AP FOCUS WHAT IS USEFUL ABOUT BRITAIN AS A

Chapter 2 Britain AP Focus

AP FOCUS

What is useful about Britain as a case study for AP Comparative Government & Politics?

Britain is the only country on the AP Comparative Government & Politics course that provides an example of a developed and stable democratic system.
Britain is a parliamentary system of government with a two party system.
Britain has an unwritten constitution with high levels of legitimacy.
Britain’s geographic isolation has allowed it to develop democratic traditions gradually. However, it has suffered internal separatist movements and strife.
Britain is a member of the European Union which holds increasing powers.

What comparisons can be made between Britain and other countries on the Comparative Government & Politics curriculum?

Britain is a unitary system that is devolving power to local government. Compare to Russia which is a federal system that is centralized power under President Vladimir Putin.
Compare Britain’s dual head of government with Iran’s dual head of government. Contrast the levels of power of each.
Compare the use of referendum in Britain to the use of Referendum in Russia.
Compare Britain’s bicameral legislature to bicameralism in Mexico.

The following are major concepts and themes from the AP Comparative Government & Politics outline that are found within the text.

1. Political and Economic Change

Britain’s gradual establishment of democracy. It is the country on the curriculum that has retained some formal powers of the monarchy.
Britain’s market economy and changes made within that framework.
Strength of the welfare state.
Labor’s “Third Way.” approach
Constitutional reform including devolution, reform of the House of Lords, and incorporation of the European convention of Human rights into British law. Still on the table are a change to proportional elections, and adoption of the Euro currency.

2. Social Welfare Policy

The national health care service (NHS) remains as one of many social services Britain provides to its citizens.

3. Ethnic Cleavages

Britian is has a homogeneous population when comparing it to most of the countries on the AP curriculum (ethnic minorities are less than 8% of the population).
Ethnic tension is a public policy challenge for the government. Discrimination of minority job applicants and protest/dissent in low income housing are two issues the government has had to address.

4. Gender cleavages

Women have not achieved equality in the workplace or in government. The government has responded by enacting family friendly policies, such as maternity/paternity leave.

5. Institutions of Government

Britain’s Parliamentary system fuses power between the executive and legislative. MPs serve as both voting members of the legislature and heads of departments.
The House of Commons is the lower house of the legislature and has almost complete sovereignty. The House of Lords is the upper house with little power.
Britain is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen serving as head of state and the Prime Minister serving as head of government.
The Cabinet is responsible for proposing legislation.
The beaureaucracy consists of a professional civil service. There are private and semiprivate institutions of government (QUANGO).
The judiciary does not have a powerful role in policy making.

6. Political Institutions (Unitary/federal – centralization/decentralization)

There has been devolution of power to sub national government in recent years. This includes a Scottish Parliament with taxation powers, a Welsh assembly and a directly elected mayor. Britain is still officially unitary as the central government could revoke these institutions.

7. Party Systems

Only two parties (Labour and Conservative) have a realistic chance of forming a government, making Britain a two party system. However, numerous other parties win seats, including the Liberal Democrats.
The Labour party represents the ideological left, the Conservatives the ideological right. The Liberal Democrats are a left of center party that emphasizes civil liberties and a proportional representation voting system.

8. Electoral System

Britain has a single member district first past the post voting system. Election of the Prime Minister is indirect. There is discussion of changing the electoral system to proportional representation.