Democratic System
In the United Kingdom, political power is held by the people. The Head of State is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, while leadership of the government is entrusted to the Prime Minister and ministers of the elected government. Leaders are elected through a democratic process of free and fair elections. Every five years there is an election for Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by British citizens. Once the election has been held, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, usually the Prime Minister, is asked by the Monarch to form a government.
House of Commons
The Houses of Parliament consist of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is the democratically elected chamber that is chosen by the people of Great Britain. The House of Commons is responsible for making laws and controlling the government’s budget. MPs from both the two major parties, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, and from smaller parties, are elected to the House of Commons. The leader of the majority party is then asked by the Monarch to form a government. This leader is known as the Prime Minister.
Role of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is the head of the government and is responsible for leading the country. The Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons and is the first choice for leading the government. The Prime Minister appoints a Cabinet, which are the most senior government ministers. They are collectively responsible for the government’s policies and are the main link between the government and the Parliament. The Prime Minister is chosen by the Queen after consulting with members of the House of Commons.
The Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the largest minority party in the House of Commons. This role is appointed by the Queen after consulting with the leader of the majority party. The Leader of the Opposition is the official opposition leader and is expected to be a strong rival to the prime minister. The Leader of the Opposition is responsible for providing the government with criticism and an alternative to its policies.
Voting Procedures
In order to vote, British citizens must be aged 18 and over and registered with an electoral registration officer. The voting process is simple; citizens are asked to go to their local polling station, which is open from 7am until 10pm. At the polling station they must give their name and address before they can cast their vote. All votes are kept anonymous and those who vote must mark an x beside their chosen candidate. Once all the votes have been cast, they are counted and the winning candidate is then declared the new Head of Government.
Sovereign Powers
The Queen retains certain powers, including the power to appoint the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This is done after consulting the House of Commons and can involve the Queen hearing advice from any other source. In particular instances, the Queen can even refuse to appoint a Prime Minister, such as if there is a no confidence vote in the government. The Queen also has the power to dismiss a Prime Minister if they cease to command the confidence of the House of Commons.
Conclusion
In the United Kingdom, leaders are elected through a democratic system of free and fair elections. The Prime Minister is the head of the government and is chosen by the Queen, while the Leader of the Opposition is chosen by the Queen after consulting with the leader of the majority party. To vote in the election, British citizens must be 18 and registered with an electoral registration officer. The Queen retains certain powers to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Politcal Parties
A political party is an organized group of people who share the same views on various issues and strive to influence public policy. In Great Britain, all elections are contested by multiple political parties. The most prominent parties are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. These two parties have dominated British politics for more than a century and remain the two major parties in the House of Commons. Smaller parties, such as the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and the UK Independence Party, are also represented in the Houses of Parliament.
Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary committees are groups that are created by the Houses of Parliament to review legislation and public expenditure, scrutinise government activities, and consider the effects of policies. These committees are comprised of elected Members of Parliament from various parties. These representatives are chosen by the Speaker of the House of Commons, based on the party in power. Parliamentary committees are important for ensuring that the government is held accountable for its actions and policies, and for safeguarding the interests of British citizens.
Devolved Assemblies
The Devolved Assemblies refer to the legislatures and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Elections are held for representatives from each of the countries, who then serve as part of the Devolved Assemblies. These representatives are elected by the people in each of the respective countries. The representatives from the Devolved Assemblies, along with those from the House of Commons, meet at Westminster in London to discuss and form the laws of the United Kingdom.
Constitutional Reforms
Over the last few decades, the UK government has made a number of constitutional reforms in an attempt to better represent citizens and improve internal and external governance. These reforms have included proposals to transfer powers from Westminster to the Devolved Assemblies as well as giving citizens more influence over the government and other decision-making processes. These reforms have been met with both criticism and acceptance from members of the public and government.
Local Government
The UK is divided into local governments or councils which are responsible for providing services such as housing, public transport, parks, libraries and education. Elections are held for councillors in each area who then serve on the local government. These councillors are elected by the local residents who are eligible to vote in the election. The outlook of the local government is dependent on the party that is in power in the region.
