Life in the UK · Chapter 5 · 4 min read

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

How the UK is governed, how elections work, the courts and the police, your rights and duties, and how to play a part in your community. Study notes for the Life in the UK test.

Why this chapter matters

After history, this chapter gives the most questions, often six or seven per test. Learn the institutions, the numbers (voting age, jury sizes, how often elections are held) and the difference between the courts.

A constitutional monarchy

The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch as head of state. The monarch does not make political decisions; that is the job of the elected government. The UK constitution is not written down in one document. It comes from laws, conventions and court decisions.

Parliament

Parliament has two houses:

The House of Commons is the more important. Its members, MPs, are elected, one for each constituency. They make laws, debate issues and scrutinise the government.
The House of Lords is not elected. Its members, peers, are appointed or inherit their seats, and some are senior bishops. The Lords examine and revise laws passed by the Commons.

The Speaker chairs debates in the Commons. The Speaker is an MP elected by the other MPs, and must stay politically neutral.

Elections

A general election must be held at least every five years.
MPs are elected by the first past the post system: the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
If an MP dies or resigns, a by-election is held for that seat.
You can vote from the age of 18, if you are on the electoral register.
Voting takes place in a polling station, often a school or public hall, or by post.

The government

The Prime Minister leads the government. They are usually the leader of the party with the most MPs, and live at 10 Downing Street.
The Cabinet is a group of about 20 senior ministers, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is responsible for the economy, the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.
The second-largest party forms the Opposition, led by the Leader of the Opposition, who appoints a shadow cabinet.
Civil servants carry out the government's work. They are politically neutral.

Devolved government

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own elected bodies, which make laws on matters such as health and education. Defence, foreign affairs and most taxation stay with the UK Parliament. Local councils run services such as schools, rubbish collection and libraries.

The law and the courts

Magistrates' courts (justices of the peace in Scotland) deal with most minor criminal cases. Magistrates are usually unpaid volunteers.
Crown Courts (Sheriff Courts in Scotland) try serious offences before a judge and a jury.
A jury has 12 members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 15 in Scotland. If you are called for jury service, you must do it.
Youth courts hear cases against people aged 10 to 17 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
County courts deal with civil disputes, such as debts and broken contracts. Small claims can be settled without a lawyer.
The police protect people and property, keep the peace and prevent crime. In most areas, an elected Police and Crime Commissioner sets local police priorities.

Your rights

The UK protects human rights through the European Convention on Human Rights, which is part of UK law under the Human Rights Act. It is against the law to treat someone unfairly because of their sex, race, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation, among other reasons.

Your role in the community

Good citizens help their community, for example by volunteering, joining a school's parent association, helping at a charity, donating blood or registering as an organ donor, and voting in elections. Looking after the environment, through recycling and keeping public places clean, is part of the same responsibility.

Check yourself

How often must a general election be held?
Who chairs debates in the House of Commons?
How many people sit on a jury in Scotland?
Which court hears cases against people aged 10 to 17?
Where does the Prime Minister live?

Ready to try a full test? Start Life in the UK practice test 1.