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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:15 am
  #781  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by AmerLisa
But who gets to approve the person as leader of the party? What if someone is elected as a Member of Parliament that isn't particularly favorable to the general public? I mean someone is elected in Bogsworth Hollow and then becomes a party leader and then PM.....without general population consent?
Are you seriously suggesting that the MPs would elect a leader who is actively disliked by the population at large?

Why would they want to do that...
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:16 am
  #782  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by AmerLisa
What difference in powers do the PM and the President have? Certainly they are both Heads of State and controlling in their government?
No no no!!!!

The PM is *not* the Head of State - HM The Queen is...

The PM is the head of the cabinet and thus the government...

We have a parliamentary system.
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:18 am
  #783  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by AmerLisa
But who gets to approve the person as leader of the party? What if someone is elected as a Member of Parliament that isn't particularly favorable to the general public? I mean someone is elected in Bogsworth Hollow and then becomes a party leader and then PM.....without general population consent?
Firstly, usually the leader of the Party is known before the election. And secondly, they would have to win the next election as PM for that party to stay in power.

So, in practice you dont get somebody that isnt at least suitable, if not popular ever elected as leader of a party.

If the general public does not like GB they will boot him out next year.
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:19 am
  #784  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Elvira
Are you seriously suggesting that the MPs would elect a leader who is actively disliked by the population at large?

Why would they want to do that...
I don't know....I mean how would they know that? Do they poll the general public before they select a party leader?
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:21 am
  #785  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by AmerLisa
I don't know....I mean how would they know that? Do they poll the general public before they select a party leader?
They generally know which way the wind blows...

Why do you think Thatcher was ousted in 1990?
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:21 am
  #786  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Elvira
No no no!!!!

The PM is *not* the Head of State - HM The Queen is...

The PM is the head of the cabinet and thus the government...

We have a parliamentary system.
But surely the Queen is just a "Figurative Head of State"
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:22 am
  #787  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Elvira
No no no!!!!

The PM is *not* the Head of State - HM The Queen is...

The PM is the head of the cabinet and thus the government...

We have a parliamentary system.
This is one of the things I dont like in practice about US Politics. The President is "protected" and treated like our Queen because of the Head of State role and yet he should be as answerable as our PM for his government role. And he just isn't.
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:25 am
  #788  
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Talking Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Tootsie Frickensprinkles
This is one of the things I dont like in practice about US Politics. The President is "protected" and treated like our Queen because of the Head of State role and yet he should be as answerable as our PM for his government role. And he just isn't.
Can you imagine Shrub at Parliamentary Question Time!!!
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:25 am
  #789  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Tootsie Frickensprinkles
Firstly, usually the leader of the Party is known before the election. And secondly, they would have to win the next election as PM for that party to stay in power.

So, in practice you dont get somebody that isnt at least suitable, if not popular ever elected as leader of a party.

If the general public does not like GB they will boot him out next year.
Hmmm.....ok

So, is their a mandatory election every so many years?
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:27 am
  #790  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by AmerLisa
Hmmm.....ok

So, is their a mandatory election every so many years?
At least every 5 - in practice more usually every 4...
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:33 am
  #791  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Elvira
At least every 5 - in practice more usually every 4...
ok - so I'm not trying to be totally ridiculous here, but is it just whenever someone decides its high time we trade the party leader for another?

And then again I suppose I've still got my head in the US system......sorry its just hard to understand how a head of state can be voted in whenever.....
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:34 am
  #792  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Elvira
Can you imagine Shrub at Parliamentary Question Time!!!
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:41 am
  #793  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by AmerLisa
ok - so I'm not trying to be totally ridiculous here, but is it just whenever someone decides its high time we trade the party leader for another?

And then again I suppose I've still got my head in the US system......sorry its just hard to understand how a head of state can be voted in whenever.....
There are subtleties involved in that question that are very hard to explain to someone who doesnt know and hasnt experienced UK politics. However, primarily if the leader of the party is electorally popular they will generally be left in place.

If the leader has become unpopular then they will be got rid of, ala Thatcher in 1990.

Tony Blair's departure is quite unusual really. It's been known for sometime that Gordon was the heir apparent and that Blair's term of leadership was going to be ended before the next election.

And yes you're head is still in the US ... he's *not* the Head of State =)

Last edited by Tootsie Frickensprinkles; Jul 15th 2007 at 7:44 am.
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:56 am
  #794  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Tootsie Frickensprinkles
There are subtleties involved in that question that are very hard to explain to someone who doesnt know and hasnt experienced UK politics. However, primarily if the leader of the party is electorally popular they will generally be left in place.

If the leader has become unpopular then they will be got rid of, ala Thatcher in 1990.

Tony Blair's departure is quite unusual really. It's been known for sometime that Gordon was the heir apparent and that Blair's term of leadership was going to be ended before the next election.

And yes you're head is still in the US ... he's *not* the Head of State =)
Semantics, I'm sure......but what does the PM do, if not Head of State duties?
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Old Jul 15th 2007, 7:57 am
  #795  
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Default Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living

Originally Posted by Tootsie Frickensprinkles
This is one of the things I dont like in practice about US Politics. The President is "protected" and treated like our Queen because of the Head of State role and yet he should be as answerable as our PM for his government role. And he just isn't.
The President can be impeached. Nixon resigned because of the fear of impeachment. Granted it's not common or easy, but the mechanism is there.

One thing I like about the US system is that by way of the primary system the voters have at least some say in who gets to be a candidate.

Tony Blair was elected PM by around 36% of the electorate, so the British system has it's own flaws.
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