United Kingdom · Government
Government and administration in United Kingdom
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of State — The Sovereign
- Ceremonial; acts on ministerial advice.
- Executive — Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Drawn from and accountable to Parliament.
- Legislative — House of Commons and House of Lords
- 650 elected MPs; an appointed revising chamber.
- Judicial — Judiciary of England and Wales, Scotland, NI
- Appointed via independent selection commissions.
How legislation is made
First reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading in each House, then ping-pong on amendments, then Royal Assent.
Enforcement institutions
- Crown Prosecution Service
- Charges and prosecutes in England and Wales.
- Police forces
- 43 territorial forces in England and Wales, plus Police Scotland and PSNI.
- HM Revenue & Customs
- Tax investigation and prosecution referral.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveMinistry of JusticeRuns the courts, prisons, probation and legal aid systems.
- executiveHome OfficeResponsible for immigration, security, policing and citizenship.
- executiveHM Revenue & CustomsCollects taxes and administers benefits and customs.
- independentInformation Commissioner’s OfficeRegulates UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act and freedom of information.
- executiveCompanies HouseIncorporates and dissolves companies and maintains the public register.
- independentAcasProvides free early conciliation in employment disputes.
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