About Britain - The Government

The Government

The British constitution has evolved over many centuries. Unlike the constitutions of the United States, France and many Commonwealth countries, the British constitution has not been assembled any time into a single, consolidated document. Instead it is made up on common law, statute law and convention.

Of all the democratic countries in the world, only Israel is comparable to Britain in having no single document codifying the way its political institutions function and setting out the basic rights and duties of its citizens. Britain does, however, have certain important constitutional documents, including the Magna Carta (1215) which protects the rights of the community against the Crown; the Bill of Rights (1689) which extended the powers of Parliament, making it impracticable for the Sovereign to ignore the wishes of the Government; and the Reform Act (1832), which reformed the system of parliamentary representation.

Common law has never been precisely defined. It is deduced from custom, or legal precedents, and interpreted in court cases by judges. Conventions are rules and practices which are not legally enforceable, but which are regarded as indispensable tot he working of government. Many conventions are derived from the historical events through which the British system of government has evolved. One convention is that Ministers are responsible and can be held to account for what happens in their Departments. The constitution can be altered by Act of Parliament, or by general agreement to alter a convention.

The flexibility of the British constitution helps to explain why it has developed so fully over the years. However, since Britain joined the European Community in 1973, the rulings of the European Court of Justice have increasingly determined and codified sections of British law in those areas covered by the various treaties to which Britain is a party. In the process British constitutional and legal arrangements are beginning to resemble those of Europe.

Parliament

A parliament has a maximum five-year life. Its life is divided into year-long sessions. Each year, there are an average 168 'sitting' days, when MPs debate and pass new legislation.

The Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster)

covers 8 acres
has 11 courtyards; 100 staircases and two miles of passages

There are 9 parties with representatives, plus one independent member, elected to the present parliament.

Women won the right to vote and stand for election in 1928.

Anyone over 21 (with certain exceptions) can stand for Parliament after paying a £500 deposit - refundable if they get more than 5% of the vote in their constituency.

The Labour Party won the last election in 2001.

Since 1945 - the Conservative Party has won 8 elections.

The Labour Party has won 8 elections.

Before the State Opening of Parliament in November the house is checked by the Yeomen of the Guard in commemoration of the search that uncovered the Gunpowder Plot of 1606.

The only MP permitted to drink alcohol in the House is the Chancellor of the Exchequer when delivering the budget speech.

Britain's current Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

Britain's current Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

The Government

Every year some 50,000 questions are asked in the ministers' question times that are held for 55 minutes each day from Mondays to Thursdays.

There are usually 20 ministers in the Cabinet - all chosen by the Prime Minister.

All ministers must be members of the House of Commons or the House of Lords.

When ministers are changed it is called a cabinet 'reshuffle'.

The Lobby is a select group of journalists allowed access to the lobby of Parliament to talk to ministers.

Local Government

These run local services raising money through Council Tax, boosted by cash from central government.

There are 387 local authorities in England. London has 32 borough councils.

The 22 local authorities in Wales spend half of the country's £8 billion service budget.

There are also 32 councils in Scotland and 26 district councils in Northern Ireland.

In July 2000 a London-wide authority with a mayor was created to take over responsibility for many of the capital's services.

Over 2 million people are employed by local authorities in the UK.

Local authority spending amounted to 25% of all public expenditure in 1999/2000 - £81.2 billion.