Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0054/00540.txt

Text File | 1991-06-24 | 30KB | 512 lines

$Unique_ID{COW00540}
$Pretitle{405}
$Title{United Kingdom
The Political Party System}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Subject{house
commons
government
party
bill
lords
committee
bills
committees
members}
$Date{1990}
$Log{Margaret Thatcher*0054001.scf
Table 1.*0054001.tab
}
Country:     United Kingdom
Book:        Britain's System of Government
Author:      Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Affiliation: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Date:        1990

The Political Party System

[See Margaret Thatcher: Meeting with US Secretary State, James Baker. Courtesy
Embassy of the United Kingdom, New York.]

     The party system, existing in one form or another since the eighteenth
century, is an essential element in the working of the constitution.

     The present system relies heavily upon the existence of organised
political parties, each laying policies before the electorate for approval.
The parties are not registered or formally recognised in law, but in practice
most candidates in elections, and almost all winning candidates, belong to
one of the main parties.

     For the last 150 years a predominantly two-party system has operated, and
since 1945 either the Conservative Party, which can trace its origin to the
eighteenth century, or the Labour Party, which emerged in the last decade of
the nineteenth century, has held power. A new party-the Social and Liberal
Democrats (now known as the Liberal Democrats)-was formed in 1988 when members
of the Liberal Party (which could trace its origins to the eighteenth century)
merged with members of the Social Democratic Party, which was itself formed in
1981. Other parties include two nationalist parties, Plaid Cymru (founded in
Wales in 1925) and the Scottish National Party (founded in 1934). In Northern
Ireland there are a number of parties; the largest of those represented in the
House of Commons is the Ulster Unionist Party, which was formed in the early
part of this century, and the Democratic Unionist Party, founded in 1971 by a
group which broke away from the Ulster Unionists.

     Since 1945 seven general elections have been won by the Conservative
Party and six by the Labour Party, and the great majority of members of the
House of Commons have represented either one or other of these two parties.
The percentages of votes cast for the main political parties in the last
general election of June 1987 and the resulting distribution of seats in the
House of Commons are given in Table 1.

     The party which wins most seats (although not necessarily the most votes)
at a general election, or which has the support of a majority of members in
the House of Commons, usually forms the Government. By tradition, the leader
of the majority party is asked by the Sovereign to form a government, and
about 100 of its members in the House of Commons and the House of Lords
receive ministerial appointments (including appointment to the Cabinet-see p
19) on the advice of the Prime Minister. The largest minority party becomes
the official Opposition, with its own leader and `shadow cabinet'.

     Leaders of the Government and Opposition sit on the front benches of the
Commons with their supporters (the backbenchers) sitting behind them. Similar
arrangements for the parties also apply to the House of Lords; however, Lords
who do not wish to be associated with any political party may sit on the
`cross-benches'. The effectiveness of the party system in Parliament rests
largely on the relationship between the Government and the opposition parties.
Depending on the relative voting strengths of the parties in the House of
Commons, the Opposition might seek to overthrow the Government by securing its
defeat on a `matter of confidence'. In general, however, its aims are to
contribute to the formulation of policy and legislation by constructive
criticism; to oppose government proposals it considers objectionable; to
secure concessions on government Bills; and to present its own policies in
such a way as to enhance its chances of electoral success.

[See Table 1.: Percentages of Votes Cast, and Members Elected, in the 1987
General Election]

     The detailed arrangements of government business are settled, under the
direction of the Prime Minister and the Leaders of the two Houses, by the
Government Chief Whips in consultation with the Opposition Chief Whips. The
Chief Whips together constitute the `usual channels' often referred to when
the question of finding time for debating some particular issue is discussed.
The Leaders of the two Houses are primarily responsible for the direction of
business and for providing facilities for the Houses to debate matters about
which they are concerned.

     Outside Parliament, party control is exercised by the national and local
organizations. Inside, it is exercised by the Chief Whips and their
assistants (chosen within the party), whose duties include keeping members
informed of forthcoming parliamentary business, maintaining the party's voting
strength by ensuring members attend important debates, and conveying to the
party leadership the opinions of backbench members. The importance a party
attaches to a vote on a particular issue is indicated to the MPs by the
underlining (once, twice or three times) on the notice sent to them each week
by the Whips; failure to comply with a `three-line whip' (the most important)
is usually seen as rebellion against the party's policy. Party discipline
tends to be less strong in the Lords than in the Commons, since Lords have
less hope of high office and no need of party support in elections.

     The Government Chief Whip in the Commons is Parliamentary Secretary
to the Treasury. Of the other Government Whips, three are officers of the
Royal Household (one of these is Deputy Chief Whip), five hold titular posts
as Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and five are Assistant Whips. Salaries
are also paid to the Opposition Chief Whips in both Houses and to two of the
Opposition Assistant Whips in the Commons. The Government Whips in the Lords
hold offices in the Royal Household and act as government spokesmen.

     Annual assistance from public funds helps opposition parties carry out
their parliamentary work at Westminster. It is limited to parties which had
at least two members elected at the previous general election or one member
elected and a minimum of 150,000 votes cast. The amount is 2,550 Pounds for
every seat won, plus 5.10 Pounds for every 200 votes.

Parliamentary Procedure

     Parliamentary procedure is based on custom and precedent. The system of
debate is much the same in the two Houses: the subject starts off as a
proposal or `motion' by a member. When a motion has been moved, the Speaker
proposes the question for debate. At the end of each debate the question may
be agreed to without voting, or decided by a simple majority vote. The main
difference between the two Houses is that the Speaker of the Lords has no
authority to check debate or cut it short. Such matters are decided by the
general feeling of the House. In the Commons the Speaker has full authority
to enforce the rules and orders of the House. The Speaker of the Commons must
guard against abuse of procedure or infringement of minority rights. The
Speaker has discretion to allow or disallow a motion to end discussion so that
a matter may be put to the vote. He has powers to put a stop to irrelevance
and repetition in debate, and to save time in other ways. In cases of grave
disorder the Speaker can adjourn or suspend the sitting. The Speaker may order
members who have offended against the rules of behaviour of the House to leave
or be suspended for a period of days.

     The Speaker supervises voting in the Commons and announces the final
result. In a tied vote the Speaker gives a casting vote, without expressing
an opinion on the merits of the question. The voting procedure in the House
of Lords is s