Chapter 5
The system of government
Parliament and its two Houses, how MPs are elected, the Prime Minister and cabinet, the opposition, political parties, the civil service and local government.
By the end you should know
- Explain the roles of the House of Commons, House of Lords and the Speaker
- Describe General Elections, by-elections and 'first past the post'
- Know the roles of the Prime Minister, cabinet, opposition and shadow cabinet
- Know what pressure groups and civil servants do
- Describe local government, including London
The UK is a parliamentary democracy. The country is split into areas called constituencies, and the voters in each one elect a member of Parliament (MP) at a General Election. All the MPs together make up the House of Commons. The party with a majority of MPs forms the government; if no party has a majority, two parties can join together in a coalition.
What kind of system of government does the UK have?
A parliamentary democracy. Voters in each constituency elect an MP at a General Election, and the party with a majority of MPs forms the government.
The House of Commons
The Commons is seen as the more important of the two Houses because its members are elected by the public. The Prime Minister and nearly all cabinet members sit in the Commons. Each MP represents one constituency — a small area of the country.
Why is the House of Commons seen as the more important chamber of Parliament?
Key factBecause its members (MPs) are democratically elected. The Prime Minister and almost all cabinet members are MPs.
What are the responsibilities of an MP?
Key factRepresent everyone in their constituency · help to create new laws · scrutinise and comment on what the government is doing · debate important national issues
The House of Lords
Members of the House of Lords are called peers. They are not elected and do not represent a constituency. Before 1958 every peer was either a hereditary peer (who inherited the title), a senior judge or a Church of England bishop. Since 1958 the Prime Minister has been able to nominate life peers, whose title lasts only for their lifetime; the monarch formally appoints them.
The Lords tends to be more independent of the government than the Commons. It can suggest changes to laws or propose new ones, checks laws passed by the Commons, and holds the government to account. Many peers are experts in particular fields. The Commons has the power to overrule the Lords, but this is not used often.
Who sits in the House of Lords?
Key factPeers, who are not elected and do not represent a constituency. Until 1958 all peers were hereditary peers, senior judges or Church of England bishops. Since 1958 the Prime Minister can nominate life peers, who are appointed by the monarch.
Life peers have usually had an important career in politics, business, law or another profession. Some are nominated by other party leaders or by an independent Appointments Commission (for non-party peers).
What does the House of Lords do, and can the House of Commons overrule it?
Key factThe Lords is usually more independent of the government than the Commons. It suggests amendments, proposes laws, checks laws passed by the Commons and holds the government to account. The Commons can overrule the Lords, but rarely uses this power.
The Speaker
Debates in the Commons are chaired by the Speaker, its chief officer. The Speaker is an MP with a constituency but is politically neutral. The Speaker keeps order, makes sure the rules are followed (including the opposition's guaranteed debating time) and represents Parliament at ceremonies.
Who is the Speaker and how are they chosen?
Key factThe chief officer of the House of Commons, who chairs debates and keeps order. The Speaker is politically neutral and is chosen by other MPs in a secret ballot.
The Speaker is still an MP with a constituency, makes sure the opposition gets its guaranteed debating time and represents Parliament on ceremonial occasions.
Elections
A General Election must take place at least every five years. If an MP dies or resigns between elections, a by-election is held in that constituency. MPs are elected by 'first past the post': whoever gets the most votes in a constituency wins the seat.
How often must a General Election be held?
Key factAt least every five years.
What is a by-election?
Key factA fresh election in one constituency, held when its MP dies or resigns.
What is the 'first past the post' system?
Key factThe system used to elect MPs: in each constituency the candidate with the most votes wins.
The government is usually formed by the party that wins most constituencies. If no party has a majority, two parties may form a coalition.
The handbook also describes elections to the European Parliament, held every five years using proportional representation, where each party gets seats in proportion to its share of the vote. Elected members were called MEPs.
According to the handbook, how were members of the European Parliament elected?
Key factEvery five years, by proportional representation (seats shared out in proportion to each party's total votes). Members are called MEPs.
Every elected representative has a duty to serve their constituents. You can find their contact details at a library or on the Parliament website, write to them or phone them, or meet them at a local 'surgery'.
What is an MP's 'surgery'?
A regular local meeting where constituents can talk to their elected representative in person. Surgeries are often advertised in the local newspaper.
You can also contact an MP by letter or phone at their constituency office or at the House of Commons in Westminster.
The Prime Minister and the cabinet
The Prime Minister (PM) leads the party in power, chooses the cabinet and controls many important public appointments. The PM's official home is 10 Downing Street in central London, and the PM also has a country house called Chequers. MPs in the governing party can replace the PM, and a PM usually resigns after losing a General Election.
The PM appoints about 20 senior MPs as ministers in charge of government departments. Together they form the cabinet, which usually meets every week to make key decisions; many of these must then be debated or approved by Parliament. Each department also has junior ministers (Ministers of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State).
What does the Prime Minister do, and how can they be changed?
The PM leads the party in power, appoints the cabinet and controls many important public appointments. MPs in the governing party can replace them, or they can resign; a PM usually resigns if their party loses a General Election.
What is the Prime Minister's official home, and what is their country house?
Key fact10 Downing Street, in central London near the Houses of Parliament · Chequers, a country house outside London
Which senior ministers are responsible for what?
Key factChancellor of the Exchequer — the economy · Home Secretary — crime, policing and immigration · Foreign Secretary — relationships with foreign countries
The cabinet is about 20 senior MPs (ministers in charge of departments, including Secretaries of State for subjects such as education, health and defence). It usually meets weekly and makes important policy decisions, many of which Parliament must debate or approve.
The opposition
The second-largest party in the Commons is the opposition. Its leader points out the government's failings — for example at Prime Minister's Questions, held every week while Parliament is sitting — and appoints senior MPs as shadow ministers. Together they form the shadow cabinet, which challenges the government and offers alternative policies.
What is the opposition and what does it do?
The second-largest party in the House of Commons. Its leader challenges the government (for example at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions) and appoints shadow ministers, who form the shadow cabinet and put forward alternative policies.
The leader of the opposition usually becomes Prime Minister if their party wins the next General Election.
Political parties and pressure groups
Anyone aged 18 or over can stand to be an MP, though candidates rarely win without the backing of a major party. A few MPs belong to no main party; they are called independents and often represent a local issue. Parties welcome members, have local branches in most constituencies and hold a policy conference every year.
How old must you be to stand for election as an MP?
Key fact18 or over.
In practice candidates rarely win unless nominated by a major party. MPs who belong to no main party are called independents.
Which are the major political parties named in the handbook?
The Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and parties representing Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish interests.
Parties have branches in most constituencies, hold policy conferences every year and look for members of the public to join debates, contribute to costs and help at elections.
Pressure and lobby groups try to influence government policy and play an important part in politics. Some represent a sector, such as the CBI for business; others campaign on an issue, such as Greenpeace on the environment or Liberty on human rights.
What are pressure and lobby groups? Give examples.
Key factOrganisations that try to influence government policy. Examples: the CBI (Confederation of British Industry), which represents business; Greenpeace (environment); Liberty (human rights).
The civil service
Civil servants help the government develop and carry out its policies and deliver public services. They answer to ministers but are not political appointees: they are recruited on merit through a normal application process and must stay politically neutral.
What do civil servants do?
Key factThey support the government in developing and implementing its policies, and deliver public services. They are accountable to ministers, chosen on merit and politically neutral — not political appointees.
What are the four core values of the civil service?
Key factIntegrity · honesty · objectivity · impartiality (including being politically neutral)
Local government
Towns, cities and rural areas are run by elected councils, also called local authorities. They provide local services and are paid for by central government grants and local taxes. Many councils appoint a mayor as a ceremonial figure, while some towns elect a mayor to lead the council.
How is local government organised and funded?
Areas are run by democratically elected councils ('local authorities'). Some areas have both district and county councils; most large towns and cities have a single authority. They are funded by central government and local taxes.
Many councils appoint a mayor as ceremonial leader; in some towns an elected mayor actually leads the administration.
How many local authorities does London have?
Key fact33, with the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London coordinating policy across the capital.
When are local council elections held for most local authorities?
Key factIn May every year.
Many candidates stand as members of a political party.
Exam tip: the Speaker is chosen by MPs in a SECRET ballot — not appointed by the PM or the monarch. Life peers date from 1958. London has 33 local authorities, and most council elections are in May.
Common mix-up: the Chancellor of the Exchequer runs the economy; the Home Secretary covers crime, policing and immigration; the Foreign Secretary handles relations with other countries.