Civilisation Britanique
¤ Monarchy in UK
A/ Generalities
+ The UK is composed: _ Great Britain:
_ England
_ Scotland
_ Wales
_ Northen Ireland
B/ Political power of the Queen
The real power of the Queen
The political of the monarchy
The Queen is the head of States: _ Australia
_ Antigua
_ Belize
_ Canada
_ Jamaica
_ New Zealand
* Parliament
The Queen can open and close the cessions
The Queen can summon or dissolve the Parliament.
She can not be brought to Justice
Only the Queen can pardon a convicted of crime
* Foreign Policies
All the embassadors accredited & diplomatical representitives
The Queen has the power to conclude treaties to declare war and to make peace to recognize foreign
states who want to become independent
* The Queen has two birthdays
She was born on the 21st April but normally people organise her birthday on the 2nd Saturday in
June, because in the summer the weather is better. But on the 21st April, the Union flag flies on the
public buildings and the National anthem “God saves the Queen” is sang.
The particular annual ceremony is holding on the Queen true birthday.
* Line of succession
_ The Prince of nome: Charles
_ Prince Williams
_ Prince Henry
_ Princess Beatrice
_ Princess Eugenie
_ Princess Edouard
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¤Overseas Territories
British citizens
These territories are: _ Bermuda
_ Atlantic Territories
_ British Indian Ocean Territories
_ British Virgin Islands
_ Falkland Island
_ Cayman Islands
_ Gillbralta
_ Montserrat
_ Pitcairn Island
_ Saint Helena
All people of those territories are British
These territories have got their own legislations and civil services.
Britain has original responsibility for their defense, international security and foreign
relations.
Common Wealth Countries:
Most of common wealth countries are formed from British colonies. Mozambic is the only
one which is not an English speaking country. There is no legal constitutions involve the
memberships. The Queen is recognized as the head of the Common Wealth.
The Common Wealth is used to promoting principal such as democracy, economic
developpement and international understanding.
They have British citizen passports and they don’t need visa to go to England.
They can vote
The decision on when to hold the General election is made by the Prime minister.
The British eletoral system is based on the realatic majority. A system which is called the
first ... past the post. All British citizens together with other common wealth countries citizens.
The citizens of Irish Républic may vote with providing 19 years old.
People not allow voting include those serving.
Voting is secret and voluntary (Average = 75%)
All people from 21 years olds who is British citizens may stand for election.
People disqualified are those who are...
Approved candidates are selected by the political party. General ... the leader of the political
party which wins the election is by convention invited by the Queen to forum the government.
The devolution to Scotland and Wales.
¤ Constitution and System of Government
I. Why don’t British have a written Constitution??
The British Constitution has evolved over many countries, unlike the Constitution of
America, France and many Common Wealth countries. The British Constitution has not been
assembled at any time into a single document. Instead, it is made of common laws and conventions.
So, of all the democratic countries in the world, only Israel is comparable to British in having single
document. Codifying the way its political institution fonctions. Britain does however have certain
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constitutionnal documents including what we call Magna Carta which is written in 1215 and it was
written to protect the rights of the Community against the Crown. In addition to the Magna Carta,
we have the Bill of Right which was written in 1689 to enlarge the powers of the Parliament,
making it impossible enforce the King to ignore the wishes of the Government. In addition, we have
the Reform Act written in 1832 to reform the system of parliament representations. Common laws
have never precisely defined they are deduced from customs judges. After that, we have
Conventions and one of the most important is that ministers are responsible and can be hold to
account for what happens in their departement.
The Constitution can be modified or altered by Act of Parliament by a general agreement.
The flexibility of the British Constitution helps to explain why it has developed over the years.
However, since the Britain joined the Europeen Community in 1973, the rules of the Europeen
Court of Justice has increasingly determined and codifyied British Cours. In this process, British
Constitution and legal arrangements are being to ressemble those of Europe.
What is the Magna Carta??
It means Great Charter; it is Britain’s best known Constitutionnal document. In 1215, feudal
barons forced the tyrannical King John to accept a series of Constitutions which are in the Charter
that become later the Magna Carta.
61 clauses set out a dear expression the right of Community against the Crown. But the
contents deal with the Free Church feudal laws, trades and marchants. Since that day, the Hagna
Carta has become part of English law and established the important principal that the King is not
above the laws. Original copies of the Charter exist in Sulishbusy, Lincoln Castle, and Cathedral.
Why Ambassadors are sent to the Court of St James??
Because they are appointed ambassadors to the country of UK and the head of state is the
Queen. For historical reason, the royal court is known as the Court of St James.
St James office was the official residence of the monarchy since the Queen Victoria moved
the Court to the Buckingham Palace.
How does Britain elect its Government??
Parliament, the law making body of the UK consists of three elements which are:
_ The Monarchy
_ The House of Common
_ The House of Lords
They meet together only on occasion of great importance such as the opening of the
Parliament.
NB: Their agreement is important for the legislation of the House of Common consists of
659 elected numbers has called HP’s. The purpose of the House of Common is to make laws by
passing the acts of parliament as well as to discuss the current political issues.
The House of Lords
Members: 1 270 who are not elected. They are chosen by the Queen among the bishops. We
have 24 seniors (of the church). In addition, we have some hereditary peers and peeresses. The role
of this house is to examine and resive bills from the House of Common. Normally the Lords can not
prevent, propose legislation from becomming law if the Common insiste on it.
General elections are hold after Parliament has been dissolved either by a royal proclamation
or because a maximum has expired.
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Devolution to Scotland and Wales
The Gouvernment is committe to give the people of Scotland & Wales more control over
their own affaires by setting up a Scottish Parliament and Wales Assembly.
This plan was supported by the Scotlish and Wales people in September 1997. The
Parliament in Edingbour was opened in 1999 following the election of its 1029 members. It will be
able to ... law and raise or lower the basic rate of income tax by up to 3%.
Scotland will continue to elect Minister Prime to Westmester to represent Scotlish interest
the Walesh assembly which open in May 1999 in Cardiff has 60 members directly elected every 4
years. It debates issues of commun in Wales and for subfinancial budget but the principallity will
continue to share the same legal system as England.
The original names of the Political Parties
The Conservatives party rose from the Tory party which was created in the late 80’s. This
broardly represented the interest of marchant classes and administratives groups. After British 1832
reform, members of the old Tory party began Conservative Association. The name Conservative
was 1st year as the description of the party in a magazine called Quartely in January 1830.
Conservative because the party aims to conserve traditional values and practices. The term “Tory”
is still years today to refer to somebody. The original labor party makes the origins of the Party
clear to promote the working class interest. In 1900, the Tracle union congress corporated with the
Independant labor party to establish the 1st Labor representation. This took a name Labour party in
1906. The Labour Party emerged in the mid 19th century as a success of the Whig Party. We were
originally a Scotlish...
In the late 19th century, the Whig Party represented sought dectoral ... and reforms. However
the term Whig doesn’t survive today. After 1932, the mainly ... which was forced by mercuring
numbers of middle class members. By 1939 the form labor party was being used and in 1988, the
old labor party and the social democratic party merged into a single group called the liberal
democrate.
How are the speakers chosen??
Contrary to the word “Speakers”, the speaker of the House of Common doesn’t speak. It
means he doesn’t take part in debates. The office has been held in 1977. Originally, the speakers on
behalf of the common to the Monarch. That role now is largely ceremonial and today the speakers
fonctions is to maitain order in the debat. Other speaker has three deputies. They are not a minister,
not a member of political party. They are still member of the Parliament and chosen by the election
with each member of Parliament have one vote.
The Police
There are 52 forces in Britain. All these forces are organised on local basis. The
Metropolitan Police Force in the city of London is responsible for Policing London. Each force in
England and Wales depends on Police authority consisting of local
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