British Politics then and now

• The House of Commons: Late 1700s

  • 550 elected MP's
  • Made up of the Gentry
  • Small Landowners and Lords
  • Controlled taxation
  • Power Check on Government
  • PM needs a majority
  • Control Monarchs income
  • power shifting to the house of commons
• The House of Lords: Late 1700s

  • 220 members in 1793
  • Large aristocratic landowners
  • unelected hereditary peers
  • could veto measures passed
  • active role
  • just as important as the House of Commons
  • close to the monarch
• The Monarch: late 1700s

  • played a large role
  • constitutional monarchy, power is shared
  • cabinet of ministers is chosen by the Monarch and aids them
  • Patronage was used for political influence
  • George III was limited by the Bill of Rights of 1689
  • appoint and dismiss ministers
  • veto legislation
  • dissolve parliament
  • chose the prime minister
• Prime Minister: late 1700s

  • First Lord of the Treasury was traditionally the monarchs PM
  • chosen and appointed by the monarch
  • Power shift to the PM after the loss of the American Colonies in the War of Independence
  • This was stopped by George III using Pitt the Younger
• Elections: late 1700s

  • dominated by wealthy aristocratic landowners
  • sought to protect their own interests
  • <3% had the vote
  • was believed to be democratic
  • only voted every 7 years
  • majority of seats in the south
  • urban areas were ignored
• Elections: today

  • Bi-elections
  • happens unless there is war
  • Held every 5 years
  • elects an MP to represent them in the House of Commons
  • first past the post -> the most votes win
  • Universal Adult Suffrage
  • Ballot is a secret
• Prime Minister: today

  • leader of the largest party in the House of Commons
  • must have a majority
  • this is so they can pass legislation
  • forms a cabinet of ministers
• The Monarch: today

  • King Charles
  • purely ceremonial
  • performs the opening of parliament
  • figurehead
  • royal assent to make bills into law
  • dissolve parliament
  • highest legislation
• The House of Lords: today

  • under 800 members
  • never all there at once
  • life peers, heredity peers, 26 bishops
  • van delay the commons but can't stop it
• The House of Commons: today

  • made up of 650 mps
  • each represent a constituency
  • elected by the people
  • represent an official party
  • hold majority of power => pass legislation
  • speaker is majority
• The Whigs:

  • the Whigs tended to dominate politics from 1714-1783
  • that period was known as the Whig Oligarchy --> most were wealthy aristocrats
  • wanted to reduce the power of the Crown and Crown patronage
  • maintain the dominance of the aristocracy
  • more accepting of the emerging middle class
  • more tolerant of non-conformists religions
  • some were wiling to see limited electoral system
• The Tories:

  • the Tories had been less successful during the early 18th century
  • most of them were aristocratic landowners (similar to the Whigs)
  • they traditionally had sough to maintain the status quo
  • preserving the power of the landed elite
  • defending the rights of the monarch
  • maintaining the dominance of the Church of England
• Factions NOT Parties:

  • whigs and tories were factions rather than political parties
  • individuals constantly moving between the groups and both factions were composed largely of the same social class
  • majority both opposed radical democratic change
• End of Whig supremacy: Tory Ascendancy

  • 1783 -> tories and whigs becoming somewhat like parties
  • George III disliked the Whigs and sided with Pitt ==> Keep the Whigs out of power