Is England really a democracy?

Question

Given that 'new labour' is virtually the same as the 'old tories'; that we are a constitutional monarchy without a constitution; that the Queen has ultimate power over the state; that we have a 'house of lords' and 'house of commons' in the 'upper' and 'lower' houses respectively (the language there says a lot!), just because we elect MPs, does that really make us a true democracy? (Even the Chinese elect government officials....)

Answer 1

Democracy means literally, 'rule by the people', so this begs the question, do the people rule in England (or should that be the UK) and how much power do they have?

Imo, although we have democratic rights such as freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of association and equality before the law (well, in theory at least!) the people of this country can do very little to influence the government once the MPs have been elected to power.

Witness the recent massive demonstrations against the 'War on Terror' - I would take a fair bet that most of the electorate are against it, but the government carries on. I am sure this example could be applied to other burning issues of the day.

When I compare the UK with other democratic states I see its elected representatives behaving as if they are far less accountable to the electorate than in other countries. In fact MPs vote almost always not according to the wishes of the electorate, nor even their own conscience, but according to what their party bosses (the 'whips') tell them.

You can't define absolutely what a democracy is because there will always be debate and dissent as to what 'democracy' means in practice. On the other hand, if you set down a number of ground rules as to what most people would agree on, the UK would pass some... and fail woefully on others.

One point you neglected to mention is the shameful support the UK government has given to various unsavoury dictatorships over the decades (including, almost until the eve of World War 2, Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein for the first 12 years of his regime, Pol Pot for a number of years, Soehartoe, Galtieri until he invaded the Falklands, and Pinochet, to name but a few). And all this while claiming to be the world's oldest democracy (not true - that distinction in fact belongs to the Altthing of Iceland) and to defend democracy by force of arms.

Answer 2

It is a democracy in so far as we elect our representatives to parliament. But, and it's a big but, the House of Lords still holds a veto over anything that gets passed in the "lower" house. So in fact hereditary and awarded peers still control the country. We are ruled entirely by a class system not a democracy. Also we have no constitution (exluding the Magna Carta, which being so old is irrelevant.) I tried explaining all this to a German friend a while ago and he was speechless!

Answer 3

The Queen reigns but She does not rule: She is Head of State and Supreme Governor on Earth of the Church of England. Our Constitutional Monarchy is as much a democracy as you will ever see. We have a Health Service that is available and looks after EVERYONE - not just the stinking rich (can other so called democracies say the same?) Of course we have aspects of our State that are anachronistic, so what - it works!
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Answer 4

England and the the remainder of the united kingdom is a representative Democracy. besides the fact that if, as with many democracies, like the united states, the united kingdom has misplaced or had a lot of its liberties amended. for example, in the two our international locations habeas corpus has been in part limited. This has been performed under the guise of our risk-free practices, yet as all of us be attentive to if a central authority are prepared to restrict a great liberty in one admire then they does no longer turn removed from increasing the restrict. Liberty no longer democracy is elementary to a loose society. the previous uk government (Labour) began a great courting with Gaddafi and allegedly agreed to make strikes to expedite the launch from the Scottish government's custody, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi (the convicted bomber time-commemorated for the bombing of Pan Am 103 over the Scottish city of Lockerbie. besides, Gaddafi had supported the IRA so any help for him with the help of the united kingdom government might have little usual help, ie democratic help.

Answer 5

The Queen barely has any power. Its the parliament that decides everything. In the sense of the word, yes England is a democracy under rule by the Prime Minister, not the Queen which the parliament overrules. The Queen has a miniscule rule over the state in terms of passing legislation.

Answer 6

Absolutely. The Queen does have ultimate power over the state.

The UK Government are the Queen's manager's in the same sense as Sir Richard Branson would employ a management team to run one of his companies.

The only difference is that the electorate choose the management team that will manage the countries business.

Answer 7

Well, I guess it is sort of a democracy, because the queen of England holds little political power now. I think England is now mostly controlled by parliment and the prime minister. But it used to be a full monarchy though, my father always said " the time of Kings and Queens has passed" I think royals are elegant in a strange way, but every nation should be ruled by the people for it is actually their nation, not the governments.

Answer 8

No we are not a democracy, it's just a lie peddled by those in charge to stop us questioning them too closely.
We ARE a surveillance society and a police state though, and this is Blair's real legacy to you and your children. Remember, even China hasn't fingerprinted school children (for just turning up or wanting a book at the library) due to concerns over privacy.

Answer 9

The UK is a constitutional monarchy from everything I read in my political science classes.

Answer 10

Because you guys still have a queen technically your a constituional monarchy.