Start with the different jobs
Parliament and the government are closely connected, but they do different jobs. Parliament makes laws, examines what the government does and debates matters of public concern. The government decides policy and runs public services through ministers and departments. In a question, ask who is proposing or carrying out a policy, and who is examining it.
A parliamentary democracy with a monarch
The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch as head of state. The monarch, currently King Charles III, does not rule the country: the monarch appoints the government that people have chosen in an election, and opens each new session of Parliament with a speech setting out the government's plans. The Prime Minister is head of the government.
The UK's constitution is not written down in a single document, which is why it is often described as unwritten. It is made up of laws, conventions and court rulings.
The House of Commons
The House of Commons is the elected part of Parliament and the more important of the two Houses. Its members are called MPs.
- There are 650 MPs. Each represents one area of the country, called a constituency.
- MPs are chosen at a general election, which is held at least every five years.
- If an MP dies or resigns between general elections, a by-election chooses a new MP for that constituency.
- The Speaker chairs debates in the Commons and keeps order. The Speaker is an MP chosen by the other MPs and stays politically neutral.
A minister is often an MP as well, which is one reason the words can feel confusing. A person can have a role in Parliament and a role in government at the same time; in a question, focus on the role being described.
The House of Lords
Members of the House of Lords, known as peers, are not elected. Most are appointed for life; some hold hereditary seats, and senior bishops of the Church of England also sit there. The Lords examines and revises proposed laws, and can suggest changes to them. The House of Commons can overrule the House of Lords if it needs to.
The government
After a general election, the party with the most MPs usually forms the government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister. The Prime Minister appoints senior ministers to the Cabinet, which makes important decisions about government policy. Some of the best-known roles are:
- the Chancellor of the Exchequer, responsible for the economy
- the Home Secretary, responsible for crime, policing and immigration
- the Foreign Secretary, responsible for the UK's relations with other countries
Other ministers, often called Secretaries of State, lead departments such as education and health. Civil servants carry out the government's policies. They are politically neutral: they work for whichever government is in office.
The second-largest party in the Commons usually becomes the official Opposition. Its leader, the Leader of the Opposition, appoints a shadow cabinet whose members follow the work of each minister. Each week while Parliament is sitting, the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs at Prime Minister's Questions.
Parliament or government? A comparison
| Who | Part of | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| House of Commons | Parliament | Elected MPs debate and vote on laws and hold the government to account |
| House of Lords | Parliament | Examines and revises proposed laws |
| The monarch | Parliament, as head of state | Opens Parliament and gives Royal Assent to new laws |
| Prime Minister and Cabinet | Government | Decide policy and lead government departments |
| Civil servants | Government | Carry out policy, staying politically neutral |
| The Opposition | Parliament | Question and challenge the government |
Practise with the table covered: name a role, then say which side it sits on and one thing it does.
How a bill becomes law
A proposed law is called a bill. In outline:
- the bill is debated and voted on in the House of Commons and the House of Lords
- both Houses must agree on its final wording, which can mean it passes between them more than once
- the monarch gives Royal Assent, and the bill becomes an Act of Parliament: a law
Royal Assent is a formality today, but it is the step that turns a bill into law.
Devolved governments and local councils
Some powers belong to devolved institutions: the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff, and the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont in Belfast. Areas such as education and health are devolved, while others, such as defence, foreign affairs and immigration, stay with the UK Parliament and government. Local councils run services in their own area. Read whether a question is about the UK Parliament, a devolved institution or a local council.
Who can vote
The voting age for UK general elections is 18. GOV.UK says British citizens, Irish citizens and qualifying Commonwealth citizens who are 18 or over can vote in UK Parliament elections, as long as they are registered to vote. Voting is secret: nobody can see how you voted. Check the current rules on GOV.UK for other elections, such as local ones, because they can differ.
Common questions
What is the difference between Parliament and the government?
Parliament, which is the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch, makes laws and examines the government. The government, led by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, decides policy and runs public services.
How many MPs are there?
There are 650 MPs in the House of Commons, each representing a constituency.
How often are general elections held?
At least every five years. If an MP dies or resigns in between, a by-election is held in that constituency.
Who can vote in a UK general election?
British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over who are registered to vote. GOV.UK has the current rules for each type of election.
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