The United Kingdom has a parliamentary government led by Prime Minister James Gordon Brown and appointed Cabinet ministers. The bicameral legislative branch consists of an unelected House of Lords and elected House of Commons, whose members are elected to five-year terms. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court of the UK and includes regional and local courts. Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland exercise some powers but the UK remains a unitary state without federalism.

1. Structure of Government I Executive Branch Head of Government is Prime Minister James Gordon Brown Cabinet of Ministers appointed by Prime Minister Hereditary monarchy After Legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually the Prime Minister Legislative Branch House of Lords- no elections Made up of 92 hereditary peers (elections only held as vacancies on the hereditary peerage arise) It is very limited, can only delay a House of Commons bill House of Commons Made up of members of parliament: elected from single-member districts General Election takes place once every 5 years

2. Structure of Government II Judicial Branch Supreme Court of the UK was established in 2009 They have different Courts in different regions Senior Courts of England and Wales Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) Scotland’s Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary Court systems set up like in the US

3. Regional and Local Governments There is one central government Federalism does not play a role