UK government

Question 1

What is a constitution?

Answer 1

A set of principles by which a country is governed with laws and conventions.

Question 2

Is the British constitution written down?

Answer 2

no, it is UNWRITTEN because unlike Latin America or France it has never had a revolution

Question 3

What are the different parts of the British government?

Answer 3

the monarchy, Parliament, the prime minister, the cabinet, the judiciary (courts), the police, the civil service (funcionarios), local government (ayuntamientos)

Question 4

What do you call the governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Answer 4

Devolved governments (they only have limited power)

Question 5

Who is the head of state in the UK?

Answer 5

King Charles III

Question 6

England has a constitutional monarchy - what does this mean?

Answer 6

The King does not rule the country but appoints the government.

Question 7

What important things does the King do?

Answer 7

He has regular meetings with the prime minister, he opens the new parliamentary session each year where he makes a speech to summarise government policies, he represent the UK to the rest of the world.

Question 8

What is the National Anthem?

Answer 8

“God Save the King, God save our gracious king”

Question 9

What do new citizens need to swear (jurar) to become a British citizen?

Answer 9

Oath of Allegiance and Affirmation of Allegiance

Question 10

What is the system of government in the UK?

Answer 10

A parliamentary democracy

Question 11

What is an MP?

Answer 11

A member of parliament

Question 12

What is a parliamentary constituency?

Answer 12

A small area of the UK like (West Norwood and Dulwich, Croydon) where people vote for a member of parliament to represent them.

Question 13

How can you win an election in the UK?

Answer 13

The party with the most parliamentary constituencies wins. NOT THE PARTY WITH THE MOST VOTES IN GENERAL.

Question 14

What happens if one political party does not get a majority?

Answer 14

Two parties can join together to form a coalition.

Question 15

What is the House of Commons?

Answer 15

This is where the democratically elected MPs meet (Parliament)

Question 16

What do they do in the House of Commons?

Answer 16

They create new laws and debate national issues.

Question 17

What is the House of Lords?

Answer 17

This is the other part of parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords). It has member who are not democratically elected.

Question 18

What do you call members of the House of Lords?

Answer 18

Peers

Question 19

Where do the peers come from?

Answer 19

They are important people like “hereditary peers” (they inherited their title) or “life peers” (politicians, businessmen etc)

Question 20

What happened to hereditary peers since 1999?

Answer 20

They lost the automatic right to attend the House of Lords. The prime minister now only elects a small number to represent them.

Question 21

Who is the speaker in the House of Commons?

Answer 21

This person chairs (dirige) debates in the House of Commons. He is neutral. He is chose by other MPs in a secret ballot.

Question 22

How often is there a general election in the UK?

Answer 22

Every 5 years

Question 23

What is “first past the post”?

Answer 23

The candidate that gets the most votes in each constituency gets elected and becomes an MP.

Question 24

How can I talk to my local MP?

Answer 24

In a local surgery where you can talk to them in person or you can write or call them.

Question 25

Where does the Prime minister live?

Answer 25

10 Downing Street

Question 26

What is the country house (outside London) of the prime minister called?

Answer 26

Chequers

Question 27

What is the cabinet?

Answer 27

The prime minister appoints 20 senior MPs to become ministers in charge of different departments.

Question 28

Who is responsible for the Economy?

Answer 28

Chancellor of the ExChequer

Question 29

Who is responsible for immigration, crime and policing?

Answer 29

Home Secretary

Question 30

Who is responsible for managing relations with foreign countries?

Answer 30

Foreign secretary

Question 31

What do you call other ministers in the cabinet?

Answer 31

Secretaries of States (responsible for education, health etc.)

Question 32

Who are the three main political parties?

Answer 32

Labour (Izquierda), Conservative party (Derecha), Liberal Democrats (Centro)

Question 33

What do you call the MPs that dont represent any of the main political parties?

Answer 33

Independents

Question 34

What is the second-largest party in the House of Commons called?

Answer 34

The Opposition party

Question 35

Who are shadow ministers?

Answer 35

Senior MPs from the opposition party - they challenge the ruling party.

Question 36

What is "Prime Ministers questions"?

Answer 36

When the leader of the opposition party and his MPs challenge the prime minister every week in parliament.

Question 37

What are pressure and lobby groups?

Answer 37

Organisations that try and influence government policy - like Greenpeace (environment) or business groups

Question 38

What are civil servants (Civil Service)?

Answer 38

Funcionarios - they deliver public services and are politically neutral

Question 39

What do you call the organisations in local government?

Answer 39

Local council (e.g. Lambeth council) or local authorities

Question 40

When do they have elections for local authorities and councils?

Answer 40

Every May

Question 41

What happened to the governments in 1997?

Answer 41

Powers were devolved from central government to give people in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland more control (in education for example)

Question 42

What is the name of the devolved administration in Wales? When was it formed? How many members are there?

Answer 42

The Senedd, 1999, 60 members

Question 43

What is the name of the devolved administration in Scotland? When was it formed? How many members are there?

Answer 43

The Scottish parliament, 1999, 129 members

Question 44

What is the name of the devolved administration in Northern Ireland? When was it formed? How many members are there?

Answer 44

The Northern Irish Assembly, 1998, 90 members

Question 45

When was the Northern Ireland Parliament created and abolished?

Answer 45

1922 (when Ireland was divided) to 1972

Question 46

What can Senedd legislate?

Answer 46

Education, health and social services, economic development, housing

Question 47

What can the Scottish parliament legislate?

Answer 47

Civil and criminal law, health, education, planning, some tax

Question 48

What can the Northern Irish assembly legislate?

Answer 48

Education, Agriculture, the environment, Health, Social services

Question 49

Does the UK have free press?

Answer 49

Yes

Question 50

What is the Hansard?

Answer 50

Official reports of what happens in parliament

Question 51

When did the UK start to have a fully democratic voting system?

Answer 51

1928

Question 52

When was the voting age of 18 set?

Answer 52

1969

Question 53

What is a polling station?

Answer 53

The place you go to vote

Question 54

What is a poll card?

Answer 54

The information they send you with the location of where to vote and your personal details.

Question 55

What is a ballot paper?

Answer 55

The paper where you vote for the MP you want

Question 56

Everyone in the UK over 18 can stand for office (ser politicos). Which groups cannot participate?

Answer 56

Civil servants (funcionarios), Armed forces (ejercito), Criminals

Question 57

What is the public gallery?

Answer 57

The place you can listen to debates in parliament

Question 58

Where does the Northern Irish Assembly meet?

Answer 58

In the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, Belfast

Question 59

Where does the Scottish parliament meet?

Answer 59

In the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrod, Edinburgh

Question 60

Where does the Senedd meet?

Answer 60

The Senedd building, Cardiff

Question 61

What is the Commonwealth and how many member states are there?

Answer 61

An association of countries that were once part of the British Empire - Granada, La India, Tanzania etc. There are 54 member states.

Question 62

What is the Council of Europe and how many member countries are there?

Answer 62

It is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights. 47 member countries. It has NO POWER TO MAKE LAWS.

Question 63

What is the purpose of the UN (United Nations?) and how many countries are members?

Answer 63

To promote peace after the Second World War. 190 countries.