Unit 1

Government, policies and the public services

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Rewind

• In our last session we explored:– The House of Lords

• The aim of this session is to enable you to understand the different levels of government in the UK.

• The objective is that upon completion of this session you will have studied:– Central government

• The Monarch

Levels of government

• There are many levels of government.• All levels have a direct or indirect impact

on our lives and the work of the uniformed services.

• This session will focus on:– Central government – the Monarch

All aspects of the governmental process interact with and influence each other.

CENTRAL

Monarchy

House of Commons

House of Lords

Branches of government

REGIONAL

Devolved parliaments

Regional governments

LOCAL

Local authorities

County councils

Metropolitan councils

Central Government• The House of Commons, the House of Lords and The

Monarch are called Parliament: the name given to the Central Government

The Monarch

The House of Commons The House of Lords

Parliament

(Central Government)

Central GovernmentThe Monarch

• The UK is a ‘constitutional monarchy’.• This means that the Head of State (the

Queen or King) is the current reigning monarch.

• They do not make the law. They only agree it.

• Laws are generated and approved by an elected body – the Houses of Parliament (The Houses of Commons and Lords)

Central GovernmentThe Monarch

• Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Central GovernmentThe Monarch

• To find out more about the Queen and the royal family visit:

• http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp

Central GovernmentThe Monarch

• Lives in Buckingham Palace

Central GovernmentThe Monarch

• The monarch has a number of important formal and ceremonial roles:– Opening each new

session of parliament.– Dissolving parliament

before a general election.

– Appointment of the Prime Minister.

Central GovernmentThe Monarch

• The monarch has a number of important formal and ceremonial roles:– Final approval of laws

by ‘royal assent’.– Appointment of peers

of the realm.– Advice and guidance

to the Prime Minister.

Research task

• In small groups carry out research that outlines the responsibilities of the Monarch.

• Page 8 and 9 of the course book will assist you.

Central GovernmentThe Monarch

• Summary:– In this session we have explored the role in

central government of the Monarch.

Look forward

• Our next session will focus on Devolved Government