THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT: A BRIEF OVERVIEW - Descargar Word
The System of Government:
Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch,
Queen Elizabeth II, as head of the State. The British constitution, unlike
those of most countries, is not set out in a single document. Instead it is
made up of a combination of laws and practices which are not legally
enforceable, but which are regarded as vital to the working of government.
The Monarchy:
The stablility of the British government owes much to the monarchy. Its
continuity has been interrupted only once (the republic of 1649-60) in over a
thousand years. Today the Queen is not only the head of State, but also an
important symbol of national unity. Her complete official royal title is
'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen,
Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith', but she is usually referred to
as Her Royal Highness or Queen Elizabeth.
Parliament
Parliament, Britain's legislature, is made up of the House of Commons, the
House of Lords and the Queen in her constitutional role. The Commons has 651
elected Members of Parliament (MPs), who represent local constituencies. The
House of Lords is made up of 1,185 hereditary and life peers and peeresses, and
the two archbishops and the 24 most senior bishops of the established Church of
England.
The center of parliamentary power is the House of Commons. Limitations
on the power of the Lords (it rarely uses it power to delay passage of most
laws for a year) is based on the principle that the Lords, as a revising
chamber, should complement the Commons and not rival it. Once passed through
both Houses, legislation requires the Royal Assent to become law.
General elections to choose MPs must be held at least every five years.
Voting, which is not compulsory, is by secret ballot and is from the age of 18.
The simple majority system of voting is used. Candidates are elected if they
have more votes than any of the other candidates, although not necessarily an
absolute majority over all candidates.
Political Party System
The political party system is essential to the working of the
constitution. Although the parties are not registered or formally recognized in
law, most candidates for election belong to one of the main parties. Since 1945
eight general elections have been won by the Conservative Party and six by the
Labour Party. A number of smaller parties have national and local organizations
outside Parliament, and are also represented in local government.
The Government is formed by
the party with majority support in the Commons. The Queen appoints its leader
as Prime Minister. As head of the Government the Prime Minister appoints about
100 ministers. About 20 ministers make up the Cabinet, the senior group making the major policy decisions. Ministers are
collectively responsible for government decisions and individually responsible
for their own departments. The second largest party forms the official
Opposition, with its own leader and 'shadow cabinet'. The Opposition has a duty
to challenge government policies and to present an alternative program.
Civil Justice
Administration of the Law
The Lord
Chancellor is the head of the judiciary branch of government. The administration
of the law rests with him, the Home Secretary, the Attorney General and the
Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The courts of the
United Kingdom are the Queen's Courts, the Crown being the historic source of
all judicial power.
Judges are appointed from among practicing lawyers. Barristers or
advocates advise on legal problems and present cases in the lay justices' and
jury courts. Solicitors represent individual and corporate clients and appear
in the lay justices' courts. Lay justices need no legal qualifications but are
trained to give them sufficient knowledge of the law.
