Types of democracy
- Democracy means rule by the people. In a direct democracy, citizens vote on decisions themselves, such as in a referendum.
- In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives (such as MPs) to make decisions for them. The UK is a representative, parliamentary democracy.
- The UK is also a constitutional monarchy: the monarch is head of state, but their powers are used on the advice of the government.
The UK constitution
- A constitution is the set of rules about how a country is governed. The UK's constitution is uncodified: it isn't written in one document, but comes from Acts of Parliament, court judgments, conventions and important documents such as Magna Carta (1215).
- Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament is the highest law-making body.
- The rule of law means everyone, including the government, must obey the law.
Separation of powers
- The legislature (Parliament) makes laws. The executive (the Prime Minister, Cabinet and government departments) runs the country. The judiciary (judges) interprets the law.
- The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons. The Cabinet is the group of senior ministers.
- Civil servants run government departments and are politically neutral.
British values
- Democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.
Key terms
- Democracy
- A system where the people hold power, usually through voting.
- Direct democracy
- Citizens voting on decisions themselves.
- Representative democracy
- Citizens electing representatives to make decisions.
- Constitutional monarchy
- A system where the monarch is head of state but government is by elected politicians.
- Uncodified constitution
- A constitution not written in one single document.
- Rule of law
- The principle that everyone must obey the law.
- Executive
- The branch of government that runs the country.
- Judiciary
- The judges who interpret the law.