The UK System of Government Revision

Separation of powers Legislature: supreme authority is Parliament The Executive consists of: the Government, local authorities and public corporations The Judiciary: the court system (hierarchy of courts)

The Monarchy The Queen is head of State and an important symbol of national unity Head of the executive An integral part of the legislature Commander-in-chief of the armed forces The ‘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 powers The House of Commons – the supreme legislative body The House of Lords

The functions To pass laws To provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government To scrutinise government policy and administration To debate major issues of the day

Introduction to Parliament https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs-9B3FRXCA&index=1&list=PLj3mInRJqIekAQ6vggN7IpCySnv0IIOyV

The House of Lords 92 elected hereditary peers and peeresses Life peers The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England

The House of Commons An elected body 650 MPs directly elected by voters General elections and by-elections Annual salary and travel allowances The chief officer is the Speaker elected by the Members

The meeting of Parliament A maximum duration of five years Dissolved by the Queen The life of a parliament is divided into sessions Each 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

Forming the government The political party that wins the most seats in a general election forms the new government, led by their party leader - who becomes Prime Minister. The Prime Minister appoints ministers, including the Cabinet, who often work in a government department, and run and develop public services and policies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmGCwiQvhH0

The Cabinet The Cabinet consists of a small group of the most important ministers selected by the Prime Minister Today the number is 23 The 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

Scrutiny of the government Parliament checks the work of the government on behalf of UK citizens through investigative select committees and by asking government ministers questions. The House of Commons also has to approve proposals for government taxes and spending.

Confidence motion The government needs to retain the confidence of a majority in the House of Commons. If the House votes to indicate that it has no confidence in the government, either by defeating the government on a confidence motion or by defeating a policy that the government has indicated is a 'matter of confidence' then the government would call a General Election.

Government Bills Each year the government informs Parliament of its plans for new legislation in the Queen's Speech. New legislation is introduced as Bills and must be debated and approved by Parliament before it can become an Act of Parliament - the government needs the support of the majority of the House of Commons to function.

UK court system Separated into three jurisdictions (England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) Supreme Court (established in 2009) of the UK is the highest appeal court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for civil cases in Scotland Inferior and superior courts Civil and criminal courts

The Supreme Court Established in 2005, started work in 2009 Highest appellate court in the UK More limited than other supreme courts, cannot overturn any primary legislation 10 permanent Justices, more senior judges possible upon Prime Minister’s request, cases are usually heard in a panel of 5,7,9.. Focus on cases of general public importance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTHrynZIsBo

Thank you for your attention!