What do you need to know about government and law for the Life in the UK test?

Chapter 5 of the handbook is the second longest, with about 9,900 words. It covers how the UK is governed, the law and the courts, your rights, and your role in the community.

Many questions in this chapter ask who does what, or what a word means. Learn the jobs and the names together.

How is the UK governed?

The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a monarch as head of state. The monarch stays above day-to-day politics and asks the leader of the largest party to form the government that voters chose.

The UK constitution is not written down in one document. The handbook explains this by saying that the UK has never had a revolution that led to a completely new system of government.

What is the difference between the House of Commons and the House of Lords?

The Commons is made up of MPs, who are elected. The Lords is made up of peers, who are not elected. The Commons counts as the more important chamber, and it can overrule the Lords.

MPs are chosen at a General Election, held at least every five years, with the system called first past the post. In each constituency, the candidate with the most votes wins.

Since 1958, life peers have been named by the monarch on the Prime Minister's recommendation. The Lords looks over laws that the Commons has passed and can propose changes.

A short way to remember it: the Commons is elected and decides, and the Lords is appointed and checks.

Who does what in government?

The Prime Minister leads the party in power and chooses about 20 senior MPs to run departments. Together they form the cabinet, which usually meets weekly. The Prime Minister's home is 10 Downing Street.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy. The Home Secretary is responsible for crime, policing and immigration. The Foreign Secretary manages relationships with other countries.

The second largest party in the Commons is the opposition, and its leader appoints a shadow cabinet. The Speaker chairs debates and does not represent a party.

Civil servants support the government and are politically neutral. They are chosen on merit, and the handbook names four core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

What is devolution in the UK?

Devolution means that some powers pass from the central government to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, today the Senedd, both date from 1999.

The Northern Ireland Assembly followed the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. The UK government keeps control of defence, foreign policy, benefits and most tax.

The handbook gives the number of members for each body. Some of those numbers have changed since it was printed, so read the explanation on our questions and not only the number you remember.

What is the difference between criminal law and civil law?

Criminal law deals with crimes. The police, or sometimes another authority, investigate them, and the courts punish them. Civil law settles disputes between people or groups.

Civil law covers matters such as housing between landlords and tenants, consumer rights, employment, and debt.

Examples of criminal offences in the handbook include carrying a weapon, buying or selling drugs, causing harassment because of someone's religion or ethnic origin, and selling tobacco to anyone under 18.

Which courts hear which cases?

A Magistrates' Court deals with most minor criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland a Justice of the Peace Court does that job.

A Crown Court tries serious offences with a judge and a jury in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scottish serious cases go to a Sheriff Court, and the gravest ones, murder for example, to the High Court.

A Youth Court normally hears cases of young people aged 10 to 17 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland uses its Children's Hearings System.

Which rights and protections does the handbook describe?

Rights in Britain trace back to Magna Carta, to Habeas Corpus and to the 1689 Bill of Rights. The UK signed the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950, among the first countries to do so, and the Human Rights Act 1998 brought it into UK law.

UK law bans unfair treatment at work and in daily life on grounds such as age, disability, sex, race, religion, sexuality and marital status.

Domestic violence, female genital mutilation and forcing someone to marry are all crimes in the UK.

What does the handbook say about voting?

To vote you must be on the electoral register. On election day polling stations are open from 7.00 am until 10.00 pm, and you can ask for a postal ballot if getting there is hard.

The handbook says that photo ID at the polling station is needed in Northern Ireland only. That has changed: photo ID is now needed to vote in person in UK general elections in Great Britain too.

For the test, know what the handbook says. For real elections, check today's rule on gov.uk before you go to vote.

Check yourself

Can you say in one sentence what the Commons does, and what the Lords does?

Can you match each of these to a job: Chancellor, Home Secretary, Speaker, civil servant?

Can you give one example of criminal law and one of civil law?

Can you name the courts for minor and serious cases in England, and in Scotland?