A level politcs the executive

• This lesson is an introduction to the executive branch of the UK's government
• Executive branch


  Concerned with the formulation and implementation of policy
• Legislative branch


  Concerned with the passing of law
• Judicial branch


  Concerned with the interpretation and application of law
• Ministers who form the core of the executive are drawn from Parliament and are accountable to Parliament
• Prime Minister


  Head of government, provides political leadership within the cabinet system and the UK as a whole
• The current Prime Minister at the time of recording is Rishi Sunak
• Prime Minister


  • Must be a member of the Westminster Parliament
  • Must be the leader of a political party and have the support of their party
  • The political party they lead must normally have a majority in the House of Commons
• In recent years, Prime Ministers have been elected by the internal membership of the Conservative party rather than by general election
• Majority government


  One political party has an absolute majority of seats in the House of Commons and forms the government
• Minority government


  No political party has an absolute majority of seats in the House of Commons, so the government relies on support from other parties to pass legislation
• Coalition government


  Two or more parties agree to form the government together when no single party has a majority