Parliamentary system of UK
A
Constituency
constituency
is a place
where
people live. Each
constituency
has one person
who
represents
them in
The UK is split
Parliament.
up into 650
parts. Each part
is called a
constituency.
Separation of powers
Legislature: supreme authority is Parliament
The Executive: the Government, local
authorities and public corporations
The Judiciary: the court system (hierarchy of
courts)
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
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
The Legislature - Parliament
The Queen – formal powers
The House of Commons – the supreme
legislative body
The House of Lords
Parliament
The Houses of
Parliament is a
building.
Sometimes it is
called the Palace of
Westminster.
Member of
Parliament (MP)
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
The House of Lords
92 elected hereditary peers and peeresses
Life peers
The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of
England
Lords and
Lords and
Baronesses Baronesse
s can be in
a political
party.
They meet
in the
House of
Lords.
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
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
The Government
The Government consists of the ministers
appointed by the Crown on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister
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
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
Prime
Minister
The leader of the
party with the
The Prime most MPs is the
Minister is Prime Minister.
an MP.
The Prime
Minister
chooses and
leads the
government.
Representation
MPs speak up
for their local
area
(constituency) in
Parliament.
They go to local
events and help
MPs listen people who live
to people’s in their
ideas and constituency.
problems.
