SettleReady › Life in the UK Test
Chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role
How Parliament works
The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch as head of state. MPs are elected to the House of Commons at a general election held at least every five years; if an MP dies or resigns there is a by-election. The Speaker, chosen by MPs in a secret ballot, keeps order and is politically neutral. Whips make sure their party's MPs attend and vote. Members of the House of Lords are not elected — they include life peers appointed for their lifetime and senior Church of England bishops. Debates are recorded in Hansard and the public can watch them.
The government and devolution
The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street and has a country house, Chequers. Key ministers include the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the economy), the Home Secretary (crime, policing and immigration) and the Foreign Secretary. The main opposition party forms a Shadow Cabinet. Civil servants carry out government policy and are politically neutral.
The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh has 129 members (MSPs). Wales has the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff. The handbook calls it the National Assembly for Wales, its name until 2020. Northern Ireland has the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast.
Voting
The voting age for UK Parliament elections was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1969 (the handbook still gives 18 as the voting age). Since then, Scotland and Wales have let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in elections for the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd and local councils. To vote you must be on the electoral register: in Great Britain, register online or through your local council. Voting is by secret ballot, so nobody can make you say how you voted.
The law and the courts
Minor criminal cases go to a magistrates' court (a Justice of the Peace court in Scotland). In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, serious cases go to the Crown Court with a jury of 12 people; in Scotland a jury has 15. In England and Wales, the County Court handles civil disputes such as debts.
Your role in the community
Working people usually pay income tax and National Insurance. You must be at least 17 to drive a car. You can help your community by volunteering, donating blood, joining the organ donor register or becoming a school governor. Internationally, the UK is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Practice questions on this chapter
Tap a question to see the answer and explanation.
What type of government does the UK have?
- A parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch
- A presidential republic
- An absolute monarchy
- A one-party state
Answer: A. A parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch
The UK is a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as head of state. The monarch's role is ceremonial; the elected government runs the country.
What happens if an MP dies or resigns?
- The monarch appoints a new MP
- A by-election is held in their constituency
- The seat stays empty until the next general election
- The party chooses a replacement without an election
Answer: B. A by-election is held in their constituency
If an MP dies or resigns, there is a by-election in their constituency.
What is Hansard?
- The Prime Minister's country house
- The official record of debates in Parliament
- A national newspaper
- A government department
Answer: B. The official record of debates in Parliament
Proceedings in Parliament are recorded in Hansard, available in libraries and online. The public can also watch debates in person.
Is this statement TRUE or FALSE? Civil servants must support the political party in government.
- TRUE
- FALSE
Answer: B. FALSE
Civil servants carry out government policy. They are chosen on merit and must be politically neutral in their work, whichever party is in power.
How can you get your name on the electoral register?
- By buying a TV licence
- Write to your MP
- Register online or by contacting your local council's electoral registration office
- Join a political party
Answer: C. Register online or by contacting your local council's electoral registration office
To vote you must be on the electoral register. In Great Britain you can register online or through your local council's electoral registration office; in Northern Ireland, through the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.
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