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UK Politics Examples

The Media

Pre-Budget Media Briefing - Example Of The Media Harming UK Democracy:

• On November the 26th 2025, the Deputy Speaker condemned the government for extensively briefing the media in the weeks leading up to the Budget. 

  • Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves faced criticism after several POTENTIAL Budget measures were leaked to the press, including suggestions that she might raise the headline rate of income tax. 

  • Further leaks, reported by the Financial Times, then suggested this would no longer go ahead due to improved economic forecasting. 

• This prompted the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to label it the “hokey-cokey Budget”, criticising the ongoing media briefings. The Deputy Speaker described the level of pre-Budget leaking as “disappointing”, “unprecedented” below the standards expected of ministers.  

  • He reiterated that policy announcements must be made in the Commons before being shared with the press. 

• This example illustrates how extensive media briefings can harm UK democracy and democratic accountability. Governments have been increasingly making important policy announcements in the media rather than in the House of Commons. 

  • Major government announcements should be made to Parliament first, and briefing the media beforehand is a breach of the Ministerial Code. 

    • This can be seen as detracting from the role of the House of Commons which is elected to perform this role, preventing MPs from scrutinising ministers.

UK Government Examples

Collective Ministerial Responsibility and Sovereignty

David Lammy’s Reforms To Jury Trials - Example Of Parliamentary Sovereignty And Collective Ministerial Responsibility:

• On the 2nd of December 2025, Justice Secretary David Lammy announced that jury trials in England and Wales would be abolished for offences carrying a likely sentence of less than 3 years. 

  • Under the proposals, only the most serious offences such as murder, robbery and rape would continue to be tried by a jury. 

• These reforms represent one of the most significant changes to criminal justice in decades, and form part of the government’s plan to tackle unprecedented delays in the courts system. 

  • Although Lammy has previously argued that cutting the use of juries would be a mistake, he has since changed his public position to be in line with the governments, as he is bound by Collective Ministerial Responsibility. 

• These reforms will require primary legislation, which is likely to pass due to the government’s 170-seat majority. This illustrates the doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty; Parliament is the supreme legal authority and can make or unmake any law. 

  • No person or body, including courts, can overturn an Act of Parliament as all other institutions are legally subordinate. 

    • As a result, Parliament, which is controlled by the government of the day, can pass legislation to change and abolish longstanding legal institutions, including the right to jury trial. 

• This demonstrates how, especially when the Government commands a large majority, they can force through far-reaching and controversial reforms that significantly alter the constitutional balance of power, raising concerns about the potential for an elective dictatorship.

US Politics and Government Examples

The Presidency

The Trump Administration Halts All Asylum Decisions From 19 Countries - Example Of Presidential Power:

• On the 2nd of December 2025, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats”. 

  • This instructed the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to halt all immigration applications from 19 countries, and cancel citizenship ceremonies nationwide, citing national security and public safety concerns. 

    • The ban affects countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad and Cuba, and suspends immigration related activities. 

  • Trump further pledged to end all federal benefits for noncitizens, denaturalise migrants and deport any foreign nationals deemed “non-compatible with Western Civilization”. 

• This shows the extensive power of the President, especially in matters of foreign policy and national security. Over time, the President’s role in addressing national security threats has expanded considerably, enabling the executive to launch far-reaching initiatives without Congressional approval. 

  • US law gives Presidents the discretion to suspend the entry of foreign nationals if their entry is considered “detrimental” to the interests of the US.  

    • Whilst historically, this authority was used sparingly, Trump has enacted sweeping travel bans that significantly expand executive power, with dubious justification. 

• This shows how executive orders allow Presidents to introduce major policy changes unilaterally, bypassing the need for Congressional authorisation.