The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Andrew Hugh

2. United Kingdom • Capitol - London • Government - Constitutional Monarchy • Language – English • National Anthem – “God Save the Queen/King” • Members – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

3. History • England has existed since 10th Century AD • Union between England and Wales started in 1284 (not official until 1536) • Scotland joined in 1707 • Ireland joined in 1801, formalized in 1921 • Official name adopted in 1927 • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

4. Population – 59,107,000 (2004 est.) • Area – 94,248 sq mi (244,101 sq Km) • Largest Cities (2001 census) • London – 7,172,036 • Birmingham – 977,091 • Leeds – 715,404 • Glasgow – 577,869 • Religion – 50% Church of England, 10% Roman Catholic, Other – Church of Scotland, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Hindus

5. Economy • Currency: Pound • GDP: $1.928 trillion (purchasing power parity) • Labor force: 30.48 million • Agriculture (1.4%), industry (18.2%), services (80.4%) • Unemployment rate: 2.9% • Population below poverty line: 17% • Inflation rate: 2.3% • Budget: revenue ($1.001 trillion), expenditure ($1.071 trillion) • Public Debt 42.7% of GDP

6. Foreign Dependencies • Anguilla • Bermuda British Indian Ocean Territory • British Virgin Islands • Cayman Islands • Falkland Islands • Gibraltar • Montserrat • Pitcairn Islands • Saint Helena • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands • Turks and Caicos Islands • “The sun never sets on the British Empire.”

7. Founding Documents • Magna Carta (1215) • One of the first documents to limit power of the Monarch • Certain powers of the Monarch were surrendered • Petition of Right (1628) • Parliament redressed certain issues • Primarily issues the Civil War was fought over • Habeas Corpus Act (1679) • Gave rights to the people • English Bill of Rights (1688) • Gave more rights to the Public

8. Parliament House of Commons House of Lords Least Powerful house 700 members Members are from Nobility Known as The Lords With enough effort, the House of Commons can any bill through the House of Lords • Most powerful house • 646 members • 529 English constituencies • 40 Welsh • 59 Scottish • 18 Northern Ireland • Speaker – Chief Officer elected to preside over House • Known as The Commons

9. Executive Judiciary Three separate Legal Systems England and Wales Northern Ireland Scotland House of Lords – highest court of appeals All judges are appointed by Monarch • Headed by the Prime Minister • Assisted by the Cabinet • Control new laws and amendments introduced to Parliament • Cabinet – Consists of 20 Ministers appointed by Prime Minister

10. Political Parties Conservative Party Labour Party Started in 1900 Left Liberal Democrats Started in 1988 Others Nationalist Parties – Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales Favor independence from the United Kingdom More • One of two largest parties • Originally from the Tory Party • Started in late 1600’s

11. Who Governs To What Ends The Monarch The Monarch is primarily a Ceremonial Role Approves Bills passed by Parliament Prime Minister Holds much more power than Monarch Controls what bills and amendments are introduced to Parliament Gordon Brown, current Prime Minister • The Monarch • The King or Queen • Currently Elizabeth II • Head of the Executive and Judicial • The Prime Minister • The head of the majority party in the Commons • Elected by people

12. Party Leaders Scottish Nationalist Party (Alex Salmond) Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) (Gerry Adams) Social Democratic and Labor Party (Mark Durkan) Ulster Unionist Party (Sir Reg Empey) • Conservative and Unionist Party (David Cameron) • Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) (Rev. Ian Paisley) • Labor Party (Gordon Brown) • Liberal Democrats Vince Cable) • Party of Wales (Leuan Wyn Jones)

13. Law Making • Private Bills – proposals for legislation affecting particular bodies or rights • Public Bills – Change the general law • Majority of Bills introduced • Bills must be approved by both Houses • Process- • May be introduced into either House • Must be passed by both Houses, though the Commons may force it through the Lords • Must be approved by the Monarch

14. Issues • British Relations with the United States • Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan • Devolution of powers to members nations: • England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland • Relations with foreign dependencies • Gibraltar • Falkland Islands • Membership in the European Union

15. UK and US United Kingdom United States Executive Headed by President Elected separately from legislature Legislation Bicameral: House of Representatives, Senate Senate has more power Judicial The Supreme Court Interprets the Constitution Many lower courts • Executive • Headed by Prime Minister • Leader of majority party • Includes the monarch • Legislation • Bicameral: House of Lords, House of Commons • Commons has most power • Judicial • House of Lords • Interprets common law • Many lower courts

16. Bibliography • BBC. 20 Dec 2007 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/>. • “Directgov.” UK government. 10 Dec. 2007 <www.direct.gov.uk>. • Mounfield, Peter R., Anthony Sutcliffe, and Brendan O’Leary. “United Kingdom.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2007 ed. • “Politics of the United Kingdom.” Wikipedia. 20 Dec. 2007 <www.wikipedia.org>. • “United Kingdom.” CIA World Fact Book. 2 Jan. 2007 <www.cia.gov>.