30 Questions
Who is the current hereditary monarch of the United Kingdom?
Charles III
Who is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
Rishi Sunak
In which parliamentary chamber is legislative power vested in the United Kingdom?
House of Commons
Which three devolved governments are granted asymmetrical powers within the United Kingdom?
Scotland, Wales, North Ireland
Which party was a major political party before the rise of the Labour Party?
Liberal Party
What type of political system does the United Kingdom have?
Parliamentary system
Who serves as the head of government in the United Kingdom?
The Prime Minister
In the United Kingdom, where is executive power exercised?
By the British government
Which two dominant parties have been the major political parties in the United Kingdom since the 1920s?
Conservative Party and Labour Party
Which are the two parliamentary chambers in the United Kingdom where executive power is formed?
House of Lords and House of Commons
Who has the power to appoint a Prime Minister in the United Kingdom?
The monarch
What is the role of the Prime Minister in the United Kingdom?
Chairing Cabinet meetings and formulating government policy
Which body is the executive power in the United Kingdom exercised by?
Sovereign, King Charles III
Who selects the other Ministers which make up the Government in the United Kingdom?
The Prime Minister
What is the role of the monarch in the United Kingdom's Armed Forces?
Commanding the Armed Forces
Who has the power to grant or refuse Royal Assent to bills in the United Kingdom?
The monarch
Who has the power to create corporations via Royal charter in the United Kingdom?
The monarch
Who has the power to ratify and make treaties in the United Kingdom?
The monarch
Who has the power to declare war and peace in the United Kingdom?
The monarch
Who is responsible for appointing members to the King's Counsel in the United Kingdom?
The monarch
Which electoral system maintains the dominance of two major parties in the United Kingdom?
First-past-the-post
When did the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government hold office in the United Kingdom?
2010-2015
Which part of the United Kingdom has a devolved legislature and executive?
Scotland
What did the Government of Ireland Act 1920 lead to?
The partition of Ireland
What type of constitution does the United Kingdom have?
Uncodified constitution
When did the UK join the European Communities?
1973
Who is the current British monarch?
Charles III
What powers does the British monarch have?
Royal prerogative powers
Which nationalist parties advocate for independence or reunification in the United Kingdom?
National Party of Scotland
What did the Treaty of Union in 1706 lead to?
Formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain
Study Notes
United Kingdom Political and Constitutional Overview
- The first-past-the-post electoral system maintains the dominance of two major parties, with occasional coalition governments.
- The Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government held office from 2010 to 2015, the first since 1945.
- Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have devolved legislatures and executives, with the British government retaining responsibility for non-devolved matters.
- Devolution of powers may have contributed to increased support for independence in the UK's constituent parts.
- The UK constitution is uncodified, consisting of constitutional conventions, statutes, and other elements.
- The UK government is responsible for Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories, each with its own governance.
- The Treaty of Union in 1706 and subsequent Acts of Union led to the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
- The Government of Ireland Act 1920 created the partition of Ireland, with the southern part becoming the Republic of Ireland.
- The UK joined the European Communities in 1973 and withdrew from the European Union in 2020.
- The British monarch, currently Charles III, is the Head of state with royal prerogative powers, including the issue of passports and the declaration of war.
- The prime minister has weekly meetings with the sovereign and is advised in the government's work.
- Nationalist parties in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland advocate for independence or reunification.
Test your knowledge of the United Kingdom's political and constitutional landscape with this quiz. Explore topics such as the electoral system, devolution, uncodified constitution, historical treaties and unions, European Union membership, royal prerogative powers, and nationalist movements.
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