Chapter 5 · The UK government, the law and your role

The government: Life in the UK test study notes

The UK is a parliamentary democracy. It is divided into constituencies, each electing one MP at a general election held at least every five years under 'first past the post'. If an MP dies or resigns, a by-election is held. The elected House of Commons can overrule the House of Lords, whose members are appointed rather than elected. The Lords checks and revises proposed laws. Commons debates are chaired by the Speaker, a neutral MP chosen by fellow MPs, while party whips keep discipline. The Prime Minister, normally leader of the largest party, lives at 10 Downing Street and uses Chequers as a country house. The Prime Minister also appoints the Cabinet, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary. The second-largest party forms the Opposition, with its own shadow cabinet. Political parties, pressure groups and a politically neutral civil service all play a part. Local councillors are usually elected in May, and some areas elect a mayor. Since 1999, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have had their own parliaments or assemblies, although defence and foreign affairs stay with the UK government. A free press, Hansard and balanced broadcasting keep people informed. British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens living in the UK can vote if they are on the electoral register, either at a polling station or by post.

Key facts to remember

Whips – keep party discipline and make sure MPs attend to vote.
Prime Minister – official home at 10 Downing Street; Chequers is the country house.
Cabinet – about 20 senior ministers: the Chancellor of the Exchequer (economy), the Home Secretary (crime, policing, immigration), the Foreign Secretary (relations with other countries) and others.
Opposition – the second-largest party; its leader appoints a shadow cabinet and questions the Prime Minister at weekly Prime Minister's Questions.
Shadow ministers – appointed by the Leader of the Opposition to form the shadow cabinet; they hold the government to account and propose other policies.
Independents – MPs who do not belong to one of the main parties, often standing on an issue that matters in their constituency.
Pressure and lobby groups try to influence government policy; for example, Greenpeace campaigns on the environment and Liberty on human rights.
Civil servants – appointed on merit and politically neutral. The civil service's core values are integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Local councils – elections usually in May; many councils have a ceremonial mayor, and some towns and cities elect one.
Local authorities pay for local services with money from central government and from local taxes.
Devolution – taxation, social security, immigration, defence and foreign affairs stay with the UK government; devolved bodies decide on areas such as education.
Scottish Parliament – set up in 1999; sits at Holyrood in Edinburgh. It can make laws on any matter not reserved to Westminster, such as civil and criminal law, health and education.
Welsh Parliament (Senedd) – meets in Cardiff. The handbook calls it the Welsh Assembly with 60 members; it was renamed in 2020 and has had 96 members since 2026.
Northern Ireland Assembly – meets at Stormont in Belfast; power is shared between the main parties. It had 108 members in the handbook, cut to 90 in 2017.
Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, 1998 – led to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Media – a free press; Hansard is the official published report of proceedings in Parliament; parties get free party political broadcasts but cannot buy TV or radio advertising.
Broadcasting – by law, TV and radio must give balanced coverage of political parties, with fair time for rival viewpoints.
Who can vote – adult UK, Irish and Commonwealth citizens who are resident in the UK are entitled to vote in every public election.
Northern Ireland uses individual registration: each eligible voter fills in their own registration form, rather than one form per household.
Voting and office – you must be on the electoral register; vote at a polling station (7am–10pm) or by post. Candidates must be 18 or over, and anyone can watch debates free from the public galleries.
Postal vote – voters who find it hard to get to a polling station can register to vote by post; the ballot paper is sent to them before polling day.
Photo ID – the handbook says only voters in Northern Ireland must show photo ID; since 2023 it has also been needed in Great Britain for UK Parliament elections.

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These notes summarise the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), which all the test questions come from. Try the free chapter 5 questions.