Government of the UK

Pre-reading task:

Read the following text and say who the country is really governed by.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The head of the state is the monarch, who reigns but does not govern. The country is actually ruled by a Cabinet of democratically elected officials called ministers.

The government is chosen from the majority party in the House of Commons. The head of the government is the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the monarch. But by the constitutional convention the monarch must choose the leader of the majority party. The Prime Minister chooses all the other ministers.

About 20 senior ministers form the Cabinet, which meets under the prime minister’s chairmanship. The Cabinet determines government policy as a whole.

Ministers who are in charge of the most important government departments are always included in the Cabinet. These departments include the Treasury, the Home Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Defense.

The Cabinet is responsible for the general conduct of government affairs, and it sees that the country’s laws are carried out. The Cabinet is also responsible for presenting proposed new laws and tax measures to Parliament.

Ex. 4 Answer the following questions:

1. Are the members of the government appointed?

2. Who chooses the Prime Minister?

3. Who determines policy?

4. What are the ministers in charge of?

5. What is the Cabinet responsible for?