The UK has a fusion of powers, meaning that the three elements of the state (legislature, executive and judiciary) work together. The executive sits in the legislature and, until recently, so did the judiciary. The 2005 Constitutional Reform Act made the judiciary independent of the legislature and executive.
There are three main parts to the UK Parliament: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch. Parliament is sovereign, meaning it is the UK’s highest authority. Parliament must pass all laws except for devolved powers.
Government in Parliament
The government is made up of around 100 jobs. The government’s cabinet comprises the most senior figures who run the government. They sit on the front bench in the House of Commons. The top four jobs in the cabinet are Prime Minister, Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary.
The government is the ruling body in the country with specific responsibility for areas of policy, such as housing, transport and energy. All members of government are Members of Parliament (MPs). However, not all MPs are members of the government.
