3_life_and_institution part 1 Great Britain

UK political system

The United Kingdom is a unitary state with devolution that is governed within the framework of a PARLIMENTARY DEMOCRACY under A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

The Monarch uk

Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Boris Johnson is the head of government

The Queen (her Majesty)

is impartial and acts on the advice of her ministers. She has "the right to be consulted, the right to encourage and the right to warn".

Powers of the Queen:

To appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister. To appoint and dismiss other ministers. To summon, prorouge and dissolve Parliament. To make war and peace.

Duties of Queen Elisabeth

The Queen sees the Prime Minister each week as well as speaks to other ministers. 2. Receives copies of important government papers. 3. Ceremonial duties e. g State Opening of Parliament each year.

Executive power

is exercised by the British government, on behalf of and the consent of the monarch, and the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Legislative Power

is vested in the two chambers of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland asemblies.

The Judicary

is independent of the executive and the legislature. The highest court is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

Cabinet

Country is in fact government by Cabinet. Cabinet - about 20 leading ministers headed by the prime minister. Goverment is formed by the party with majority support in the House of Commons.

Opposition

The second largest party form the official Opposition and "shadow cabinet" - has a duty to criticise government policies and to present and alternative programme.

3 main political parties in Britain

Conservative party, Labour party, Liberal - Democratic Party

Parliament

The supreme law making body in country is Parliament consisting of - the house of commones 650, the House of Lords 788