[vyper]

Thanks, bro.

Ok, now that we know what each physically is, what's the governmental relationships and realm of authorities between them all?

Westminster is the primary legislature of the United Kingdom, with certain local issues being devolved to a Parliament in Scotland and an Assembly in Wales. N. Ireland has an assembly but years of unrest since the Good Friday agreement has led to its suspension.

Local councils have authority to implement local policy, but cannot do things such as create new crimes or in any way pass legally binding acts outwith their remit: I.E. Part of Glasgow City Council can decide what speed limits to put on a road in Glasgow, or another part can decide where to spend the most money on trash collection; They cannot however set those speed limits above the nationally legislated limit of 70MPH, nor can they decide to terminate all domestic trash collection on a whim.

The House of Commons (UK Parliament) and I believe Local councils are elected using the First Past The Post system, whereas the Scottish Parliament (and I believe the welsh assembly) are elected using Proportional Representation (it is argued that this has allowed a lot of smaller parties to gain a voice in the parliament, but there is dispute as to its true representation of the electorate).

The Scottish Parliament does not "answer" to Westminster in the truest meaning of the word, but depending on who is in power at any one time the First Minister (Scotland) will often defer to the will of the Prime Minister (UK) if they are political allies or of the same party. Several issues are reserved for action at Westminster only, such as defence.

Finally, there is an unelected body called the House of Lords, which is based on inherited and granted titles (Peerages). This body has the final say on all legislation passed by Westminter Parliament.* While from the outset having an unelected body decide the final fate of bills passed by an elected one may seem dangerous and undemocratic there have been occasions where they have proven their worth: A recent example is their opposition to National Identity Card systems; While a shameful compromise was eventually agreed, the Lords had at least slowed the process down. Additionally, they prevented a British version of the Patriot Act (including the right to hold suspects without trial for over 30 days - the antithesis of British justice!) from passing - some, myself included, are grateful for that. The Magna Carta has a lot to answer for, eh?


*In principle the Queen must also ratify all legislation to be presented before Parliament at the start of each legislative year, but in practise she would never be allowed to publicly oppose the duly elected government.

[Colonol Dekker]

Devolved is a poor choice of word there, I would have used deffered.........
The Queen needs to pull her finger out and act a bit more She-Ra /Xena/Red Sonia etc.......

[Darius]

Australia could do with a House of Lords actually...

[Colonol Dekker]

You got a Prime minisiter If i remember my Simpsons correctly 

[Darius]

Yes, but there's no unelected elite standing in his way if he wants to pass something controversial.

[Kazan]

Geophraphy/Earth Science terms

Great Briton = the island
British Isles = the entire chain of islands
Ireland = Island

Political/cultural borders
England = Largest country on GB, in the S/SE
Wales = Country in the western part of GB - roughly a triangle, bordered by (clockwise from east) England, Water, Water
Scotland: Northern part of the island of GB
N. Ireland = small part of the island of Ireland that is part of the UK

[Colonol Dekker]

Geophraphy/Earth Science terms

Great Briton = the island

Nay Methinks........

[Sandwich]

Westminster is the primary legislature of the United Kingdom, with certain local issues being devolved to a Parliament in Scotland and an Assembly in Wales. N. Ireland has an assembly but years of unrest since the Good Friday agreement has led to its suspension.

Local councils have authority to implement local policy, but cannot do things such as create new crimes or in any way pass legally binding acts outwith their remit: I.E. Part of Glasgow City Council can decide what speed limits to put on a road in Glasgow, or another part can decide where to spend the most money on trash collection; They cannot however set those speed limits above the nationally legislated limit of 70MPH, nor can they decide to terminate all domestic trash collection on a whim.

The House of Commons (UK Parliament) and I believe Local councils are elected using the First Past The Post system, whereas the Scottish Parliament (and I believe the welsh assembly) are elected using Proportional Representation (it is argued that this has allowed a lot of smaller parties to gain a voice in the parliament, but there is dispute as to its true representation of the electorate).

The Scottish Parliament does not "answer" to Westminster in the truest meaning of the word, but depending on who is in power at any one time the First Minister (Scotland) will often defer to the will of the Prime Minister (UK) if they are political allies or of the same party. Several issues are reserved for action at Westminster only, such as defence.

Finally, there is an unelected body called the House of Lords, which is based on inherited and granted titles (Peerages). This body has the final say on all legislation passed by Westminter Parliament.* While from the outset having an unelected body decide the final fate of bills passed by an elected one may seem dangerous and undemocratic there have been occasions where they have proven their worth: A recent example is their opposition to National Identity Card systems; While a shameful compromise was eventually agreed, the Lords had at least slowed the process down. Additionally, they prevented a British version of the Patriot Act (including the right to hold suspects without trial for over 30 days - the antithesis of British justice!) from passing - some, myself included, are grateful for that. The Magna Carta has a lot to answer for, eh?


*In principle the Queen must also ratify all legislation to be presented before Parliament at the start of each legislative year, but in practise she would never be allowed to publicly oppose the duly elected government.

Holy Mary mother of God and all her wacky nephews! No wonder you.... people (don't even know what to call you anymore ) are so pissed about the rebellious colony of America!

[Flipside]

It's amazing how many people get on a soapbox about the details of our country's political make-up after
looking it up. It's either one country or four countries with seven different names, multiple boroughs, many of which don't exist, and yet still have Football/Cricket and Rugby clubs, 2 Governments, 4 political situations, umpteen political parties and people seem to think that we can instantly recall details on command.

Yeah.

As an example, go up to an Orange Marcher in Northern Ireland and tell him he's not English. The outcome would depend on how close you are to a Hospital. Go up to some Scots and tell them they are British, they will deny it vehemently.

[vyper]

Go up to some Celtic fans and tell them they're Scottish and the first thing they'll do is declare how Irish they really are.

There are parts of this nation I'd rather just forget, unfortunately the UN won't allow it...

[Col. Fishguts]

Tell any inhabitant of the UK that they're technically descendants of ze Germans and you'll get a bloody nose

[Nuclear1]

Great Briton = the island

Nay, Great Briton = an absolutely dandy inhabitant of Great Britain, perhaps.

[karajorma]

Tell any inhabitant of the UK that they're technically descendants of ze Germans and you'll get a bloody nose

You'll definitely get one from me seeing as how my parents weren't born there

[Goober5000]

Ok, now that we know what each physically is, what's the governmental relationships and realm of authorities between them all?

Well, that's pretty straightforward.  Northern Ireland is North, England is East, Wales is West, and Scotland is South.  The first letter of the country corresponds to the direction, see.

[Sheepy]

*In principle the Queen must also ratify all legislation to be presented before Parliament at the start of each legislative year, but in practise she would never be allowed to publicly oppose the duly elected government.

And did you know the only place the Queen is not allowed to step foot in within GB is the House of Commons?

And Goob, im not even going to say it.

[vyper]

*In principle the Queen must also ratify all legislation to be presented before Parliament at the start of each legislative year, but in practise she would never be allowed to publicly oppose the duly elected government.

And did you know the only place the Queen is not allowed to step foot in within GB is the House of Commons?

And Goob, im not even going to say it.

Not entirely:

State Opening of Parliament

Black Rod is best known for his part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Throne speech. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and in reply to the challenge "Who is there?" answers "Black Rod". He is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend. This ritual is derived from the attempt by Charles I of England to arrest five members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege, though strictly the King was entitled to enter the chamber. After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they can not bar him from entering with lawful authority.

[Colonol Dekker]

That just means the King has free entry with unfettered/unrestricted access.

Doesnt mean he can lay down the law.

[vyper]

This is true, I'm just stating the monarch can indeed enter.

[Colonol Dekker]

Quite right,  but the common man cant walk a pig across tower bridge on a tesday in the prescence of a policeman or he risks his head being put on a spike at the tower of London..


Strange but true..


Also you cant steal a policemans hat whilest he's on duty but as soon as he clocks off it's fair game.

[Goober5000]

And Goob, im not even going to say it.

Code: [Select]

*Whoosh*
  -=(J)  <-- Joke


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