-ernment A""ociation repre"ent" the intere"t"
of local a$thoritie" in @ale"9
Political Parties
7ince the United Kingdom ha" a m$ltipart. "."tem, it ha" "$3"tantial range of political
partie" co-ering a 3road range of ideological po"ition"9 'art. di"cipline i" m$ch tight in the
<
Created in 1:<2 at the frame6or% of the &$ropean Coal and 7teel Comm$nit., it i" formed 3. t6ent. "e-en D$dge",
one for each mem3er "tate of the &U and eight ad-ocate"Cgeneral9 >he D$dge" are appointed for "i4 .ear" term and
are rene6ed e-er. half e-er. three .ear"9
Briti"h political "."tem, "eniorit. and lo.alt. to the part. are the 3a"i" for an indi-id$al to
a""$me leader"hip of hi" re"pecti-e political part.9
6a3our Party
>he La3o$r 'art. 6a" fo$nded in 1: and fir"t came to prominence in the 1:2" 3$t
onl. 6on o$tright po6er for the fir"t time in 1:4<9 It immediatel. "et a3o$t 3$ilding a 6elfare
"tate and a managed econom., nationali2ing %e. ind$"trie", and creating a National 5ealth
7er-ice, a "ocial "ec$rit. "."tem, and a "$3"idi2ed ed$cation "."tem9 >he main ideolog. of the
La3o$r 'art. i" the tho$ght that the go-ernment e4i"t for the promotion of common good of the
people thro$gh policie" "$ch a" nationali2ation and "ocial "er-ice"9
Conservative Party
>he origin" of the Con"er-ati-e 'art. +al"o %no6n a" the >orie", date 3ac% to the late 1)
th
cent$r.9 >he. ha-e held po6er for !( .ear" of the <* .ear" "ince the end of @orld @ar II9 >he
Con"er-ati-e" are a proC3$"ine"", antiCreg$lation, moderate part., 6ith man. "hade" of opinion:
=ight 6inger" in the part. empha"i2e "ocial di"cipline, contin$it. of a$thorit., and moral" 6hile
moderate" empha"i2e the creation of 6ealth and efficient economic organi2ation9
6i3eral Democrats
A "mall, moderate political part., the Li3eral democrat" 6ere created in 1:** 6hen
mem3er" of a La3o$r 'art. "plinter gro$p +the 7ocial /emocratic 'art. of 7'/, Doined force"
6ith Li3eral 'art., one of the olde"t partie" in Britain and for man. .ear" the oppo"ition to the
Con"er-ati-e"9