Where does political power reside: with the citizen, parliament or government?

Distribution of Political Power

In a representative democracy like the UK, individual citizens hold a degree of power primarily through the right to vote.
Citizens also have the power to influence government policy through various means, such as participating in public consultations and by peaceably protesting or lobbying.
Citizens play a role in holding the government to account, both directly at the ballot box and indirectly through the press and digital platforms.

The Parliament is the supreme legislative body and has significant power as the place where laws are debated, passed, and amended.
It consists of two houses: the House of Commons, whose members are elected by the public, and the House of Lords, made up of appointed and hereditary members.
While members of the House of Commons hold their seats as a result of being elected by the public, their power is therefore derived from the voters, and they are accountable to them. They represent their constituents’ interests.

The Government exercises executive power, implementing and enforcing the laws created by Parliament.
The Prime Minister who leads the Government has considerable powers including setting policy, controlling the legislative agenda, making decisions on foreign affairs, and appointing government ministers.
Government departments, led by appointed ministers, also have the power to shape policies and make decisions that determine the direction of the country.

The power to govern is usually in the hands of those who have convinced the citizens and hence Parliament to let them have that power: the mandate to govern.
There is a constant interplay of power between the citizens, Parliament, and the Government. These powers can check and balance others. For example, through the power of judicial review, courts interpret the constitutionality of both Parliamentary legislation and Government actions.
However, the reality of where power lies can be in flux, often affected by events such as general elections, referendums, or shifts in public opinion.

Shifts in power can occur due to a number of factors, including demographic changes, changes in the economy, shifts in cultural attitudes, or in response to significant events such as war or natural disasters.
Depending on these changes, power may shift more towards the citizens (e.g., through increased voter turnout or widespread protest movements), towards Parliament (e.g., through constitutional changes or legislative action), or the Government (e.g., through an increased concentration of power in the executive branch).
Understanding these shifts in power can be crucial in evaluating how effectively democracy is functioning in the UK.