Re: Citizneship test

Big Pete wrote:
Is this really a citizenship test?

It's more like a general knowledge test.
You might as well ask which football players scored a goal in the 1974 FA
Cup final.

This test means nothing.

I know, but this is the official document, the preamble, the 'text' which
provides a potted history is equally absurd.

My wife has to learn all this nonesense.....

Of course, more thought provoking questions couldne be automatically marked
in the same way, questions which ask people to explain aspects of British
society, instead of regurgitating silly questions, as if it is a driving
theory test.

here is the text or Blairs little red book:

1. BRITAIN TODAY
Becoming a British citizen is an important event in your life and is
something that you
can feel proud of.
Britain is a country where people of many different cultures and faiths
live. What
brings British people together is that they listen to different points of
view, they have
respect for equal rights and they believe that community is important.
Becoming a British citizen
Becoming a British citizen means you will have:
· the right to a British passport
· the right to vote in national elections
· the opportunity to play an active role in your community and wider
society.
As an individual, you also have many talents and experiences to bring to UK
society.
Being a British citizen
Being a British citizen doesn't mean you have to lose your own identity.
There will,
however, be things about life in the UK that you should know about before
you
become a citizen.
That's why the Life in the UK Test has been introduced. Studying for and
taking the
test will give you the practical knowledge you need to live in this country
and to take
part in society.
Introducing the test
If you are applying for naturalisation as a British citizen, you will need
to show that
you know about life in the UK. If you live in England, Scotland, Wales or
Northern
Ireland, you can do this in two ways: by taking the Life in the UK Test or
by taking
combined English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and citizenship
classes.
You should take the test if you are applying for naturalisation as a British
citizen and
your level of English is ESOL Entry 3 or above. If your level of English is
lower than
ESOL Entry 3 and you wish to apply for naturalisation, you will need to
attend
combined English language (ESOL) and citizenship classes instead. Classes
will be
run at your local further education or community college.
ESOL and citizenship classes help you to improve your English and learn more
about life in the UK. You can take these classes at your local further
education or
community college. To find out more about ESOL and citizenship classes,
contact
your local college, or call the Life in the UK Test Helpline on 0800
0154245.
If you are not sure what your level of English is, your local further
education college
or Learndirect centre can give you an initial assessment. If you need help
finding
somewhere near you to take an initial assessment, then call the Life in the
UK Test
Helpline on 0800 0154245.

Page 5 of 114
At present, the test is only available in English, but will be offered in
Welsh and
Scottish Gaelic in the future. The test will not be made available in any
other
languages.
You should take the test before you apply for naturalisation as a British
citizen,
provided you meet all the other requirements for naturalisation. The Home
Office
website http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/content/ind/en/home.html provides
more information on how to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen.
If you pass the test, you are given a letter which proves you have been
successful.
This is called your pass notification letter. You will need to attach your
pass
notification letter to your filledin
citizenship application form and send both to the
Home Office. The Home Office will retain the information it gets from test
centres for
a reasonable period. However, you should submit your application as soon as
possible after taking the test.
You take the test on a computer in an official test centre. It's designed to
be very
easy to use. Help is available at your local UK online centre if you've
never used a
computer before.
Computer access at your local UK online centre is free, and friendly staff
are always
there to help you.
Preparing for the test
The test contains 24 questions on life in the United Kingdom and will last
for 45
minutes. It's based on chapters 2, 3 and 4 of the handbook 'Life in the
United
Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship'. You should study these chapters very
carefully.
This book contains over 200 questions based on these chapters. The 24
questions in
the test will be similar to the questions in this book.
The Life in the UK Test website
http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk/textsite/nav_10.html contains a tutorial
that has
been developed to help you prepare to answer the different types of question
contained in the test.
You can do the tutorial as many times as you want. You should feel
comfortable
about answering questions on the computer.
You can also do a practice test at your test centre before you take the Life
in the UK
Test.
Don't worry if you don't pass the test the first time that you try it; you
can try again
when you feel ready. There's no limit to the number of times you can take
the test.
Taking the test
On arrival at your test centre, the test supervisor will record your full
name, date of
birth, nationality, country and place of birth, and your postcode. Your
photographic ID
will be checked and you will have to pay for your test (unless you have paid
for it
previously).
The test supervisor will check to make sure you have completed the prepare
for the
test section at http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk/textsite/prepare_10.htmlf.
It is important to go through this section of the website before you take
the test.

Page 6 of 114
You will then be logged on to a computer and will have time to complete a
practice
test on your computer before you begin the Life in the UK Test. The test
supervisor
will tell you when to begin your test and how long you have to complete it.
The test has a time limit of 45 minutes. This will give you plenty of time
to choose
your answers and check them again before the end. You do not need to rush to
finish the test quickly; remember to use all of the time that you are given.
If you have
certain medical conditions, you may be allowed more time. You must tell the
test
centre of any medical conditions when you book your test.
You will find out your results when the test session has finished. The test
supervisor
will tell you whether or not you have passed.
The pass mark for the test is around 75%.
If you pass the test, your test supervisor will give you a pass notification
letter. This
letter contains details of your test date, supervisor, centre location and a
unique ID
number. When you have filled in your citizenship application, you should
attach your
pass notification letter and send both to the Home Office. Your test centre
will also
send proof of your test results to the Home Office.
Your pass notification letter is very important: you should keep it in a
safe place until
you are ready to fill in your citizenship application. If you lose this
letter, you will not
be given a new one to replace it.
Your test supervisor will advise you if you have failed the test. You should
not make
an application for naturalisation as a British citizen if this happens.
You can take the test again, but we do not recommend that you do this
straight
away. You should go back and study chapters 2, 3 and 4 of the 'Life in the
United
Kingdom' and do the exercises contained in this book until you feel
confident.
Your results notification letter will give you feedback on which areas of
the handbook
you need to look at again. You will then need to book a new test date and
time with
your test centre.
Alternatively, if you feel you did not pass the test because of your level
of English,
you may like to consider attending combined English language (ESOL) and
citizenship classes at your local further education college. You would do
this instead
of taking the test again.

Page 7 of 114
2. A CHANGING SOCIETY
MIGRATION TO BRITAIN
Historically Britain is a land of immigrants. Practically all people in
modern Britain
originate from outside the country, and can trace their heritage from
Europe, Russia,
the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the West Indies. Early immigrants came to
take
land by force before settling here. In recent times, immigrants have arrived
in Britain
in search of employment, a better life and safety.
The UK has an enviable reputation for providing a safe refuge for people
escaping
conflicts and persecution. From 1550 to 1690 the Protestant Huguenots fled
France
to escape religious persecution. The Irish famine of 18461850
brought large
numbers of Irish labourers to mainland Britain where they provided most of
the
manpower to build the network of canals and railways.
Two million Jews left Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine and Belarus) between
1881
and 1914, fleeing persecution, violence and economic hardship. In the 1930s,
large
numbers of German Jews emigrated, fearing for their lives under the Nazi
regime.
Some 60,000 Jewish refugees came to Britain, however 6 million more died in
the
Nazi Holocaust.
Migration since 1945
Britain was in ruins at the end of the Second World War and to help with the
reconstruction, the British government supported the immigration of workers
from
other parts of Europe. In 1948, the government sought immigrants from
Ireland and
the West Indies.
In the 1950?s Britain still suffered a labour shortage and sectors of
British Industry
advertised for workers from abroad. Bus drivers were recruited via
specialist centres
in the West Indies and agents from engineering and textile firms in the
Midlands and
the North of England were sent to India and Pakistan to resource workers.
Immigrants arrived from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, and subsequently
Bangladesh to settle and work in Britain.
The Government tightened immigration laws through out the 1970?s which
reduced
the numbers arriving from these parts of the world, but 28,000 Indians
expelled from
Uganda and 22,000 Boat people, refugees from South East Asia arrived in
Britain.
The 1980?s saw the largest immigrant groups come from the United States,
Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
The collapse of communism, which led to the Soviet Union disintegrating in
the late
1980?s and early 90?s, which in turn led to different groups of immigrants
arriving in
Britain, hoping to find a new and safer life. From 1994 the numbers moving
to Britain
from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Indian subcontinent
has risen,
many of whom have claimed political asylum. Migrants to Britain, continue to
face
increasingly tighter controls, as the Government examines the claims of
those
seeking asylum more closely in an attempt to prevent illegal immigrants.

Page 8 of 114
THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN
19 th century British familes were large and, everyone in the family
contributed to the
household income. Despite the economic importance of women, men had more
rights in law than women. Married women didn?t get the right to divorce her
husband
until 1857 and it wasn?t until 1882 that a woman?s earnings as well as
anything that
she brought into the marriage did not automatically belong to her husband.
Towards the end of the 19 th century and into the early part of the 20 th
century,
increasing numbers of women held demonstrations and campaigned for increased
rights including the right to vote. In a display of patriotism, their
protests and
demonstrations were suspended during World War One and women entered the
workforce in new areas of employment to help with the war effort. The 1918
Representation of the People Act gave women of property over the age of 30
the
right to vote and in 1928, women achieved voting equality with men.
Discrimination against women in the workplace continued and it was quite
common
for an employer to ask a woman to leave work if she got married. Many
occupations
were not open to women and university entry was still very difficult. During
the 60?s
and 70?s the women?s liberation movement continued to press for equal pay
and
discrimination in the workplace.
Women in Britain today
The population of Britain is 51% female and women make up 45% of the labour
force. As a rule, girls achieve better academic qualifications than boys and
the
number of girls entering university exceed boys. Career opportunities for
women
have greatly increased in modern times, however the traditional areas of
female
employment are still in health care, teaching, secretarial and sales, but
evidence has
shown that attitudes are changing and many other areas of work have opened
up for
women.
Surveys have revealed that today only a minority of people believe that
women in
Britain should remain at home rather than go out to work. Nearly
threequarters
of
women with children at school have a job. Women still have to do the major
share of
housework and looking after children, evidence has been seen that fathers
are
increasingly assuming parental responsibility and helping out around the
house.
Many people say that effort needs to be made to create even greater equality
between men and women, especially in the working environment. Even today,
women still have worse promotion prospects than men and less access to well
paid
jobs. On average the hourly rate of pay for women is around 20% for women
than it
is for men.
CHILDREN, FAMILY AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Britain has almost 15 million children and youths under the age of 19,
representing
nearly a quarter of the population. Their individual fashions, interests and
identity
separate them from the older generation. Traditionally, they leave home once
they
become adults, but this tends to vary depending on the type of family or
type of
community that they come from. Generally, children receive a weekly
allowance from

Page 9 of 114
their parents, known as pocket money and some get additional payment for
helping
with the household chores.
Playing outside does not play an important part in the lives of children
today. Most
prefer to watch videos and television, use computers and play computer
games.
There is the general perception that children are at an increased risk of
child
molestation, but there is no evidence that this is on the increase.
Over the past 20 years, family patterns in Britain have changed
considerably, mainly
due to changing attitudes towards separation and divorce. 65% of children
live with
their natural parents and nearly 25% live with only one parent. 10% of
children are
part of a stepfamily or belong to an extended family.
Education
Government policy is to test and assess schoolchildren several times
throughout
their education to determine there academical achievements. In n England and
Scotland, pupils are compulsory tested at seven years old and again at
eleven and
fourteen. Wales use more informal methods of assessment. Assessments enable
parents to gauge their children?s progress and to highlight subjects where
the child is
doing well and subject where the child may need extra tuition.
At 16 years old, most children take their GCSE?s (General Certificate of
Secondary
Education), many go onto further education and taking vocational
qualifications, A
levels and A/S levels (Advanced levels) at 17 or 18 years old.
Higher education attracts 1 in 3 young people after they have finished
school and the
government aim to increase this to I out of every 2 young people. Before
entering
university, some youngsters take a year out to travel overseas, do voluntary
work or
work to earn money to offset the cost of university fees and living expenses
while
they are at university.
Work
Many young people have a parttime
job while they are still at school. It is estimated
that are two million children in parttime
jobs. Newspaper delivery and work in
supermarkets and newsagents are the most common jobs carried out by
children. A
lot of parents think that part time work instills a sense of independent
into their
children and provides them (and sometimes their family) with extra income.
Laws strictly control the employment of children and there are concerns for
the
safety of children who without work proper supervision or work illegally.
Health hazards
It is a worry for parents in Britain that their children may misuse drugs
and addictive
substances.
Cigarette and tobacco smoking in Britain has reduced significantly and now
only a
minority of the population smoke. Plans are being progressed to restrict
smoking in

Page 10 of 114
public places. As well as a decline in adults smoking, young people are also
not
smoking as much. However, surveys show that girls smoke more than boys.
By law, tobacco, cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16.
Alcohol abuse has become a problem. Even though noone
under the age of 18 is
allowed to buy alcohol, concerns have been raised at the age at which some
young
people start drinking and ?binge drinking? (consuming an excessive amount of
alcohol in one session). Penalties have increased and onthespot
fines have been
introduced in an attempt to control this problem.
Drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, and cannabis are
illegal and
their use is controlled. In Britain, it is an offence to possess, produce or
supply
controlled drugs. It is reported that half of young adults, and about a
third of the
population as a whole, have tried illegal drugs at some time in their
lives ? even if
only as an experiment.
There is a proven link between organised crime and hard drug usage (e.g.
crack
cocaine and heroin). It is widely recognised that drug abuse is a social
burden and a
huge financial cost to all. Crimes such as burglary or stealing in the
street by threat
or violence (called mugging) are linked to needing money to buy drugs.
Finding an
effective way of dealing with this sort of problem is an important task
facing British
society.
Young people?s attitudes and action
The voting age in Britain is 18. In the 2001 general election, 1/5 th
potential firsttime
voters actually voted, and there has been a lot of debate about the reasons
for the
low turnout of this age group. Research has concluded that young people
distrust
politicians and the political process.
Many voters exhibit little interest in party politics, but evidence suggests
that they are
interested in some specific political issues. People who state they are not
interested
at all in politics often exhibit strong feelings about cruelty to animals
and
environmental issues.
A 2003 survey of the attitudes of young people in England and Wales,
revealed that
the five most important issues that they felt Britain faced today were
crime, drugs,
war/terrorism, racism, and health. The same survey reported that 86 percent
of
young people had been part of some form of community activity in the past 12
months and that 50 per cent had either taken part in fundraising
or collected money
for charity.

Page 11 of 114
3. BRITAIN TODAY: A PROFILE
POPULATION
The 2001 census recorded that 58.8 million people lived in the United
Kingdom.
UK population 2001
England 49.1m
Scotland 5m
Wales 2.9m
N Ireland 1.7m 83%
9% 5% 3% England
Scotland
Wales
N Ireland
Details of the 2001 Census are available at the Government Statistics
website,
www.statistics.gov.uk
The population has increased by 17% since 1951. In contrast, the average
growth
rate for the European Union is 23 per cent, the United States is 80% and
Australia is
133%, all greater than the United Kingdom.
The UK birth rose slightly in 2003 from an all time low in 2002. However,
the
population of Britain is still aging. People aged 60 and over, for the first
time in
history, exceed the number of children under 16. The United Kingdom has more
people aged 85 and over than ever before.
The population as a whole has increased over the last 20 years, but it has
actually
declined in the North East and the North West of England. The majority of
the growth
has been in the South East.
The Census
A census of the population in Britain was introduced in 1801 and has been
carried
out every 10 years since (the exception being 1941 during World War 2). The
next
census will be carried out in 2011.
During the census, a census form is delivered to every household in the
United
Kingdom. The Law requires that it must be completed. The information
requested is
wide ranging ensuring that official statistics about the population are as
accurate as
possible. All the information collected is completely confidential and
individual
identities are not revealed. The general public cannot access census
information for
100 years.

Page 12 of 114
Ethnic diversity
People of Indian make up the largest ethnic minority in Britain, next are
those of
Pakistani descent, then mixed ethnic descent, then Black Caribbean descent,
then
Black African descent, and finally Bangladeshi descent. In total 7.9 per
cent of the
UK population is of ethnic descent.
Today, about half the members of the African Caribbean, Pakistani, Indian,
and
Bangladeshi communities were born in Britain. Considerable numbers of people
of
Chinese, Italian, Greek and Turkish Cypriot, Polish, Australian, Canadian,
New
Zealand and American descent are also resident within the UK.
UK population 2001
White 54.2m 92%
Mixed 0.7m 1.2%
Indian 1.1m 1.8%
Pakistani 0.7m 1.3%
Bangladeshi 0.3m 0.5%
Other Asian 0.2m 0.4%
Black Caribbean 0.6m 1.0%
Black Af rican 0.5m 0.8%
Black Other 0.1m 0.2%
Chinese 0.2m 0.4%
Other 0.2m 0.4%
Source National Statistics from the 2001 census
Where do people live
Most members of ethnic minority groups live in England, where they make up
nine
per cent of the total population. This compares with two per cent each in
Wales and
Scotland, and less than one percent in Northern Ireland.
45 per cent of the population of ethnic minorities live in the London area,
where they
comprise 29 per cent of all residents. Most other members of ethnic
minorities in

Page 13 of 114
Britain live in one of four other areas: the West Midlands, the South East,
the North
West, and Yorkshire and Humberside.
RELIGION AND TOLERANCE
Everyone in Britain has the right to religious Freedom. Although Britain is
historically
a Christian society, people are usually very tolerant towards the faiths of
others and
those who have no religious beliefs.
In the 2001 Census, just over 75 per cent of the UK population reported that
they
had a religion. More than seven people out of ten stated that this was
Christian.
Nearly three per cent of the population described their religion as Muslim,
and one
per cent as Hindu. After these, the next largest religious groups are Sikhs,
Jews, and
Buddhists.
Although many people in Britain have a religious belief, this is not always
matched
by regular attendance at services. It is estimated that regular church
attendance in
England is between eight and eleven per cent of the population. Church
attendance
in Scotland however, although declining, is almost twice the level of
England and
Wales.
The established church
The Church of England, or Anglican Church as it is also known, came into
existence
in 1534. The King installed himself as head of the Church, and the title of
Supreme
Governor has been held by the King or Queen ever since.
The monarch at the coronation is required to swear to maintain the
Protestant
Religion in the United Kingdom, and heirs to the throne are not allowed to
marry
anyone who is not Protestant. The Queen or King also has the right to
appoint a
number of senior church officers, including the Archbishop of Canterbury who
is the
head of the Church. In practice however, the Prime Minister makes this
selection on
the recommendation of a special committee appointed by the Church.
Other Christian groups
Further splits in the Church took place after the Reformation, giving rise
to a number
of different Protestant denominations. These included the Baptists,
Presbyterians,
and the Society of Friends (or Quakers), all of which continue today. In the
eighteenth century the Methodist movement developed, working in particular
amongst poorer members of society.
In Wales today, Baptists and Methodists are the two most widespread
denominations. In Scotland there are more than a million members of the
Presbyterian Church, the established Church of Scotland, known as the Kirk.
About ten per cent of the population of Britain are Roman Catholic.

Page 14 of 114
THE REGIONS OF BRITIAIN
Britain is a relatively small country. The distance from the north coast of
Scotland to
the south coast of England is approximately 600 miles (almost 1,000 km), and
it is
about 320 miles (just over 500 km) across the widest part of England and
Wales.
However, nowhere in Britain is more than 75 miles (120 km) from the coast.
Many people remark on the great variety in the British landscape. In the
space of a
few hours it is possible to travel from a major cosmopolitan city to
historic sires, old
cathedrals, villages, moors and mountains.
Regional differences
In one respect, almost every part of Britain is the same. A common language,
national newspapers, radio, and television, and shops with branches
throughout the
United Kingdom mean that everybody, to some degree, shares a similar
culture.
However beneath the increasingly standardised appearance of our city centres
and
suburbs, there are real diversities and cultural differences between
different parts of
the United Kingdom.
Possibly the two most distinctive areas of Britain are Wales and Scotland.
Both have
their own language. Welsh is taught in schools and widely spoken in north
and west
Wales. Gaelic is still spoken in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Many
people
believe that the Welsh and the Scots have a stronger sense of identity and
culture
than the English perhaps
brought about by their struggle to stay independent. The
creation of the Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament in 1999 has
led
some people to suggest that England needs its own parliament and there is
now
considerable discussion about what is a distinctive English identity.
Accents are a clear indication of regional differences in Britain. Geordie,
Scouse, and
Cockney are wellknown
dialects from Tyneside. Liverpool, and London respectively,
but other differences in speech exist in all parts of the country. Scottish
and Welsh
speech is distinctive, and varies within those two countries. In some areas
a person?s
accent will indicate where they are from, within a distance of twenty miles.
Regional differences also exist in the styles of buildings and the materials
used in
their construction. Thatched cottages, much less common than they once were,
are
mainly products of the south, the southwest
and east of England. Older buildings
are usually made from local stone, giving houses in North Yorkshire,
Derbyshire, and
many other places a unique appearance.
The industrial legacy of regions also gives rise to distinct styles of
architecture. The
mill towns of northern England are good examples of this. The insularity of
some
communities, particularly on the coast and in remote corners of Britain, has
meant
that their appearance has changed very little in the past 50 years. In
contrast, other
areas, whose traditional industries have been replaced by others, are almost
unrecognizable from what they were a generation ago.

Page 15 of 114
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
Tourist guides commonly paint a view of rural Britain that is not always
recognisable
to those who live here. The countryside is regarded by many as ?real
England?. but
in fact. the great majority of people live in cities or their suburbs.
People?s lives in the
UK, like many others throughout the world, are a mixture of the old and the
new. City
dwellers love to visit the countryside. But the abolition of fox hunting,
regarded by
many city dwellers as long overdue, has been bitterly contested by most
country
dwellers who see it as a denial of their values and traditions.
Festivals and other traditions continue to exist in all parts of the
country, but their
existence depends almost entirely on the continued support of those who live
in the
local community.
Sport
Sport of all kind plays a major part in many people?s lives. Football, rugby
and cricket
all have a large following, and success on the sporting field is a great
source of local
and national pride. Major sporting events, such as the Grand National horse
race,
the Football Association (FA) Cup Final, and the Wimbledon tennis
championships,
capture the attention of many people in Britain, including those who do not
normally
follow these sports.
National days
National days are not celebrated in Britain in the same way as they are in a
number
of other countries. Only in Northern Ireland (and the Republic of Ireland)
is St
Patrick?s Day taken as an official holiday. The greatest celebrations are
normally
reserved for the New Year and the Christian festivals of Christmas and
Easter.
National days
1 st March St
David?s Day, the national day of Wales
17 th March St
Patrick?s Day, the national day of both Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland
23 rd April St
George?s Day, the national day of England
30 th November St
Andrews Day, the national day of Scotland
There are also four public holidays a year, called Bank Holidays, when
legislation
requires banks and most businesses to close. These are of no nationalistic
or
religious significance.
Religious and traditional festivals
Most religious festivals in Britain are based on the Christian tradition,
but also widely
recognised are customs and traditions such as Eid ulFitr,
Divali and Yom Kippur,
belonging to other religions. Many of these are explained to children in all
the
schools as part of their lessons in religious education; and they are
celebrated by
followers of these faiths in their communities.

Page 16 of 114
The main Christian and traditional festivals
Christmas Day. December 25 th , celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is
normally
seen as a time to be spent at home with one?s family. Preparations often
begin three
or four weeks beforehand, as people decide what presents to buy for close
family
and friends.
A Christmas tree is usually decorated and installed in the entrance hall or
living
room, around which presents are placed before they are opened on Christmas
Day.
Christmas cards are normally sent to family and friends from the beginning
of
December. NonChristians
usually send cards too, which will often simply say
?seasons Greetings?. Houses are decorated with special Christmas garlands,
and
sometimes a wreath of holly on the front door. Mistletoe is often hung above
doorways, beneath which couples should traditionally kiss. Christmas is both
a
religious and a secular holiday, celebrated by believers and nonbelievers
alike.
Many families attend a church service, either at midnight on Christmas Eve,
or on
Christmas morning
..
Children hang up a long sock, stocking, or pillowcase at the foot of their
bed, or
around the fireplace for Father Christmas to fill with presents. On
Christmas Day
families traditionally sit dawn to a dinner of roast turkey, followed by
Christmas
pudding a
rich steamed pudding made from suet, dried fruit and spices.
The British Father Christmas is a cheerful old man with a beard, dressed in
a red suit
trimmed with fur. He travels from an area close to the North Pole on a
sledge pulled
by reindeer, delivering presents to children. The Father Christmas we have
today is
often said to be based on folklore that Dutch, German, and Swedish settlers
brought
to America, although there are a number of other rival theories explaining
his origins.
Boxing Day, the 26 th December, refers to a time when servants, gardeners,
and
other trades people used to receive money (a Christmas box) in appreciation
for the
work they had done throughout the year, Many people still give to postmen.
Boxing Day is a holiday in Britain, where people visit family and friends
and continue
with Christmas festivities. It is also a popular day for sporting activities
weather
permitting.
New Year, January 1 st , is celebrated in Britain, as it is in many
countries throughout
the world. Parties or celebrations begin on New Year?s Eve, and when
midnight
arrives everybody cheers and drinks a toast for good luck in the coming
year.
In Scotland, New Year can be a bigger festival than Christmas. Here there is
a
tradition in many homes of first footing, in which the first visitor of the
New Year
brings in particular items such as coal, bread and whisky intended to ensure
prosperity for the coming year.
In Wales, on the stroke of midnight, the back door is opened to release the
Old Year.
It is then locked to keep the luck in, and at the last stroke, the front
door opened to

Page 17 of 114
let in the New Year.
Easter, which takes place in March or April; commemorates the Crucifixion
and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, although it is named alter the Saxon goddess
of spring.
Eostre, whose feast took place at the spring equinox. Easter, like
Christmas, has
become increasingly secular, and often taken as an opportunity for a
holiday.
Easter eggs, made from chocolate (traditionally, decorated chicken?s eggs)
are given
as presents, particularly to children, symbolising new life and the coming
of spring.
Some places hold festivals and fairs on Easter Monday.Other
traditions
St Valentine?s Day, February 14 th , is the day when boyfriends,
girlfriends, husbands,
and wives traditionally exchange cards and presents; cards are unsigned as
if from
secret admirers.
Mothering Sunday, three weeks before Easter, is a day on which children,
young and
old. Remember their mothers by giving them flowers or chocolates and trying
to
make their day as easy and enjoyable as possible.
April Fool?s Day, April 1st, is the day when people may play jokes on one
another but
only until 12 noon. Sometimes even radio, television, and newspapers try to
fool
people with fake stones and jokes. The tradition is believed to have
originated in
sixteenth century France.
Guy Fawkes Night, November 5 th , commemorates the Gunpowder Plot in 1605
when
a small group of Catholics are said to have plotted to kill the King by
blowing up the
Houses of Parliament. Soldiers arrested Guido (Guy) Fawkes who was allegedly
guarding the explosives beneath Parliament. Today he is remembered with
fireworks
and the burning of a ?Guy? on a bonfire.
Remembrance Day, November 11 th , keeps alive the memory of those who died
in
both World Wars and in later conflicts. Many people now hold a two minute
silence at
11.00am in remembrance of this, for it was at the eleventh hour, of the
eleventh day.
In the eleventh month in 1918 that the First World War (often called the
Great War)
finally came to an end.
The terrible fighting in the fields of Northern France and Flanders
devastated the
countryside and, in the disturbed earth of the bomb craters, it was the
poppy that
was one of the first plants to regrow.
So this bloodred
flower has come to
symbolise the sacrifice of those who fall in war.
Today in the period here Remembrance Day, artificial poppies are sold in
shops and
on the streets, and many people wear them in their buttonhole, in memory of
the
dead.

Page 18 of 114
4. HOW BRITAIN IS GOVERNED
THE WORKING SYSTEM
Parliamentary democracy
The United Kingdom uses parliamentary democracy as it?s system of
government.
The maximum term of office for a government is 5 years, before which General
elections must be held MP?s (Members of Parliament) are elected by voters in
each
constituency to take their place in the House of Commons. The majority of MP?s
are
members of a political party. Whichever party has the largest number of MP?s
in the
House of Commons form the government. The most senior MP?s of the governing
party take charge of departments of state or are appointed as heads of
committees
of MPs.
The Prime Minister
The leader of the party in power is appointed as The Prime Minister (PM).
The PM
has the final say in many important public appointments and selects who is
to be a
minister of state. The leading ministers appointed by PM form a committee
known as
the Cabinet. The current PM is also known as ?The First Lord of the
Treasury? and in
olden days he was described using the Latin phrase ?primus inter pares?,
which
literally means ?First among equals?. However the office of the Prime
Minister has
increased in power to such a degree, that it often compared to that of the
American
or French Presidency, an office directly elected by the people for a fixed
term.
A Prime Minister can be removed from office by their party at any time,
should they
be defeated in an important vote in the House of Commons or lose the
confidence of
the Cabinet. This has happened in the past, and when it does, it is a
dramatic event
with far reaching consequences. Winston Churchill replaced Neville
Chamberlain as
Prime Minister in 1940 to become Britain?s wartime leader and in 1990
Margaret
Thatcher lost the confidence of her Cabinet colleagues and resigned as Prime
Minister.
Since 1731, The First Lord of the Treasury, who nowadays by default is the
PM
officially reside at 10 Downing Street. The PM has a large staff of civil
servants and a
number of personal advisers. The PM uses ?Spin Doctors? (special advisers
for
publicity and relations with the press and broadcasting media) which all
serve to
increase their influence over colleagues. Important government statements
are
usually reported as coming from the PM office or as coming from ?Number Ten?.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet is a body of highranking
members of government made up of about 20
members. The Cabinet collectively decides the government's policy and
tactical
direction, especially in regards to legislation to be passed to parliament
for approval.
Members of the Cabinet are given the title of Minister, and each hold a
different
portfolio of government duties The
Chancellor of the Exchequer for the economy,
The Home Secretary for law and order and immigration, The Foreign Secretary
for

Page 19 of 114
foreign affairs and other ministers for education, health, and defence. The
Cabinet
normally meets about once a week.
THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION
To say that a state has a constitution can mean two different things in
different
countries. Usually it means a set of written rules governing how laws can be
made,
and setting out the rights and duties of citizens that can he enforced by a
constitutional or supreme court. But sometimes there is no written
constitution so
that the term simply describes how a state is governed, what are the main
institutions of government and the usual conventions observed by the
government
and the politicians.
The United Kingdom constitution is an unwritten constitution. But although
no laws
passed by Parliament can he directly challenged by any British court, there
are
restraints on government. Laws define the maximum length of parliaments, the
electoral system, qualifications for citizenship, and the rights of
noncitizens.
There
are the rules and procedures of Parliament itself, and interpretations of
laws made
by the courts in light of the traditions of the common law.
Sovereignty
A fundamental principle of the British Constitution is ?the sovereignty of
Parliament?.
Rut nowadays decisions of the European Union have to he observed because of
the
treaties that Britain has entered into; and British courts must observe the
judgements
of the European Court and the new Human Rights Act (see pp. 132?133).
Textbooks are written on ?The British Constitution? and constitutional Law,
but no
one authority will agree fully with another. Some constitutional disputes
are highly
political such
as what should be the composition and powers of the House of Lords
and what is the best system of national and local elections.
Some reformers want a written constitution, as does the third largest party
at
Westminster, the LiberalDemocrats.
But others, including the leaders of? the Labour
and Conservative parties, value historical continuity coupled with
flexibility and have
no wish for big issues to be settled by a constitutional court, as in the
United States
and many other democratic countries. But what holds the unwritten system
together
is that party leaders observe conventions of political conduct.
Conventions
Conventions and traditions are very important in British political life. For
example, the
second largest party in the House of Commons not merely opposes the
Government
but is called ?Her Majesty?s Loyal Opposition?. It has a guaranteed amount
of time in
Parliament to debate matters of its own choice, and its rights are defended
by the
Speaker, who chairs proceedings in the House of Commons.
The Leader of the Opposition has offices in Parliament and receives
financial
support from the Treasury both for his or her office and for the Shadow
Cabinet.
These are senior members of the main opposition party who shadow Government

Page 20 of 114
ministers in different departments. The Leader of the Opposition also has a
constitutional status (that is why we use capital letters). He or she stands
beside the
Prime Minister on formal state occasions, as when the Queen opens Parliament
or
when wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Day.
Question time, when Members of Parliament may ask questions of government
ministers, is another parliamentary convention. Questions to the Prime
Minister by
the Leader of the Opposition are usually lively and combative occasions,
often widely
reported.
A competitive party system
Under the British system of parliamentary democracy, candidates nominated by
political parties and sometimes individual independent candidates, compete
for the
votes of the electorate in general elections and byelections.
(byelections
are held to
fill a vacancy when an MP resigns or dies in office). The struggle between
the parties
to influence public opinion, however, is continuous and takes place not only
at
election time.
The role of the media
Proceedings in Parliament are now broadcast on digital television and
recorded in
official reports, known as Hansard. Although copies of this are available in
large
libraries and on the Internet. www.parliament.uk. most people receive their
information about political issues and events from newspapers TV, and radio.
In Britain there is a free press that
is, one that is free from direct government
control. The owners and editors of most newspapers hold strong political
opinions
and run campaigns to influence government policy. All newspapers have their
own
angle in reporting and commenting on political events. Sometimes it is
difficult to
distinguish fact from opinion. Spokesmen and women of all political parties
put their
own slant on things too known
today as ?spin?.
In Britain, The law states that political reporting on radio and television
must be
balanced. In practice, this means giving equal time to rival viewpoints.
Broadcasters
are free to interview politicians in a tough and lively fashion, as long as
their
opponents are also interviewed and treated in more or less the same way.
During a general election, the main parties are given free time on radio and
television to make short party political broadcasts. In citizenship lessons
in schools
young people are encouraged to read newspapers critically and to follow news
and
current affairs programmes on radio and television.
THE FORMAL INSTITUTIONS
Government and politics in Britain takes place in the context of mainly
traditional
institutions, laws and conventions, which ensure the acceptance of electoral
or
Parliamentary defeat, and peaceful and reasonably tolerant behaviour between
political rivals.
The institutional arrangements are a constitutional monarchy, the House of
Commons, the House of Lords, the electoral system, the party system and
pressure

Page 21 of 114
groups, the judiciary, the police, the civil service, local government, and
the recent
devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, together
with a
large number of semiindependent
agencies set up by the government, nicknamed
quangos, and now officially called NonDepartmental
Public Bodies.
A constitutional monarchy
Britain has a constitutional monarchy. Others exist in Denmark, Netherlands,
Norway, Spain and Sweden. Under a constitutional monarchy, the powers of the
King or Queen are limited by either constitutional law or convention.
In Britain, the Queen or King must accept the decisions of the Cabinet and
Parliament. The monarch can express her or his views on government matters
privately to the Prime Minister, for example at their weekly ?audience?, but
in all
matters of government must follow the Prime Minister?s advice. The Queen or
King
can only in a famous phrase, ?advise, warn, and encourage?. There would he a
constitutional crisis if the monarch ever spoke out publicly either for or
against
government policy,
The present Queen has reigned since her father?s death in 1952. The heir to
the
throne is her oldest son, the Prince of Wales. He has let his opinions be
publicly
known on a range of environmental and other matters. but when he becomes
King
he will he required to act and speak only in a ceremonial manner. Today
there are
some who argue that modern Britain should become a republic, with an elected
President. However, despite public criticisms of some members the royal
family, the
monarchy still remains important and popular among most people in Britain
today as
a symbol of national unity. People distinguish between the persons of the
royal
family and the institutions they represent.
The Queen is Head of State of the United Kingdom. She is also monarch or
head of
state, in both a ceremonial and symbolic sense, of most of the countries in
the
Commonwealth. The Queen has important ceremonial roles in this country,
which
include the opening and closing of Parliament. Each year at the beginning of
a new
parliamentary session she reads by tradition ?the Queen?s speech? from a
throne in
the House of Lords, stating the Government?s policies for the next session.
Today
however, these are entirely the views of the Prime Minister and the cabinet.
The monarch also gives the letters of appointment to holders of high office
within the
Government the armed forces, and the Church of England, but always on the
Prime
Minister?s advice.
The House of Commons
The House of Commons is the centre of political debate in Britain and the
ultimate
source of power. It shares the huge Palace of Westminster with the House of
Lords.
In medieval times, the House of Lords was the more powerful and so you will
still
hear some commentators call the Commons, the Lower House, and the lords, the
Upper House. Today the Commons can always overrule the Lords who can only
delay the passage of new laws.
The MPs who sit in the House of Commons are elected from 645 constituencies
throughout the UK. They have a number of different responsibilities. They
represent
everyone in their constituency, they help create and shape new laws, they
scrutinise
and comment on what the Government is doing. and they provide a forum for
debate

Page 22 of 114
on important national issues, lf you visit the House of Commons you may find
few
MPs in the main debating chamber. That is because most work is done in
committees scrutinising
legislation investigating administration, or preparing a
report on some important issue.
Visiting Parliament
There are public galleries from which the public may listen to debates in
both Houses
of Parliament and many committees. You can write to your local MP to ask for
tickets. There is no charge, but MP?s only have a small allocation of
tickets, so
requests should be made well in advance. Otherwise, on the day you can join
a
queue at the public entrance, but a waiting time of one or two hours is
common for
important debates. Getting into the House of Lords is usually easier. Ask
the police
officer at the same entrance where to go. Further details are on UK
Parliament
website, www.parliament.uk.
The Speaker
The Speaker of the House of Commons is an ordinary MP respected on all
sides,
and elected by fellow MP?s. He or she has the important role of keeping
order during
political debates in a fair and impartial way; of representing the House of
Commons
on ceremonial occasions and of ensuring the smooth running of the business
of the
House.
The Whips
The Whips are small group of MPs, appointed by their party leaders, to
ensure
discipline and attendance of MPs at voting time in the House of Commons. The
Chief Whip commonly attends Cabinet or Shadow Cabinet meetings and will
negotiate with the Speaker over the timetable and the order of business.
The House of Lords
The House of Lords is in the middle of big changes. Until relatively
recently, the
members were all peers of the realm; that is hereditary aristocrats or
people who had
been rewarded for their public service for
example in war, the Empire or
government. They had no special duty to attend the House of Lords, and many
did
not do so.
In 1957 a new law was passed, enabling the Prime Minister to appoint peers
just for
their own lifetime. These Life Peers, as they were known, were to be working
peers
and were encouraged to attend debates in the House of Lords on a regular
basis.
Today those appointed as life peers have normally had a distinguished career
in
politics, business, law, or some other profession. Recently hereditary peers
had their
general right to attend the House of? Lords removed, but were allowed to
elect a
small number of themselves to continue to attend.
Life peers continue to be appointed by the Prime Minister although, by
convention,
always include people nominated by the leaders of the other parties. Senior
Bishops
of the Church of England are automatically members of the House of Lords, as
are
most senior judges. Life peers also include members of other Christian

Page 23 of 114
denominations and of other faiths Jewish,
Moslem, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist, as
well nonbelievers
and humanists. Today the main role of the House of Lords is to
examine in detail and at greater leisure new laws proposed by the House of
Commons, and to suggest amendments or changes. In this way the Lords may
delay
but
not prevent the
passage of new legislation.
The House of Lords also frequently debates issues which the Commons pass
over
or can find no time for. House of Lords committees also, from time to time,
report on
a particular social problem or scrutinise some aspect of the workings of
government.
To prevent a government from staying in power without holding an election,
the
House of Lords has the absolute right to reject any proposed law that would
extend
the life of a Parliament beyond the statutory five year period. However, if
this were
ever to happen, the House of Commons could first abolish the House of Lords,
who
could only delay such an act! This is very unlikely but illustrates how
constitutional
restraints in the United Kingdom depends more on conventions than on strict
law.
The electoral system
Members of the House of Commons (MPs) are elected by a ?first past the post?
system. The candidate in a constituency who gains more votes than any other
is
elected, even if he or she does not have a majority of the total votes cast.
In the
House of Commons, the government is formed by the party gaining the majority
of
the seats, even if more votes were cast in total for the Opposition.
Under this system, the number of seats going to the winner is always
proportionately
greater than their total vote. For this reason some people argue that the
system
should be changed to one or other form of proportional representation, as in
Ireland
and most parts of continental Europe. However, neither of the main UK
parties
favours this, saying that large majorities in the House of Commons guarantee
strong
and stable government, and that PR (proportional representation) would lead
to
coalitions and instability
However, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly were both set up
with
different systems of PR to ensure that they were not completely dominated by
a
single party, as can happen under a ?first past the post? system. Similarly,
the use of
PR for elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly is intended to stop the
Unionist
(mainly Protestant) majority of voters from taking all the posts of
government, and
ensure ?power sharing? with the Irish nationalist (overwhelmingly Catholic)
parties. In
elections for the European Parliament yet another form of PR was adopted to
conform more closely to European Union practice.
The party system and pressure groups
The British political system is essentially a party system in the way that
decisions are
made and elections conducted. There is only a handful of independent MPs or
MPs
from smaller parties. The main political parties have membership branches in
every
constituency throughout Britain. Local party organisations select
candidates, discuss
policy, and canvas the voters in national, local, and European elections,
Annual
national party conferences are carefully managed and well publicised events,
where
general party policy is debated, and where local parties can have a
significant effect
on the Parliamentary leadership.

Page 24 of 114
Public opinion polls have also become very important to the leadership of
each party
leaders know that they have to persuade and carry large numbers of the
electorate,
who are not party members, and who in recent years have become less fixed
and
predictable in their voting habits.
Political party membership in Britain has been declining rapidly in the last
few years,
perhaps as a consequence of greater consensus between the parties on the
main
questions of economic management, both seeking the middle ground so that
differences of policy and principle are more difficult to perceive; or
perhaps because
people now, working longer hours and harder, and enjoying for the most part
a
greater standard of livings can or will give less time to public service, No
one knows
if this is a temporary or a longterm
change. This, combined with falling turnout
in
elections, especially among 1825
year olds, has become a matter of general
concern and is widely discussed in the press and in the broadcasting media.
Pressure groups
Pressure groups are organisations that try to influence government policy,
either
directly or indirectly. There are many such groups in Britain today, and
they are an
increasingly important part of political life. Generally speaking ordinary
citizens today
are more likely to support pressure groups than join a political party.
Sometimes
people distinguish between ?pressure groups? and ?lobbies?. Lobbies or
?interest
groups? are seen not as voluntary bodies of ordinary citizens but as the
voice of
commercial, financial, industrial, trade, or professional organisations.
The judiciary
Since medieval times, judges have prided themselves on being independent of
the
Crown. Under the British system, judges can never challenge the legality of
laws
passed by Parliament, but they do interpret legislation and if a law
contravenes our
human rights, judges can declare it incompatible. The law must then be
changed.
As a rule, judges in court normally apply the law in the same way as they
have done
in the past. This ensures that similar cases are dealt with in a consistent
way.
However there are times when the circumstances of a case have not arisen
before,
or when senior judges decide that existing judgements do not reflect modern
society.
In these situations, by their decisions, judges can create or change the
law.
Judges in Britain are appointed by a Government minister, the Lord
Chancellor, from
nominations put forward by existing judges. The names proposed are those of
senior
lawyers who are believed to have the ability and judgement to do the job. In
the last
few years, however, there have been demands to which the government is
responding that
this process should become more transparent, and clearer to
members of the press and public. It is also felt that judges should be more
representative of the public at large. Many argue that the judges are drawn
from too
narrow a section of society and that women and members of ethnic minorities
are
nor sufficiently represented.

Page 25 of 114
The police
The police are organised on a local basis, usually with one force for each
county.
The largest force is the Metropolitan Police, with it?s headquarters at New
Scotland
Yard, which serves London. The police have ?operational independence? the
Government cannot instruct them to arrest or proceed against any individual.
But
their administration is controlled by police authorities of elected local
councillors and
magistrates, and by the role of the Home Secretary. An independent authority
investigates serious complaints against the police.
The Civil Service
The Government is serviced by a large number of independent managers and
administrators, who have the job of carrying out Government policy. They are
known
as civil servants. The key features of the civil service are political
neutrality and
professionalism. Before the midnineteenth
century civil servants were appointed by
ministers and had to be supporters of the party in power. Civil service
reform began
in the early 19th century, when the East India Company governed India. To
prevent
Corruption and favouritism, candidates were required to pass competitive
examinations. In the 1860?s this system was extended to the Home Civil
Service and
continues with many modifications today.
Members of the British civil service today are permanent servants of the
state,
working for whatever party is in power. This neutrality is very important,
but is
sometimes a difficult balance to strike. Civil servants must warn ministers
if they
think a policy is impractical or even against the public interest, but must
ultimately
find a way of putting into practice the policies of the elected Government.
Political party officials tend to do everything the can to put Government
policy in a
favourable light. Civil servants may find themselves in dilemma if they
think that a
minister is being too optimistic about the outcome of a particular policy,
or asking
them to do things specifically to discredit the Opposition. In the past,
commentators
suspected that civil servants too easily imposed their departmental policies
on new
ministers: but now the suspicion is often that civil servants can on
occasion be
pushed into open support for party policies they think to be either
impractical or
incompatible with other policies.
A major restraint on civil servants from becoming two politically involved
is the
knowledge that, if a general election brings another party to power, they
will have to
work with a new Government and
an entirely different set of aims and policies.
When a General Election is pending or taking place, top civil servants study
closely
tire Oppositions policies so that they are ready to serve a new government
loyally.
Local government
Towns, cities and rural areas in Britain are administered by a system of
local
government or councils, usually referred to as local authorities. Many areas
have
both district and county councils, although large towns and cities rend to
be
administered by a single authority, called borough, metropolitan district,
or city
council.

Page 26 of 114
Local authorities are responsible for providing a range of community
services in their
area such
as education, planning, environmental health, passenger transport, the
fire service, social services, refuse collection, libraries and housing.
Today local
authorities in England and Wales have considerably less control over the
organisation of these services than they did in the past.
What local government is required to do is called ?mandatory services?, as
decided
by central government. Citizens can take them to court if they do not
perform them:
But there are also ?permissive services?, though less than in the past: what
they may
do if they want to and can afford to do. In England and Wales local
authorities may
only offer permissive services if empowered to do so by government
legislation.
However in Scotland, under Devolution, local authorities can do anything
they are
not explicitly forbidden to do. This is a simpler system to understand and
operate, but
financial constraints make the two systems more similar than might be
supposed.
Most of the money for local authority services comes from the Government,
provided
through taxation. Only about 20 per cent is funded locally through the
collection of
council tax. There are strict systems of accountability, which determine how
local
authorities spend their money, and the Government is now beginning to
explore how
much some local services can be delivered by voluntary community groups.
Some
see this as diminishing the powers of local government but others see it as
a way of
involving more ordinary citizens in how their area is run.
Elections for local government councilors are held in May each year. Many
but
not
all candidates
stand as members of a political parry. A few cities in Britain,
including London, also have their own elected mayors, with increased powers
to
manage local affairs. Serving on the local council is still frequently the
first step (but
less so than in the past) to getting the local party to nominate someone as
a
candidate for election to the national Parliament or Assembly or to the
European
Parliament in Strasbourg.
DEVOLVED ADMINISTRATION
In 1997, the Government began a programme of devolving power from central
government with the intention of giving people in Wales and Scotland greater
control
over matters that directly affect them. Since 1999 there has been an
Assembly in
Wales, and a Parliament in Scotland, and the Government is now proposing the
idea
of regional governments in England when there is a clear local demand.
However, policy and laws governing defence. foreign affairs, taxation, and
social
security remain under the control of the UK Government in London, although
these
issues may be debated the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.
The National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is situated in Cardiff. It has 60 Assembly
Members
(AMs) and elections are held every four years. Members can speak in either
English
or Welsh and all its publications are in both languages. The Assembly does
nor have
the power to make separate laws for Wales but it may propose laws for the
decision
of the UK Parliament in Westminster. However, it does have the power to
decide on
many other important matters, such as education policy, the environment,
health

Page 27 of 114
services, transport and local government, where the present laws allow Welsh
ministers a great deal of discretion in making detailed regulations.
The Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland in Edinburgh arose as the result of a long
campaign by
people in Scotland for more independence and democratic control. For a long
time
there had been a devolved administration run by the Scottish Office, but no
national
elected body. A referendum for a Scottish Parliament, in 1979, did not gain
enough
support, but when another was held in 1997, the electorate gave a clear
?yes? both to
establishing a Scottish Parliament and to it having limited powers to vary
national
income tax.
Today there are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in Edinburgh,
who
are elected by a form of proportional representation. Unlike the Welsh
Assembly, the
Scottish Parliament may pass legislation on anything not specifically
reserved to
Westminster (foreign affairs, defence, general economic policy, and social
security).
The Scottish Parliament is funded by a grant from the UK Government and can
spend it how it chooses. It has the legal power to make small changes in the
lower
base rate of income tax, which it has not exercised so far, and has adopted
its own
procedures for debate, the passage of legislation and access to the public
all
deliberately different from the traditional ways of Westminster.
The Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Parliament, often called Stormont after the building
where it
met, was established in 1922, following the division of Ireland after civil
war.
Protestant political parties, however, dominated the Parliament, and
abolished the
electoral system of proportional representation that was designed to protect
the
Catholic minority a
community who faced considerable discrimination in housing
and jobs in the public services.
The Government in London paid little attention to these problems until, 50
years
later, protests, riots, and a civil disobedience campaign led them to
abolish Stormont
when reforms failed to materialise. Conflicts increased between Protestant
and
Catholic groups, the former determined to remain part of the United Kingdom;
while
the latter determined to achieve unity with the Irish Republic.
There followed many years of communal distrust, violence, and terrorism. But
after a
negotiated ceasefire
by both the main paramilitary
groups the
IRA (the Irish
Republican Army), and the U DA (the Ulster Defence Association) the
Good Friday
Agreement was signed in 1998 between the main parties arid endorsed by the
Irish
and British governments, working closely together.
Shortly afterwards, the Northern Ireland Assembly was established, with a
power sharing
agreement in which the main parties divided the ministerial offices between
them. The Assembly has 108 elected members, with powers to decide on matters
such as education, agriculture, environment, health, and social services in
Northern
Ireland.

Page 28 of 114
In view of the political situation in Northern Ireland, the UK government
kept the
power to suspend the Assembly if political leaders could no longer agree to
work
together or if the Assembly was not working in the interests of the people
of Northern
Ireland. This has happened on a number of occasions.
Nondepartmental
public bodies
Much of government that affects us all is conducted not directly, but
through a
multitude of agencies with various degrees of independence. There are
organisations that Parliament can create or abolish, or change their powers
and
roles, but are not a direct part of the civil service. They are sometimes
called
quangos ? quasiautonomous
nongovernmental
organisations.
A few examples of nondepartmental
public bodies
Trading bodies set up by central government that raise revenue: Her Majesty?s
Stationery Office (official and semiofficial
publications). Forestry Commission,
National Savings Bank, Crown Estates Commission,?.
Spending agencies funded by government: Regional Health Authorities. Higher
Education Funding Councils, Sports Council, Arts Council, Legal Services
Commission, Medical Research Council,,..
Quasijudicial
and prosecuting bodies; Monopolies and Mergers Commission,
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, Police Complaints Authority, Crown
Prosecution Service,..
Statutory Advisory Bodies to Ministers: Gaming Board, Health and Safety
Commission, Law Commission, Commission For Racial Equality, Equal
Opportunities Commission, Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration
Development agencies (many of which are publicprivate
partnerships): Scottish
Enterprise. Highlands and Islands Development Board (Scotland), Welsh
Development Agency, Rural Development Commission, several regional Urban
Development Corporations....
BRITAIN IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD
In addition to Britain?s historical and cultural ties with countries
throughout Europe,
two major developments have occurred since the end of the Second World War
in
1945 closely linking Britain to the remainder of Europe.
The Council of Europe
The Council of Europe was created in 1949, and Britain was one of the
founder
members. It is an organisation with 50 member states, working to protect
human
rights and seek solutions to problems facing European society today. The
Council of
Europe has no power to make laws, but does draw up conventions and charters,
which states agree to follow. Examples of these are the European Convention
on
Human Rights, measures to trace the assets associated with organised crime,
and a
directive for education for democratic citizenship in schools.

Page 29 of 114
The European Union
The European Union originated in the period immediately after the Second
World
War when Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany
signed an agreement putting all their coal and steel production under the
control of a
single authority. An important reason for doing this was the belief that
cooperation
between these states would reduce the likelihood of another European war.
Britain refused to join this group at the beginning and only became part of
the
European Union (or European Economic Community, as it was then known) in
1973
after twice being vetoed by France. In 2004. ten new member countries joined
the
EU bringing membership to a total of 25.
The main aim behind the European Union today is for member states to become
a
single market, To achieve this, measures have gradually been introduced to
remove
tariff barriers and to help people, goods, and services move freely and
easily
between member states. This has involved a great deal of regulation being
imposed
on businesses and consumers, and has not always been popular.
Citizens of a EU member state have the right to travel to any EU country as
long as
they have a valid passport or identity card. This right may be restricted
only for
reasons of public health, public order or public security. They also have
the right to
work in other EU countries and must be offered employment under the same
conditions as citizens of that state.
The Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers is one of the most influential bodies in the EU. It
is made up
of? government ministers meeting periodically from each member stare with
powers
to propose new laws and take important decisions about how the EU is run
The European Commission
Based in Brussels, the European Commission is rather like the civil service
of the
European Union, taking care of the day to day running of the organisation.
One of
the important jobs the European Commission is to draft proposals for new EU
policies and law.
The European Parliament
The European Parliament meets in Strasbourg in northeastern
France. Each
country elects members roughly proportional to its population. Elections for
Members
of the European Parliament (MEPs) are held every five years.
The Parliament scrutinises and debates the proposals, decisions, and
expenditures
of the Commission, but does not decide policy. MEPs have the ultimate power
to
refuse to agree EU expenditure, but have never done so although
they have held it
up. Yet the threat has proved effective on several occasions.
European Union law
European Union law is an important source of law in Britain. EU legislation
consists
mainly of Regulations and Directives. Regulations are specific rules, such
as those

Page 30 of 114
limiting the hours that drivers of goods vehicles can work, which
automatically have
the force of law in all EU member states. Regulations override national
legislation
and must be followed by the courts in each member state.
Directives are general requirements that must be introduced within a set
time, but
the way in which they are implemented is left to each member state. An
example of
this is the procedures that must be followed by companies when making staff
redundant.
All proposals for new EU laws are examined by a committee of the UK
parliament,
which then recommends any changes or amendments to ministers, who will
decide
whether to try and change or renegotiate them.
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth arose out of the former British Empire that once included
much
of Africa and the West Indies, Canada, the Indian subcontinent,
Australia and New
Zealand. Since 1945, almost all these countries have become independent and
together form an association called the Commonwealth, with the Crown at its
symbolic head.
Only the United Nations is a larger international organisation than the
British
Commonwealth. The Commonwealth has a membership of 54 states, which together
contain 1.7 billion people
30
per cent of the world?s population. Its aims include the development of
democracy, good government and the eradication of poverty, but it has no
power
over its members other than that of persuasion and only rarely acts together
on
international issues.
A common language, similarities in culture, and (with some exceptions)
mutual
recognition of professional qualifications has greatly assisted the movement
of
people within the Commonwealth, and had a major effect on migration both to
and
from Britain.
The United Nations
Britain, like most countries in the world, is a member of the United Nations
(UN) an
international organisation. working to prevent war and to maintain
international
peace and security. Britain is a permanent member of the UN Security
Council. The
functions of this group include recommending action by the UN in the event
of
international crises and threats to peace.
Two very important documents produced by the United Nations are the
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
Britain has signed and ratified both of these agreements. Although neither
have the
force of law, they are important measures by which the behaviour of a state
can be
judged, and they are increasingly used both in political debate and in legal
cases, to
reinforce points of law.

Page 31 of 114
THE ORDINARY CITIZEN
The right to vote
How does the ordinary citizen connect to government? As we have seen, full
democracy came slowly to Britain. Only in 1928 did both men and women aged
21
and over gain the right to vote. The present voting age of 18 was set in
1969.
Both British born and naturalised citizens have full civic rights and duties
(such as
jury service), including the right to vote in all elections, as long as they
are on the
electoral register. Permanent residents who are not citizens have all civil
and welfare
rights except the right to bold a British passport and a general right to
vote.
The electoral register
In order to vote in a parliamentary, local, or European election, you must
have your
name on the register of electors, known as the electoral register. If you
are eligible to
vote you may register at any time by contacting your local council election
registration office. Voter registration forms are also available, in
English, Welsh, and
a number of other languages, via the Internet from the Electoral Commission,
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
However the electoral register is also updated annually and an electoral
registration
form is sent to all households in September or October each year. The form
should
he completed according to the instructions, and should include everyone
eligible to
vote who is resident in the household on 15th October.
By law, a local authority has to make the electoral register available for
anyone to
look at. The register is held at the local electoral registration office (or
council office
in England and Wales) and some public buildings such as libraries (however
this is
not always possible as new regulations require that any viewing of the
electoral
register is supervised, and libraries do not always have the necessary
resources).
You have the right to have your name placed on the electoral register if you
are aged
18 or over and a citizen of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, or a
European
Union member stare. Citizens of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and
the
Irish Republic resident in this country may vote in all public elections.
Citizens of EU
states, resident in the UK, have the right to vote in all but national
parliamentary
elections.
Participation
The number of people turning out to vote in parliamentary elections in
Britain has
been falling for several years, especially amongst the young. In the General
Election
of 2001, less than half of voters below the age of 25 actually voted. The
Government
and the political parties are looking for ways in which this trend might be
reversed.
Standing for office
Citizens of the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic, or the Commonwealth,
aged 21
or over, may stand for public office. However, there are some exceptions,
which
include peers, members of the armed forces, civil servants, and those found
guilty of

Page 32 of 114
certain criminal offences.
To become a local councilor, a candidate must have a local connection with
the
area. Through work, by being on the electoral register, or through renting
or owning
land or property.
This rule, however, does not apply to MPs. MEP?s, or to members of the
Scottish
Parliament, or the Welsh or Northern Ireland Assemblies. Candidates standing
for
these bodies must pay a deposit of £500, which is not returned if they
receive less
than five per cent of the vote. The deposit for candidates standing as a
Member of
the European Parliament is £5,000. This is to discourage frivolous or
hopeless
candidates, though many still try their luck.
Contacting elected members
All elected members have a duty to serve and represent the interests of
their
constituents. Contact details of all your representatives and their parties
are
available from the local library.
Those of Assembly Members, MPs, and MEPs are listed in the phone book and
Yellow Pages.
An MP may be reached either at their constituency office or their office in
the House
of Commons by letter or phone. The address: House of Commons, Westminster,
London SW IA OAA, tel 020 7219 3000.
Many Assembly Members, MPs. and MEPs hold regular local ?surgeries?, often
on
Saturday mornings. These are generally advertised in the local paper, and
allow
constituents to call in person to raise matters of concern. You can also
find out the
name of your local MP and get in touch with them by fax through the website,
www.writetothem.com. This service is free.


.

Loading