Institutions of the Constitution (Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

The power of government, Prime Minister and cabinet

• The UK government has significant power to make decisions and introduce laws

  • However, this power is not unlimited and is checked by other institutions

• Parliament may need to agree to government proposals

  • MPs can debate, amend, or reject laws

• The courts can intervene if the government acts unlawfully

  • The UK Supreme Court can rule that government actions or laws are unlawful

• The public and the media can challenge the government

  • Protests, petitions, and media scrutiny can pressure the government to change course

Prime Ministerial and Cabinet power

• The Prime Minister is the head of the government, but the monarch is the Head of State

• The Prime Minister is appointed by the Monarch

  • This usually happens after a general election or if a Prime Minister resigns

• Traditionally, the Prime Minister has been described as first amongst equals

  • This means the Prime Minister is the most senior member of the Cabinet but is expected to work collectively with other ministers

  • Decisions are meant to be discussed and agreed through Cabinet government

• The Cabinet is made up of the most senior government ministers

  • Cabinet members are appointed, promoted or dismissed by the Prime Minister

  • The Prime Minister is often described as first amongst equals

    • This means they lead the Cabinet but are still part of a team

• Collective responsibility means all Cabinet members must publicly support government decisions

  • If a minister disagrees, they are expected to resign

  • This principle helps ensure unity and stability in government

• The Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament

  • They must answer questions and justify government actions

• The Prime Minister is also accountable to their political party

  • Party members can remove a leader through a leadership challenge

  • Examples include Margaret Thatcher (1990) and Boris Johnson (2023)

Presidential government

• In recent years, it has been argued that the UK is moving towards presidential government

  • This term suggests the Prime Minister has become too powerful, similar to the President of the United States

  • Prime Ministers now have greater control over:

    • Media appearances

    • Policy announcements

    • Cabinet appointments and dismissals

Sofa government

• Sofa government refers to decision-making that happens informally

  • Instead of full Cabinet discussions, decisions are made through private conversations with a small group of advisers or ministers

• This style of leadership has been criticised because:

  • It reduces transparency

  • It weakens collective responsibility

  • Other Cabinet ministers may feel excluded or undermined

Limits on Prime Ministerial power

• Although the Prime Minister appoints the Cabinet, they do not have unlimited power

• Cabinet ministers can:

  • Leak disagreements to the media to weaken the Prime Minister’s authority

  • Threaten to resign, which can damage public confidence

• If enough senior ministers resign, the Prime Minister may be forced to step down

Parliamentary sovereignty

• Parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament is the highest legal authority in the UK

  • Parliament can make or change any law

• The government proposes laws, but Parliament decides whether they become law

• Even governments with large majorities can face resistance

  • In 2025, Labour plans to cut welfare spending were withdrawn after 108 Labour MPs opposed them

• This shows that Parliament can limit government power, even when the government is strong

The roles of the legislature, opposition, political parties and monarch

Legislature

• The legislature refers to the bodies that make laws

  • In the UK, this is Parliament, made up of the House of Commons and House of Lords

Key roles of the legislature

The opposition

• The Shadow Cabinet offers alternative ministers and policy ideas to those of the government

  • They can also use the media to campaign, set the public agenda and critique the government

• PMQs and Ministers' Question Time allows the opposition to put ministers on record and highlight their failures

• Select committees and opposition day debates can necessitate a government response, even if it is not binding

• They develop their own policy alternatives through manifestos and consultation papers

• They can use of parliamentary procedures such as urgent questions to scrutinise the government

The influence of the opposition

• The opposition is vital for democratic accountability

  • It concentrates scrutiny and provides policy alternatives

• However, its effectiveness depends on resources, unity and media access

• A strong opposition can shape policy debates but their influence can be limited by large government majorities

The monarch

• The UK is a constitutional monarchy with the King as the Head of State

• Laws are made by Parliament in the monarch’s name, and the monarch carries out key constitutional roles

  • Example include opening Parliament, appointing the Prime Minister and giving Royal Assent to laws

• The Monarch is considered to be neutral and carries out their role on the advice of the government, ensuring democracy is respected

Other roles of the monarch

• He agrees to the calling of a general election

• He delivers the King's Speech to Parliament

• He is also Head of State of 15 other Commonwealth countries

• He agrees to the appointment of members of the House of Lords 

• He awards honours to citizens on the advice of the government 

Citizens, the judiciary, police and civil service

Citizen roles

• Citizens are the foundation of the nation state

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

• 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