Forming & Organising the Work of Government (Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

How a government is formed

• In the UK, governments are usually formed as a result of a general election, which determines which political party has the majority of MPs in the House of Commons

Dissolution of Parliament and the election period

• When a general election is called, Parliament is dissolved

  • This means that all MPs stop being MPs

  • Former MPs then either stand down (retire) or stand as candidates in the election

The caretaker government

• Government ministers remain in post during the election campaign

  • They continue to run their departments to ensure continuity of government

  • However, they avoid making major new decisions or policy changes

  • Although they are no longer MPs, they remain ministers until a new government is formed

Counting votes and declaring the result

• Votes are counted overnight, and the result of the general election is usually known within 24 hours of polling stations closing

• Results are announced constituency by constituency across the country

• As soon as one party achieves a majority, the result is confirmed

The role of the monarch after an election

• The monarch’s role is politically neutral and follows constitutional convention

• After the election, the current Prime Minister visits the King

  • If the Prime Minister has won the election, the monarch asks them to form the next government

  • If the Prime Minister has lost the election, they advise the King on who is most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons

    • This is normally the Leader of the Opposition, who is then invited to see the King

    • They formally accept the seals of office, which symbolise their authority.

    • They then return to 10 Downing Street, after the outgoing Prime Minister has already left

Coalition and minority governments

• If no single party wins a majority, the situation is known as a hung parliament

• The existing Prime Minister may ask the King for time to negotiate with other parties

• This can result in

  • A coalition government, where two or more parties share power

    • E.g. In 2010, no party won a majority, so the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government that lasted until 2015

  • A confidence and supply agreement, where smaller parties support the government on key votes

    • E.g. In 2017, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agreed to support the Conservative government in return for additional funding for Northern Ireland

  • A minority government, when the governing party does not have a majority of seats in the House of Commons

    • The party in power has fewer than half of all MPs

    • It must rely on support from other parties to pass laws and budgets

How government is organised

• Once appointed, the new Prime Minister begins forming a government

• This involves appointing:

  • Cabinet ministers

  • Junior ministers

  • Whips

• This can involve over 100 ministerial and other parliamentary appointments

  • These appointments usually take place within the first few days of the new government

Departments and ministries

• The UK government is divided into departments, each responsible for a policy area

  • Departments help plan, develop and deliver government policies

• A ministry is a type of government department led by a senior minister

  • Ministers are usually MPs and are politically appointed

  • They set policy direction and make key decisions

  • They are accountable to Parliament for how their department operates

  • Examples include the Home Office and the Department for Education

Agencies

• Agencies carry out specific tasks on behalf of departments

  • They focus on delivery rather than policy-making

  • Specialist organisations to focus on particular services

• Examples of agencies

  • HM Revenue and Customs collects taxes

  • The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) manages driving licences and vehicle records

Civil servants

• Civil servants are paid officials who work in departments and agencies

  • They are not elected and are politically neutral

    • They serve the government of the day, regardless of party

    • This ensures continuity when governments change

  • They advise ministers and provide expert information and put government policies into practice

  • They manage day-to-day administration and public services