Where does political power reside in the UK and how is it controlled?

Political power in the UK resides primarily within the sovereign Parliament – the main legal authority in the country.
The UK Parliament consists of two houses: The House of Commons and The House of Lords.
The Monarch is also part of the UK Parliament, however, the monarchy’s power is largely ceremonial.
The House of Commons is made up largely of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected through general elections.
Here, the party with the majority of MPs forms the government and their leader becomes the Prime Minister.
The role of the House of Lords is to examine and revise legislation from the House of Commons.
Members of the House of Lords, known as peers, are not elected and hold positions for life or until retirement.

The Government is responsible for implementing policy and proposing new laws.
The Prime Minister has the executive power, leading the government, overseeing the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies.
The Cabinet - a group of senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister - assists in decision-making and policy implementation.

Political parties play a significant role in the UK parliamentary system.
Parties with the most members in the House of Commons usually form the Government, while the party with the second highest number of seats becomes the Opposition.

The electorate (voting public) has a major role in controlling power in the UK through the right to vote in regular general and local elections.
Free press and media also play a role in the control of power by holding those in power to account, scrutinising their policies and actions.
Formal checks and balances exist in the UK system; for instance, every new law (bill) has to pass through a series of stages in both Houses of Parliament.
Judicial review allows courts to oversee the actions of the Government, ensuring they act within the law.
Pressure groups and lobbying have a role in control of power, allowing individuals, communities and organisations to influence political decisions.

The UK is composed of four countries – England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, each having varying levels of self-government.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have a devolved legislature and government while England is governed directly by the UK Parliament.
Devolved administrations make decisions on certain issues like health, education and transport, etc., adding a further layer to the political power structure of the UK.