Ralph Charles Atkins

Constitution

The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution like that of the United States. The British constitution is formed partly by statutes, or legislative enactments of Parliament; partly by common law, based on decisions of courts of law; and partly by practices and precepts, which are known as conventions. These conventions are not part of the law of the country but are nevertheless necessary for running the machinery of government. Because the constitution is not written, it can be adapted as necessary either by an act of Parliament or by the general acceptance of a new convention.

There are three organs of government in the constitution: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The legislature consists of Parliament, which is the supreme authority in the country. The executive consists of the Cabinet members and other ministers who make and direct the policy of the country, along with government departments and local authorities. The judiciary determines common law and also interprets statutes.

The Government

The head of the government is the prime minister, a title that dates back to the 18th century. The prime minister is the leader of the majority party in Parliament and has the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. The prime minister is the main representative of the government and recommends the appointment of some senior judges and of senior clergy of the Church of England. The prime minister also draws up an annual list of honors, which are usually awarded on New Year's Day.

The prime minister selects a Cabinet of ministers. The Cabinet develops the government's policies, which are presented as proposed legislation to Parliament, and exercises control over government departments. Meetings of the Cabinet are held in private, and strict secrecy is maintained. Some matters are discussed by Cabinet committees, which consist of the ministers involved. The Cabinet Office handles the records of Cabinet meetings and provides information to ministers. To maintain stability the Cabinet must act as a collective group and issue unanimous statements and policies. If a minister does not agree with Cabinet policies, that minister must resign.

Ministers head government departments and are responsible for the work of those departments. The ministers must be prepared to answer questions about their departments in the House of Commons. Ministers who sit in the House of Lords have a parliamentary secretary who answers questions raised in the Commons. This system of parliamentary control over government departments discourages inefficiency and irresponsibility.

There are many government departments of various sizes and complexity. Major departments include the Treasury, which handles the country's finances; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Health, which operates the National Health Service; the Home Office, which controls the police and other law-and-order institutions; the Foreign Office; and the Post Office. There are several Scottish and Northern Irish departments. A Welsh Department of the Ministry of Education deals with special aspects of Welsh education. Most of the work of government departments is carried out by members of the civil service. Because none of the positions held by civil servants is an elective or political appointment, a change in government does not affect a department's staff.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 771