Revision Sheet: The Political and Electoral System of the United Kingdom

General Introduction

The United Kingdom possesses a unique political system characterized by an unwritten constitution, a majoritarian electoral system, a strong concentration of executive powers, and a progressive devolution process toward its constituent nations: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This revision sheet provides a detailed analysis of the British electoral system, the central role of the Prime Minister, and the dynamics of devolution shaping the country's territorial governance.

1. The British Electoral System: First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)

Principle of the System

The UK uses a single-member majority electoral system called First-Past-the-Post (FPTP). Its main characteristics are:

• Each constituency elects a single Member of Parliament (MP).
• The candidate who obtains the relative majority of votes, meaning more votes than any other candidate, wins the seat.
• Achieving an absolute majority (more than 50%) is rare, partly due to the high number of candidates.

This system simplifies the electoral process but generates specific effects on political representation.

Effects of FPTP

The FPTP system produces several notable effects:

• The elected MP does not necessarily represent an absolute majority of voters in their constituency.
• The distribution of seats in Parliament does not always reflect the proportion of votes obtained by each party at the national level.
• The political landscape is dominated by two major parties, marginalizing regional parties such as the Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru, and the Liberal Democrats.
• This voting mode favors the creation of so-called "safe" constituencies, where results are predictable, which can lead to voter apathy.

Types of Elections

• General Elections: All 650 seats of the House of Commons are renewed every five years.
• By-elections: Organized in case of vacancy of a seat between two general elections.

2. Formation and Functioning of the Government

Absolute Majority and Coalitions

To form a stable government, a party must obtain an absolute majority of seats in the House of Commons, i.e., at least 326 out of 650. In the absence of a majority, coalitions are necessary.

Recent Examples of Coalitions:

• 2010: Coalition between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats.
• 2017: Coalition between the Conservative Party and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Role of the Prime Minister and Ministers

• The Prime Minister (PM) is the leader of the majority party and forms the government.
• The PM and ministers are also Members of Parliament, thereby merging executive and legislative functions.
• The Prime Minister holds significant power, including the ability to dismiss ministers at any time, consolidating control over the executive branch.

3. Domination of the Prime Minister and the "Elective Dictatorship"

Concentration of Powers

The UK political system confers an exceptional power concentration to the Prime Minister:

• Head of government and of the ruling party.
• Ability to exclude dissident MPs to maintain a stable parliamentary majority.

Party Discipline and MPs’ Interests

Majority MPs generally support the government to preserve their political careers, including their candidacy for future elections. This support is crucial to avoid being marginalized within the opposition.

The Concept of "Elective Dictatorship"

This concentration of executive power has given rise to the notion of an elective dictatorship:

• Once elected with an absolute majority, the government can govern without significant opposition until the next elections.
• The FPTP system reinforces this phenomenon by creating "safe" constituencies, which can discourage electoral participation.
• This situation fuels growing skepticism about the effectiveness of voting in certain regions of the UK.

4. Devolution in the UK: A Gradual Power Sharing

Devolution refers to the transfer of political powers from the central government in London to the constituent nations: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This process aims to recognize the territorial and cultural diversity of the UK.

4.1 Devolution in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament, created in 1999, has extensive legislative powers in key areas:

• Education
• Health
• Agriculture
• Justice

It also has variable fiscal powers, allowing it to adjust certain taxes to meet local needs, although these powers remain limited compared to full fiscal independence.

4.2 Devolution in Wales

The Welsh devolution process has been more gradual:

• 1997 Referendum: Very close result with 50.3% in favor versus 49.7% against, leading to the creation of the Welsh Assembly (Senedd) with limited powers.
• 2011 Referendum: Expansion of legislative powers, notably the ability to pass primary legislation.

4.3 Devolution in Northern Ireland

Devolution in Northern Ireland is marked by community tensions between Protestants and Catholics. The Stormont Assembly manages local affairs within a fragile political context, heavily influenced by historical divisions.

4.4 Mode of Election for Devolved Assemblies

Members of the Scottish and Welsh assemblies are elected using the Additional Member System, which combines:

• Single-member plurality voting system
• Proportional representation

This mixed system aims to balance democratic representation and governmental stability.

4.5 Initial Failures and Progress

• In 1979, referendums on devolution in Scotland and Wales were rejected, preventing the creation of decentralized institutions at that time and contributing to the fall of the Labour government.
• During Tony Blair's tenure (1997), devolution advanced with the current institutions' creation.

5. Summary Diagram: Devolution and Legislative Powers

[Diagramme]

6. Key Points to Remember

• The UK operates under an unwritten constitution, composed of statutory laws, common law, royal prerogatives, and traditions.
• The rule of law guarantees government accountability before Parliament and law.
• The role of the Monarch is mainly symbolic, with real power exercised by Parliament and the Prime Minister.
• The House of Commons is elected via the First-Past-the-Post system, favoring a bipartite system but criticized for its lack of proportionality.
• The Prime Minister holds significant power, leading to the concept of a dictatorship élective, characterized by power concentration and weak checks between elections.
• Devolution has granted Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland varying degrees of legislative autonomy, reflecting the UK's territorial complexity.

This sheet synthesizes the fundamental mechanisms of the British political system, offering a clear view of electoral, institutional, and territorial issues structuring the governance of the United Kingdom.