The document discusses the roles and responsibilities of different branches of government in the UK. It explains that the government is made up of the Prime Minister, government ministers, Members of Parliament, mayors, and local council members. The Prime Minister leads the ruling political party and makes important decisions. Ministers oversee government departments, while MPs represent local constituencies and vote on new laws. Mayors chair local councils and promote their communities. Council members work to improve local services and infrastructure.

2. Unit 1
Government, policies and the public services
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3. Branches of government
• In our last session we looked at the three
‘systems of power’ that work together to ensure
the smooth running of the nation.
Legislative power
Judicial power Executive power

4. • The aim of this session is to enable you to
understand the main roles in government in the
UK.
• The objective is that upon completion of this
session you will have studied:
– The main roles of:
• The Prime Minister
• Government Ministers
• Members of Parliament (MPs)
• Mayors
• Council members

5. The main roles in government
• The government in its current form could
not work effectively without people who
fulfil the main roles needed to ensure the
country works effectively and decisions
are made and implemented:
• The Prime Minister
• Government Ministers
• Members of Parliament (MPs)
• Mayors
• Council members

6. Key terms:
• Prime Minister: the leader of the political party
with the most seats in the House of Commons.
• Ministers: usually MPs appointed by the Prime
Minister to take charge of a government office.
• The Cabinet: committee of the most senior
government ministers who meet once a week to
support the Prime Minister in running the
country.

7. The Prime Minister (PM)
• The leader of the political party with the
highest number of ministers in the HOC.
• Very demanding and difficult job.

8. The Prime Minister (PM)
• Admin, bureaucratic and
public duties:
– Allocation of duties to
ministers
– Appointment and dismissal
of ministers
– Appointment of chairs of
national industries
– The giving out of honours
– Sets the agenda for
government business
– Controls the release of
information to the Cabinet,
Parliament and the public.

9. The power of the PM
• Most influential politician
in Cabinet.
• Significant role in EU and
world matters.
• Meets with other heads of
state to discuss global
foreign and financial
polices.
• His decisions have
implications beyond UK
borders.

10. Government ministers
• MPs appointed by the
Prime Minister to take
charge of a
government office.
• The 20 or so most
important form the
PMs most trusted
advisers.
• They are called the
Cabinet.

11. The role of the Cabinet
• To ensure that key social
problems are reviewed,
such as rising crime
rates, inflation and the
state of the NHS.
• To help ensure that all
government ministries are
able to communicate
freely with each other.
• To ensure that decisions
taken by one department
do not have unintended
consequences on another
department.

12. Members of Parliament (MP)
• Each MP is elected to represent the views of
their area of the country.
• They listening to and act upon the concerns of
their ‘constituents’.
• The less senior they are in the government the
more time they have to represent their
constituents views.
• They work for their local population; they deal
with and report to central government local
concerns.

13. Members of Parliament (MP)
• MPs vote on changes to and the
introduction of new laws.
• Such votes can change the way the public
services work and what they are allowed
to do.
• Think of an existing law or a proposed
new law that you disagree with or a new
law that you think needs to be introduced.
Lets discuss your thinking.

14. Mayors
• Normally elected by local
councillors for one year.
• Their main duties are:
– Representing their local
council on civic and
ceremonial occasions.
– Chairing meeting of the
local council.
– Promoting their area.
– Supporting charities and
community projects.
If you were Mayor of where you lived what
would you change or improve?

15. Local Council Members
• Local councillors are elected by the local
community.
• Their role is to improve the quality of life in their
area such as:
– Local transport
– Local education
– Local public services
• They are often local community leaders and
promote the interests of local concerns.
• Think of an improvement you would like to a
local issue where you live and let’s discuss it.

16. Summary
• The aim of this session was to enable you to
understand the main roles in government in the
UK.
• The objective was that upon completion of this
session you will have studied:
– The main roles of:
• The Prime Minister
• Government Ministers
• Members of Parliament (MPs)
• Mayors
• Council members

17. Any questions?

18. Next session?
• To know the responsibilities of
government departments.