Guide contents
Booking and test day
  1. Test format
  2. Test fee
  3. Test ID
  4. Test validity
  5. Lost reference
Start learning
  1. First steps
  2. Settlement and citizenship
  3. Values and principles
  4. What is the UK?
History
  1. History overview
  2. Early Britain
  3. The Middle Ages
  4. Tudors and Stuarts
  5. A global power
  6. The 20th century
  7. Britain since 1945
Society
  1. Modern society
  2. The UK today
  3. Cities and currency
  4. Religion
  5. Customs
  6. Sport and culture
  7. Leisure
  8. Culture facts
Government and law
  1. Government overview
  2. Democracy
  3. Constitution
  4. Government
  5. International institutions
  6. Law and courts
  7. Rights and tax
  8. Community role

Study guide

Government, parties and voting

In short

Keep national government, local government and devolved government separate. They do different jobs.

Test atoms

Learn these as compact test facts. Then practise recognising the same fact in different wording.

Atom Watch out for
The Prime Minister appoints the cabinet Learn the one test link before the full story.
The Prime Minister leads the government Learn the one test link before the full story.
The Prime Minister's official London home is 10 Downing Street Learn the one test link before the full story.

Spot the correct statement

The real test often asks you to recognise a correct sentence, not write an answer from memory. You should be able to spot statements like these:

  • The Prime Minister appoints the cabinet.
  • The Prime Minister leads the government.
  • The Prime Minister's official London home is 10 Downing Street.

Main roles

Role What to remember
Prime Minister Appointed by the monarch; leads the government and appoints the cabinet
Cabinet About 20 senior ministers who run departments and make major policy decisions
Opposition Usually the second-largest party in the House of Commons
Shadow cabinet Challenges government policy and suggests alternatives
Civil service Politically neutral support for ministers and public services
Devolved administrations Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have some powers of their own

Government roles

The monarch appoints the Prime Minister. In practice, this is normally the person who can command support in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister leads the government. The official London home is 10 Downing Street. The country house is Chequers.

The cabinet is made up of about 20 senior ministers. They lead government departments and make major policy decisions.

Three minister jobs are easy to test:

  • Chancellor: the economy
  • Home Secretary: crime, policing and immigration
  • Foreign Secretary: relationships with other countries

The opposition is usually the second-largest party in the House of Commons. The shadow cabinet challenges government policy and suggests alternatives.

What to remember

  • Civil servants support ministers, deliver public services and must be politically neutral.
  • Local authorities provide local services and are funded by central government and local taxes.
  • The Greater London Authority and Mayor of London coordinate policies across London.
  • A UK general election must be held at least every five years.
  • Since 1997 some powers have been devolved to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • The Senedd is based in Cardiff and has 60 members.
  • The Scottish Parliament sits in Edinburgh and has 129 MSPs.
  • The Northern Ireland Assembly was established after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and has 90 MLAs.
  • Hansard records parliamentary proceedings.
  • The UK has a free press; broadcast political coverage must be balanced.
  • Voting and standing for office depend on citizenship, age and electoral registration rules.

Do not mix these up

  • The monarch appoints the Prime Minister; the Prime Minister appoints the cabinet.
  • Civil servants are politically neutral.
  • The Chancellor is linked to the economy, not foreign affairs.
  • The Home Secretary is linked to crime, policing and immigration.
  • The Foreign Secretary is linked to relationships with other countries.
  • Devolved administrations are not the same as local councils.

Key words

monarch appoints the Prime Minister, Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, Chequers, cabinet, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, opposition, shadow cabinet, civil service, local authorities, Mayor of London, devolved administrations, Senedd, Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, MSP, MLA, Hansard.

Devolution also appears in Britain since 1945. Practise this topic in government and law practice.

Quick check

Try from memory before opening the answer.

Who manages the economy?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Which minister is linked to crime, policing and immigration?

The Home Secretary.

Which parts of the UK have devolved administrations?

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Who appoints the Prime Minister?

The monarch.