1. The UK System of Government

2. Separation of powers Legislature: supreme authority is Parliament
Executive : the Government, local authorities and public corporations
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. The House of Lords 92 elected hereditary peers and peeresses
Life peers
The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Thank you for your attention!