The UK System of Government

Separation of powers

Legislature: supreme authority is ParliamentExecutive : the Government, local authorities

and public corporationsJudiciary: the court system (hierarchy of

courts)

The Monarchy

The Queen is head of State and an important symbol of national unity

Head of the executiveAn integral part of the legislatureCommander-in-chief of the armed forcesThe ‘supreme governor’ of the Church of

England

The Queen’s role in government

Britain is governed by Her Majesty’s Government in the name of the Queen

The Queen’s role: summoning, proroguing (discontinuing until the next session without dissolution) and dissolving Parliament; giving Royal Assent to Bills passed by Parliament

Appointment of important office holders

International affairs

As head of State, the Queen has the power to declare war and make peace, to recognise foreign states and governments, to conclude treaties

The Legislature - Parliament

The Queen – formal powersThe House of Commons – the supreme

legislative bodyThe House of Lords

The functions

To pass lawsTo provide, by voting for taxation, the means

of carrying on the work of governmentTo scrutinise government policy and

administrationTo debate major issues of the day

The House of Lords

92 elected hereditary peers and peeressesLife peersThe Archbishops and Bishops of the Church

of England

The House of Commons

An elected body650 MPs directly elected by voters General elections and by-electionsAnnual salary and travel allowancesThe chief officer is the Speaker elected by the

Members

The meeting of Parliament

A maximum duration of five yearsDissolved by the QueenThe life of a parliament is divided into

sessionsEach session lasts for one year (beginning

and ending in October or November) – 160 ‘sitting days’

Opens with the Queen’s speech, ends by prorogation

The Government

The Government consists of the ministers appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister

The Cabinet

The Cabinet consists of a small group of the most important ministers selected by the Prime Minister

Today the number is 23The Cabinet determines, controls and

integrates the policies of the government for submission to Parliament

The Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is the head of the government and presides over meetings of the Cabinet

He consults and advises the Monarch on government business, supervises and co-ordinates the work of various ministries and departments

Thank you for your attention!