The political system of the UK
The people (electorate: all British nationals over 18, in 650 parliamentary constituencies of
very different sizes) vote directly in General Elections in a first-past-the-post system for up
to five years
Government of the United Kingdom The Monarch/Sovereign
The Houses of Parliament Official Head of State
and the Commonwealth,
House of Commons: House of Lords: Commander-in Chief of
650 Members of Parliament About 760 members (life peers the Armed Forces,
(MPs), one for each and 26 Anglican bishops) Supreme Governor of
constituency - advise on/suggest chances of the Church of England -
- examine the work of the bills hereditary and crowned
Government - can delay most bills for up to for life
- debate and pass bills a year - representational
(drafts for laws) - hereditary peerage abolished function; State Opening
in 1999 of Parliament each year
in May/June
- appoints the Prime
Minister and all Lords
Shadow Cabinet Prime Minister in the House of Lords
- MPs and Lords from Leader of the party winning - bills approved by
the second largest most seats in the House of Commons and Lords
(official) Opposition Commons receive Royal Assent,
party - represents Government becoming Acts of
- responsible for - reports regularly to the Parliament, thereby law
checking and monarch
questioning Cabinet´s
work Cabinet
20 senior ministers appointed
by Prime Minister, in charge
of government departments
The people (electorate: all British nationals over 18, in 650 parliamentary constituencies of
very different sizes) vote directly in General Elections in a first-past-the-post system for up
to five years
Government of the United Kingdom The Monarch/Sovereign
The Houses of Parliament Official Head of State
and the Commonwealth,
House of Commons: House of Lords: Commander-in Chief of
650 Members of Parliament About 760 members (life peers the Armed Forces,
(MPs), one for each and 26 Anglican bishops) Supreme Governor of
constituency - advise on/suggest chances of the Church of England -
- examine the work of the bills hereditary and crowned
Government - can delay most bills for up to for life
- debate and pass bills a year - representational
(drafts for laws) - hereditary peerage abolished function; State Opening
in 1999 of Parliament each year
in May/June
- appoints the Prime
Minister and all Lords
Shadow Cabinet Prime Minister in the House of Lords
- MPs and Lords from Leader of the party winning - bills approved by
the second largest most seats in the House of Commons and Lords
(official) Opposition Commons receive Royal Assent,
party - represents Government becoming Acts of
- responsible for - reports regularly to the Parliament, thereby law
checking and monarch
questioning Cabinet´s
work Cabinet
20 senior ministers appointed
by Prime Minister, in charge
of government departments
