The British constitution: Life in the UK test study notes

Key facts to remember

• Unwritten constitution – there is no single document; the rules come from statutes, conventions and court rulings.
• The UK has never had a revolution that permanently created a completely new system of government.
• Key institutions – the monarchy, Parliament (Commons and Lords), the Cabinet, the Prime Minister, the judiciary, the police, local government and the civil service.
• Constitutional monarchy – the monarch is head of state but does not rule the country.
• Forming a government – after an election, the monarch asks whoever leads the party that has won the most MPs (or a coalition) to form a government.
• State Opening of Parliament – the monarch reads a speech, written by the government, setting out its plans for the new session. It is now the King's Speech (the Queen's Speech in the handbook).
• Meetings with the Prime Minister – these are held regularly, traditionally once a week. The monarch may advise, warn and encourage the Prime Minister, though decisions on government policy rest with the Prime Minister and cabinet.
• Acts of Parliament are made in the monarch's name.
• Representing the UK – the monarch welcomes foreign ambassadors and high commissioners, entertains heads of state who come to the UK, and goes abroad on state visits.
• The monarch is head of the Commonwealth.
• National anthem – 'God Save the King' ('God Save the Queen' in the handbook); it is heard at major national occasions and whenever the monarch attends an event.
• Oath or affirmation of allegiance – new citizens swear an oath, which refers to God, or make an affirmation, a solemn promise with no religious wording. Both are now made to King Charles III.
• Constituency – an area whose voters elect one MP to the House of Commons. The whole UK is split into parliamentary constituencies.
• House of Commons – regarded as the more important chamber, since its members are democratically elected; it is where the Prime Minister and most cabinet members sit.
• MPs – represent their constituents, help to make new laws, scrutinise what the government is doing and debate national issues.
• General elections – held at least every five years; the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins ('first past the post').
• By-election – held in one constituency when its MP dies or resigns.
• Coalition – if no single party wins an overall majority, two parties can govern together.
• House of Lords – its members, called peers, are not elected and do not represent constituencies. Most are life peers, and senior Church of England bishops also sit there.
• 1958 – Prime Ministers gain the power to nominate life peers, whose titles are not passed on. Before this, peers were hereditary, senior judges or bishops.
• 1999 – hereditary peers lose their automatic right to sit in the Lords; instead they choose a small group from among themselves as their representatives. These remaining hereditary seats were abolished in 2026.
• The Lords checks laws passed by the Commons to make sure they work as intended, and can revise them or propose its own; the Commons, as the elected chamber, can overrule it.
• The Speaker – a neutral MP whom fellow MPs elect through a secret ballot; chairs Commons debates and keeps order.
• Surgeries – regular local meetings where constituents can raise concerns with their MP face to face; they are often advertised locally.
• Contacting your MP – write to or phone their constituency or Commons office, or go to a local surgery. Contact details are available from local libraries and www.parliament.uk.