Government in Great Britain

The Prime Minister is the most senior officer of Her Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister's main responsibilities include: running the Government; appointing   Cabinet   Ministers   and   other ministers; coordinating the activities of the Cabinet    and    Government    Departments; appointing judges, creating Life Peers and making appointments to senior positions in the Church of England; leading the majority party; being the 'face' of the government in the UK and abroad.

The   Prime   Minister   is   technically appointed by the Monarch. The appointment

takes place after the results of a General Election indicate which political party wins the majority of seats in the House of Commons. After a General Election, the Queen calls upon the leader of the largest party to officially appoint him to a post of a Prime Minister, who then forms the

Government and the Cabinet.

The Cabinet is composed of about 20 ministers, although the m vary. It must be large enough to include senior ministers whilst small enough to allow for constructive discussions. 1

The functions of the Cabinet are to initiate and decide on policy, to exercise the supreme control of government and to coordinate Government Departments.

Departmental    ministers   normally    decide    all   matters    within responsibility. However, on important political matters they usually consultcolleagues collectively, either through the Cabinet or through a Cabinet committee. A decision by a departmental minister binds the Government as a whole.

Cabinet ministers are responsible for their departments, but the Cabinet whole is accountable to Parliament for its actions.

Most Cabinet ministers are heads of Government Departments. The work of Government is, therefore, divided among Departments each specializing in a particular subject, e.g. defence, education, trade and industry. The number and responsibilities of Government Departments can be changed by the Prime Minister according to the needs of the country.

These are the key Government Departments:

•    Her Majesty's Treasury is responsible for formulating and putting n the UK Government's financial and economy policy. The Treasury achieve economic stability, low inflation, sound public finances, efficient services and a more productive economy. The Minister in charge is the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Prime Minister is its political head.

The Home Office is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. It seeks to promote a safe, just and tolerant society through its policies to reduce crime, deliver justice and regulate entry to the United Kingdom. It is headed by the Home Secretary.

 The Ministry of Defence provides the defense capabilities to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories. It supports the government's foreign policy objectives, particularly those relating to peace and security. It is headed by the Secretary of State for Defence.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office promotes UK interests abroad and works with international bodies to support a strong world community. The FCO is  responsible  for  the  conduct of business  with  other  governments  and international organisations. This includes developing Britain's role as a member of   the   European   Union,   the   Commonwealth   and   the   United   Nations Organisation. The Minister responsible is the Foreign Secretary. The above list is not comprehensive. There are several other lesser known ministries.

The ministers in charge of Departments are usually of Cabinet rank. They are chosen for their special interest in, or knowledge of, the subjects handled by the Department. They are usually assisted by one or more junior ministers who are not in the Cabinet. The majority of the Government members belong to the House  of Commons, but major Departments often have at least one minister who is a Lord. While ministers act as political heads of Government Departments, the actual administration of the departments is earned out by civil servants also known as permanent secretaries.

As well as government departments there are government agencies formed to operate public services, e.g., the Post Office, British Rail, etc. Most of these agencies are subject to the control of one of the government departments.

The UK Parliament

Parliament is the most important democratic institution in the United Kingdom. It comprises the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the Monarch as its head. The House of Lords and the House of Commons sit separately and are constituted on entirely different principles. The

legislative process involves both Houses of Parliament and the Monarch.

The main functions of Parliament are:

•    to make laws regulating the life of the community;

•    to provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government                   

•    to protect the public and safeguard the rights of individuals

•    to scrutinize government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure; -

•    to debate the major issues of the day:

•   to examine European proposals before they become law.

Parliament has a maximum duration of five years. Each term is divided into sessions, which usually last for one year normally ending in October or November when Parliament is 'prorogued', followed shortly by the State Opening of Parliament.

The House of Commons is the centre of parliamentary power. It is directly responsible to the electorate, and from the 20^th century the House of Lords has recognized the supremacy of the elected chamber.

New legislation usually starts in this House which has primacy over the non elected House of Lords. 'Money bills', concerned solely with taxation and public expenditure, are always introduced in the Commons and must be passed by the Lords promptly and without amendment.

The presiding officer in the House of Commons is the Speaker, an MP who has been elected to act as chairman during debates. He is responsible for ensuring that the rules laid down by the House for the carrying out of its business are observed. It is the Speaker who calls MPs to speak, and maintains order in the House. He acts as the House's representative in its relations with outside bodies and the other elements of Parliament such as the Lords and the Monarch. The Speaker is also responsible for protecting the interests of minorities in the House. The Speaker must be impartial in all matters. He is elected by MPs in the House of Commons but then ceases to be involved in party politics. Even after retirement a former Speaker shall not take part in political issues.

The House of Lord is the non-elected chamber. It consists of Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal. The latter include Life Peers appointed for life by the Queen for various services to the nation, Hereditary Peers who inherit their titles and the Law Lords.

A major task of the House of Lords is to examine and pass legislation. In general, its functions are similar to those of the House of Commons. It plays a key role in revising legislation sent from the Commons, it also initiates legislation, and so shares the burden of the legislation load.