Monarch
Who is the current monarch of the UK?
Charles III
(Charles Windsor, of German descent!)
What are the two houses of Parliament?
House of Commons (elected, constantly changing) and House of Lords (unelected, stable).
How often are general elections usually held?
Every 5 years.
Which party is traditionally for the working class and represented by the colour red?
Labour
True or False:
The UK Parliament consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch.
True!
These three elements together constitute the Parliament.
True or False:
The King can refuse Royal Assent (that means, he can refuse to approve a law once it's already been voted through by parliament)
False!
"Royal assent" (assent = approval) is just a formality. The monarch must remain politically neutral. Although possible in theory, this never happens, and would probably lead to calls to abolish the monarchy. The last refusal of Royal Assent was in 1707.
On which side of the Speaker does the government sit?
The government sits on the Speaker’s right; opposition on the left.
What voting system is used in general elections?
FPP (First Past the Post)
Which party is traditionally for business and tradition and represented by the colour blue?
The Conservative Party (AKA "The Tories")
True or False:
The UK has the world’s oldest surviving parliament, which inspired most modern democracies.
True!
The UK Parliament is the oldest continuously operating national parliament, evolving from the 13th century onwards. It was, in effect, the first modern parliamentry democracy, providing the basis for the governmental system of the USA, which is largely copied off of us!
What is one ceremonial role the King performs during the year?
Opening Parliament / Trooping the Colour / Appointing the PM, etc.
A party official who ensures members vote with the party line (often with career pressure and even blackmail) is known as a ______
A "whip"!
In our "first past the post" voting system, what does a candidate need to win a seat?
More votes than any other candidate in their constituency (similar to a Wahlkreis)
Which party campaigns strongly for Scottish independence?
The SNP (Scottish National Party)
True or False:
The UK has a written constitution (Verfassung oder Grundgesetz) which we're all very proud of!
False!
The UK actually has no constitution. Rather, our "constitution" is just the whole collection of laws, treaties, and precedents which the country abides by.
Who advises the monarch on government matters?
The Prime Minister, during their famous weekly meetings (and Privy Council)
How does a bill become a law?
It must:
1) Pass through the House of Commons
2) Pass through the House of Lords
3) Receive Royal Assent (a formality)
Give one criticism of First Past the Post.
It can produce unfair results; some parties win many votes but few seats.
Which party is known for liberal-centrist views and yellow branding?
The Liberal Democrats
True or False:
The prime minister is the leader of whatever party received the most votes overall.
False!
A party wins a general election if it gets the most MPs (member of parliaments) across the UK's 650 constituencies.
True or False: The monarch is the Head of Government, but the Prime Minister is the Head of State.
False!
The other way round.
Why do some people want to reform or abolish the House of Lords?
It’s unelected and seen by some as undemocratic or outdated.
In 2024, which party came 3rd in number of votes but won only 5 seats.
Reform UK, winning 14.3% of the vote.
Which party has gained support by opposing further immigration and “woke” policies?
Reform UK
True or False:
Despite our different traditions, the UK – like Germany and the USA – is a federal republic.
False!
The UK is neither a collection of federal states, nor a republic. Rather, it is a constitutional monarchy with a democratically elected parliament.