Key Players in the UK Political System

The UK Political System

• The UK political system is made up of five key players: the Monarch, Parliament, Government, Civil Service, and Judiciary.

The Monarchy and the Crown

• The Monarch is the UK head of State, but no longer holds absolute power.
• The Monarch still has some legal and constitutional powers, exercised on the advice of elected politicians and the government.
• These powers include appointing the Prime Minister and MPs, dissolving Parliament, and giving royal assent to legislation.

The Legislature/Parliament

• The UK Parliament is divided into two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
• The House of Commons is made up of 650 elected MPs, who hold debates, scrutinize legislation and government spending, and scrutinize the government.
• The House of Lords is made up of 800 appointed Lords, who hold debates, scrutinize and revise legislation, and suggest amendments to the Commons.
• Both houses must give approval for legislation to be passed.

The Executive Government/Central Government

• The executive is the body that makes and implements policies across the areas that the state is responsible for.
• The executive includes the Prime Minister and their cabinet, who are chosen from the party that wins a general election.
• The PM and cabinet are accountable for ensuring that government policies are implemented.

The Civil Service

• The Civil Service is an independent body that supports the government of the day, running the country.
• Civil servants are politically impartial and permanent officials who provide operational support for government policies.
• Their three main functions are: operational running of government policies, policy advisors/minister support, and implementing policy/projects.

The Judiciary

• The Judiciary's purpose is to adjudicate on and resolve legal disputes.
• The Judiciary can only interpret laws in a manner compatible with Parliament's intentions.

The UK Government

• The term "government" is ambiguous and can refer to central decision-makers or all government-run organizations and institutions.
• The Prime Minister's role includes appointing/dismissing Ministers, forming the Cabinet, organizing government and civil service into departments, deploying the Armed Forces, and representing the UK internationally.

The Cabinet

• The Cabinet is the central decision-maker, comprising senior Ministers in charge of Government departments.
• The Cabinet makes collective decisions on how to run the country, with each Minister responsible for a specific area.

Learn about the main components of the UK's political system, including the Monarch, Parliament, Government, Civil Service, and Judiciary. Discover the roles and responsibilities of each institution and how they interact with one another.