The British Government has a democratic form of government but has distinctive characteristics from other democratic governments. The British government does not have a written constitution. This is explained by Britain has a broad and spontaneous regulation on what is authoritative in government (i.e. how rulers are appointed, rules enacted and the scope of the law in place). The British government has a single-party system that is made up of two parties that act cohesively as an electoral bloc in parliament. Also, the powers of the British Government are derived from the appeal or iron authority of the British rulers to the party blocs rather than from the power of the influence of the leaders to control the political functions effectively. Another distinct feature of the British government is only Britain has a government that can be traced from many centuries with gradual developments.
The British Government functions distinctly effectively because of two factors; that is, its political organization and the political culture in which the government operates. The British political culture is based on the conception that authority is a legitimate decision taken at a leader’s own peril and is not taken at the intention of the popular interests. The organizational factor is the disciplined two-party system which solidifies the majority of the legislators. The two parties system is not a coalition or interest parties to achieve certain objectives but rather the two parties are unified masses that vote in unison in parliamentary debates observing the regulations by the party leaders.
The British Government has enjoyed the stability of cabinets for many centuries, unlike other parliamentary governments. This stability has helped the cabinet to learn the essentials of the ruling, it also enhances continuity of policy in different cabinets, and it enables parliaments to budget their parliamentary functions and ensure full implementation of their long-range activities. Also, the piecemeal and gradual changes in the constitution have led to more widely common political cultures and ideas.
Britain has a representative form of government that has clear canons: the authority of the government is confided in the will of the masses, which is attained through elections of political candidates who represent their people and endorse laws that favor the masses; but also the authority is asserted independently of the popular interests. Eckstein argues that the British rulers govern the people rather than representing them since the parliamentarians are popularly elected but while in the house they act as just delegates of the electorates (p. 77). The only role of parliament is to provide room for in-depth scrutiny of parliament issues as a go-ahead to the function of government. While the government ministers (the Cabinet) govern and enact laws; and act independently from the opinions of the normal parliamentarians. The British government holds that the action taken by parliament is legitimate and ultimate since the parliament is presumed to be the will of the nation rather than the will of parliament. Thus parliamentarians have a certain degree of legitimate independence from the other arms of government. Amery L. S. quotes “The British democratic system is a democracy by consent of the people but not rather than a delegation of; the government of the people, and for the people”.
The modern representative Britain political culture is based on the principle of the mandate. This principle holds the value that the government is answerable to its people for its decisions and actions taken. Although the British democracy has a structure in which it accommodates itself, it can sometimes fail to act or act in contravention to the mandate expectation, given that in so doing it is in the nation’s will.
The centralization of the British Government has enhanced national unity and a sense of nationalism among the citizens which has enhanced political consensus on many matters avoiding divisive disputes and also addressing the major political-cultural issues. A highly centralized government has also enabled the government to concentrate more on ways to control authority instead of concentrating on political wrangles experienced in the past.
The unwritten constitution has been able to function effectively due to the principle of expressive symbolism which is highly developed in Britain. Since the Middle Ages, symbolisms were developed in England as a way of political awareness to reconcile divisive ideas and are still applicable up to date. Britain had a balanced constitution that guaranteed power between the effective central and regional authority and ensure are autonomous and participate in national affairs. The people have a consensus on certain political issues, that is, political culture, and a balance between the feudal and non-feudal activities, a balance between symbols of power and restraint.
The British government created(s) ceremonial institutions (titles, offices, procedures and organizations) that have been retained for centuries and enabled the government to be more strong and stable. The ceremonial institutions symbolize and preserve predemocratic values of authority and also giving the public service with esteem and pride. The British Government has maintained political deference in sanctifying and realizing political autonomous power over time. This has allowed old values, symbols, institutions and principles to prevail over time.
There is deference in social classes and social behavior among different classes. Eckstein (94) observes that it is somehow awkward how the British lower class is deferential in the perception towards the upper class and this has enabled the government to exert much authority over the people. Some people argue that the Britons lack class consciousness which has hindered “essential revolutions” in the social stratification structure. Even in the modern Cabinet, the Parliament and the Public Service are dominated by the upper class in society through hereditary ascendance.
In conclusion, British Government has the government has although legitimate inhibits both characteristics of democratic and predemocratic conceptions which are expressed in a set of governmental processes, which rarely revolve or amended. The government has a well-established political culture that allows for a kind of checks and balances system within itself (Eckstein 101).
Reference
Harry Eckstein, “The Sources of Leadership and Democracy in Britain,” in Patterns of Government, ed. Samuel Bear and Adam Ulman, 2d ed. (New York: Random House, 1966).