3USA

Chapter One—Panoramic ViewSection Three Politics and LawI.Political PartiesA.Two major parties1.Conservative Partybour PartyB.Minor parties cannot win a majority of seat and so have no chance to organize governmentC.Party history1.Original parties were formed under political and religious struggles2.Whigsa.Favored Protestantism and disliked the Church of Englandb.Represented the interests of the rich and big businessesc.Demanded more freedom and less governmental controlter became the Liberal Partye.After World War I, the party disappeared and some members joined the Labour Party3.Toriesa.Represented the interests of the middle classb.Wanted to maintain a stable government with no drastic changester became known as the Conservative PartyD.Today’s Parties1.Conservative Partya.Stresses the importance of keeping valuable traditionsb.Stands for free enterprise and privatization of state-owned farmsc.Supported mainly by the middle and upper-middle classd.Mainly concerned with efficiency and economic prosperity than equalitybour Partya.Based on socialism by promoting national and economic growthb.Has support primarily from trade unionsc.Supports a more equal distribution of wealthd.Said to represent the relatively poor and underprivilegedII.ElectionsA.Goal of parties is to win the general election and take control of ParliamentB.Each Member of Parliament (MP) is elected1.United Kingdom is divided into 659 districts of nearly equal population2.Each district elects one member of ParliamentC.Voting1.Every man or woman age 18 or over has the right to vote for only ONE candidate but isNOT required to vote2.Candidatesa.Anyone can be a candidateb.Local organizations of the two main parties will choose candidates3.Winning the electiona.Canvassing—going from house to house to get supportersb.Distributing pamphletsc.Speeches/Televised debatesIII.J ustice and the LawA.British law is made up of three elements:1.European Union law2.Acts of Parliamentmon law—Laws which have grown from the rules and traditions ordinary people haveworked out over timeB.Influential principles of British law1.Due process of lawed to protect individual rightsb.Gives an accused person a fair and public trial, the right to be at the trial, and the right tobe heard in his/her defensews must be made so people know when they are breaking the law2.Habeas corpustin phrase meaning “You have the body”b.Original purpose to free illegally imprisoned personsc.Allows an accused criminal to question whether he/she is being legally confinedw CourtsA.Three-level system:1.Magistrates’ courts2.County courts3.The Supreme Courta.Made up of Court of Appeals, Crown Court, and High Courtb.As of October 1, no longer a part of the House of Lordsc.Judges are appointed by the Queen with the advice of the Prime MinisterB.Head of the judicial systems was the Lord Chancellor who is also the leader of the House ofLordsC.Criminal cases1.Petty (minor) offenses: theft, vandalism, etca.Brought before local magistrate (chosen from common members of community)b.Courts are also known as “police courts,” “petty sessions,” or “courts of summaryjurisdiction”c.Each court has three magistrates who listen to the facts of the case and apply the law tothem2.Serious criminal cases: murder, rape, robbery, etca.Sent to Crown Court and tried before a High Court judge and a jury of citizensb.Convictions and sentences may be appealed to the Court of AppealsD.Civil cases1.Heard in county courts before a single judge2.Deal with divorce cases, adoptions, business matters, estate cases, etcE.Arrests—can be made with or without a warrantF.Trials1.Criminal trials are in open court and involve a contest of the prosecutions and defense2.Britain practices trial by jurya.12 members known as jurorsb.Chosen randomly under the direction of the judgec.Serving on a jury is the duty of any registered voter, not a privilege3.Verdict is “guilty” or “not guilty” and must be unanimous in a criminal trial but only amajority in civilG.Death penalty—not allowed in the United KingdomV.Legal ProfessionA.Two branches1.Barristersa.Known collectively as the “Bar”b.Also known as “counsel”2.Solicitorsa.Do legal business for their clientsb.Do not represent clients in criminal casesc.Will get a barrister if the client needs to go to courtB.Requirements1.Barristera.Must be a member of one of the four Inns of Court in Londonb.Must pass the bar examination and study at the Innsc.Those with long and distinguished careers may chosen to become Crown Judges2.Solicitorsa.Pass the qualification examination given by the Law Societyb.Often work together in partnerships or firms with the help of clerksVI.Police ForceA.History1.Founded by Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister (1830-1837)2.Police are often known as “bobby” or “peeler,” both nicknames for Robert PeelB.Requirements1.Not allows to join trade unions or go on strike2.Not allowed to enter a private house without first getting permission from the owner3.Do not carry a gun when on patrol duty。