1. The UK System of Government Revision

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. The Legislature - Parliament
The Queen – formal powers
The House of Commons – the supreme legislative body
The House of Lords

7. 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

8. Introduction to Parliament

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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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

21. 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

22. Thank you for your attention!