An Outline of the English Political System

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POLITICAL LIFE

- THE CONSTITUTION

1.THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE STATE

Britain vs. other European countries

British aren't obliged to carry ID cards with them, not even driving licence. They have 24 hr to bring them to police station.

Democracy involves less participation of the people in governing and law making: Population aren't asked when important changes take place. 1965 Only National Referendum till now about Britain should stay in the EC.

1.2.AN UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION

Britain doesn't have a written constitution; instead the country is governed by principles built up over the centuries.

*Statute Laws: written law of a legislative body: Parliamentary Acts

*Common Laws: unwritten law of England, administered by the Queen's courts, deriving from ancient usage: made by judges

*Conventions: principles- agreement between parties- which aren't legally obliging but which have the power of the law. E.g. Magna Carta

*EC laws: having the status of conventions, some are more important than government laws.

The trouble is some of these laws are written down and some others aren't. E.g. There's no written law on who can be PM, his powers and limits. Quotation 1: Criticism from the labour party on the limitless power of PM.

There's no written document that asserts people's rights. Some rights commonly accepted by democratic systems have been formally recognised E.g. discrimination of sex, race...

 FOR: This way the political system is less rigid to adapt to new situations.

 AGAINST: Absence of written constitution is dangerous because there's no limit in the abuses of power on the part of the government and no guarantee of the populatio...

... middle of paper ...

...his was true up to Tony Blair who's brought the 'new labour' which has taken a system instaured by conservatives determined by market. Only change introduced: Scottish devolution.

-LIBERAL AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SLDP)

It's the 3rd major party emerging from 2 previous: Liberal Party and Social democratic Party.

-Liberal Party dates from 18th century. 17th C Whigs are behind. They have always been pro-Parliament (Tories are pro-royalty).

-Social Democratic Party is a much more left-winged break away from the Labour Party. In 1987 they went unsuccessfully through elections and therefore in 1988 decided to unify to catch the votes of those discontented with the Labour Party.

It takes votes from both the North -labour tradition- and South -conservative. They have no possibility in winning the elections.

-NATIONALISTIC PARTIES (SCOTTISH-WELSH-IRISH)

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