This is the vital assignment for IPE239 Comparative Political Systems, IPED Prpgram, Rangsit University. The course part aims at providing an introduction to the field of comparative politics. Various theoretical perspectives and basic concepts within the field are taken up. The political systems of a number of countries - in relation to formal political institutions and informal aspects of the political order - are presented, discussed and compared. Issues of identity as well as the position of nation states in a global context are also dealt with. The course part includes an introduction to comparative method and sources of knowledge about political systems.

1. Politics in the UK

2. Content
★ Introduction
★ Geography
★ Head of State
★ Head of Government
★ Courts & Executive
★ Legislative
★ Elections
★ Check and Balance
★ Modern Challenges
★ Political Parties
★ Interest Groups
★ Conclusion

3. Introduction
● The United Kingdom is a unitary state with
devolution
● Constitutional monarchy
● The UK political system is a multi-party system
● Conservative Party, the Labour Party and Liberal
Democratic Party
● The two chamber --- the House of Commons and the
House of Lords
● The highest court is the Supreme Court of the United
Kingdom.

4. Geography

5. Head of State
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary)
● Born in 21 April 1926
● In 1952, she become the Head of the
Commonwealth and queen regnant
● Her role in the legislative process is largely
ceremonial.

6. Head of Government
❖ Theresa May is the new Conservative
Party leader and second female prime
minister
❖ A referendum vote for Britain to leave the
European Union.
❖ Theresa May became prime minister in
July 2016

7. Courts and Executive
- Unwritten constitution - vagueness, high flexibility,
low policy relevance
- Courts don't have the power to declare an act of
Parliament unconstitutional
- Parliament above courts
-Friction between judges and ministers
-Creation of Supreme Court as highest judicial authority
in the UK - 2009. Consistst of president and 11 justices.
Limited power

8. Courts and Executive
-Policymaking involves a network of: prime minister,
Cabinet ministers, leading civil servants and political
advisors
-Small number of people involved in the core executive
group that makes a decision
-Prime minister - the single most important person in the
Government

9. Legislative
•Parliament is legislative body
•House of Lords & House of Commons
•Four main duties
1.Passing laws
2.Authorizing taxes and government budgets
3.Scrutinizing and investigating government
administration
4.Debating current issues

10. House of commons (lower house)
•650 members
•make laws, control government's finances, close eye on administration
House of Lords (upper house)
•Over 700 lords
•Bishops, hereditary peers, other peers appointed by monarch
•Participate law making, scrutinizes government administration, investigate matters of
public interest
ØBoth house can introduce bills, but House of Lords is not allowed a bill
related to tax or finance
ØHouse of Commons debate major political issues, House of Lords debate new
laws

11. Introduce a bill
How do bills get passed?
Debate
bill(rejected)
Sent off each house
Can make amendments
(vote to be passed)
Sent to House of Commons
(become law)
Passed!(Royal Assent)
1st reading
2nd reading
3rd reading
House of Lords passed

12. Elections
-General Election and By-Election
-Election European
-Europen Parliament Members
-Seats of House of Commons
-Election cycle in UK
-first-past-the-post
-The Bloc Vote System
-The Party List System

13. Check and Balance
-Checking the work of Government
-Debating and passing all laws
-allowing the government to raise taxes
-Three types of check and balance in Parliament
-Questions
-Debates
-Committee

14. Modern Challenges
-Combating Terrorism
-Challenges of National Identity
-Economic Policy Clashes

15. Political Parties
•Often described as two-party system, but more approach
recognized as multi-party systems
•Around over 10 parties currently run

16. Conservative Party Labour Party
★ Conservative economic liberalism British unionism
★ Wins 318 seats
★ Functioning private property, enterprise,
maintenance of strong military and preservation
of traditional culture values and institutions
★ Democratic socialist party
★ Wins 262 seats
★ Links with trade unions
★ Promote the state by creation of
economic prosperity and provision of
social services

17. Interest Groups
● Do not want to influence the politics thru election.
● The goal of influence for interest groups can vary a
lot, from a small local issue to business
organisations.

18. Interest groups - UK
● Big business organisations from UK usually have
contacts in Whitehall and with ministers. In that
way they can influence the politics. Their
activities are important for the british economy.
● Interest groups in UK: British Petroleum, The
construction industry, Trade unions.

19. Conclusion
● Head of state: Queen elizabeth II
● Head of Government: Theresa May
● Politic parties: Consevative Party, Labour Party
● Elections : General and By-elections
● Three Challenges: Combating Terrorism,National
Identity and Economic policy clashes
● Three types of Check and Balances :Debate, Questions
and Commitee
● Legislative:House of Lords &House of commons
● Interest groups: BP, the construction industry, trade
unions.
● Judiciary: Supreme Court (power under Parliament)

20. Group -8 members
Aung Myo Htun (Kelly) -6005558
Nutnicha Chowmuang - 5904706
Kaung Khant - 5906510
Jovana Ostojic - 6006727
Tobias Plym - 6006726