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Home , Lords Spiritual

The main political institutions in Britain

Government Civil Made up of the political party (or parties, in the case of a coalition) with a Service majority in the House of Commons. The Leader of the largest party Including non- becomes Prime Minister, and most Ministers are MPs in the House of departmental Commons. public bodies, regulators and House of Commons local government 650 Members of Approximately 830 Peers servants Each represents around 75,000 Life Peers are appointed by the Supporting the voters in a single-member House of Lords Appointments political constituency and is elected with a Commission. There are also 26 institutions, plurality of votes called “first-past- Lords Spiritual (Church of creating and the-post”. ) and 92 Hereditary Peers. implementing legislation without being Scottish Welsh London affiliated to a Parliament Assembly Assembly political party or promoting the 129 Members of the 60 Members of the 25 Members of the views of a Welsh Assembly particular (MSPs) (AMs) (AMs) political party. 73 are elected from 40 are elected from 14 are elected from single-member single-member single-member constituencies, while constituencies, while constituencies, while European 56 are elected on a 20 are elected on a 11 are elected on a Parliament regional list system. regional list system. list system. Members of the European Local Government Parliament 407 councils in England, and (MEPs) District, Borough, Metropolitan, Unitary and County Councils deliver Elected on a list services, run elections and collect council tax. Councils elect different system, with numbers of councillors, some have directly-elected mayors, and some different regions have parish councils. electing between 4 and 10 MEPs depending on PCCs 41 Police Crime Commissioners in most of size.

Other institutions with influence on politics in Britain

Political parties The United Nations European political institutions

The courts The media Trade unions Corporate or professional bodies, non-governmental organisations, The stock exchange Faith bodies think-tanks, academics... The main political institutions of the European Union

Citizens Citizens from the Member Nations vote for MEPs.

European The European European Parliament Parliament approves Commission Commissioners 751 MEPs directly elected by 28 Commissions, one per Member European citizens Nation Represents citizens in these Day-to-day running of the EU, member countries. Scrutinises initiating legislation, ensuring Bills, approves the EU budget. passed legislation is implemented.

Laws need agreement between the European The The European Council Parliament and the Council of European appoints Commissioners the European Union Commission initiates draft legislation for Council of the the European European Council European Union Parliament and (the EU Summit) the Council of Head of State or Government of all (Council of Ministers) the European 28 Member Nations National ministers from the 28 Union to Member Nations for specific consider Provides executive power. Appoints issues the EU President, Commission President, Commissioners and Represents governments of President. Member Nations.

Governments The 28 Member Nations send national politicians to the Council of the European Union. Heads of State or Government attend European Council.

Court of Justice of the European European Court European Union Central Bank of Auditors Contains the European Court of Administers the monetary Audits finances of the Justice, the highest court in the EU policy of the Eurozone European Union

Not to be confused with... The Council of Europe ...of which the best known is... The institutions of the Council of Europe include the The European Court Secretary General, the Committee of Ministers, the of Human Rights Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of the Council of Created by the European Europe, the European Court of Human Rights (see Convention on Human Rights of right), the Commissioner for Human Rights, and the 1950 Conference of International NGOs.