Institutions of the British Constitution: Citizens, the Police and the Civil Service (AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

Citizens

• Citizens are the foundation of the nation state

  • A nation state exists because citizens belong to it and recognise its authority

Citizen roles

• In a democracy, citizens have the power to hold elected representatives to account

  • This is mainly done through the electoral process, such as voting in elections

  • Referendums give citizens a direct say in major political decisions

  • Every citizen’s vote carries equal weight, regardless of background

• They play an important part in the justice system

  • They can serve as jurors, witnesses or magistrates

• Citizens help maintain the social fabric of society

  • This includes involvement in community groups and volunteering

• Voter apathy is a concern for politicians

  • Some citizens choose not to vote or take part in politics

• Turnout has been especially low in Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections

  • As a result, in 2025 the government announced their abolition

• In some countries, voting is compulsory

  • Citizens can be fined for not voting, which increases turnout

The police

• The police are responsible for upholding the law, preventing crime and protecting the public

• The UK has a number of regional police forces

  • Over time, smaller forces have been merged into larger ones for efficiency

• Since 2012, police forces in England and Wales have been overseen by elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs)

  • PCCs were designed to improve public accountability.

  • This role is now being abolished, and police forces will instead be overseen by directly elected mayors

• The Metropolitan Police in London is different

  • It is partly under the authority of the Home Secretary

  • It is also overseen by the Mayor of London

The civil service

• The civil service is made up of people who work for and advise the government

  • They help implement government policies and run public services

• The UK civil service is based on three key principles:

  1. Impartiality

     • Civil servants serve the government of the day, regardless of political party

     • They are not allowed to take part in political campaigning.

  2. Anonymity

     • Civil servants work behind the scenes

     • They are not publicly identified with specific decisions or policies.

  3. Permanence

     • Civil servants are part of a long-term career structure

     • They usually remain in their roles when governments change

• In recent years, more temporary adviser roles have been created

  • These advisers are political appointments and usually leave when the government changes

• Senior civil servants are publicly accountable

  • They regularly appear before parliamentary select committees, where their work is questioned in public