16 short questions and answers on government & law, based on the official handbook. Read them, then test yourself with the free mock tests.
The monarch, King Charles III. The role is ceremonial; the monarch stays politically neutral.
The House of Commons (elected MPs) and the House of Lords. Both sit at the Palace of Westminster.
The second chamber. Members are not elected: they are life peers, hereditary peers and bishops. It checks and revises new laws.
The leader of the party with the most MPs in the House of Commons. The PM picks the Cabinet.
Chairs debates in the House of Commons and keeps order. The Speaker is politically neutral.
At least every five years.
650. Each elects one MP.
First past the post: the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
By a form of proportional representation, where seats roughly match each party's share of the vote. This applies to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly. UK general elections are different: they use first past the post.
18 for UK general elections. You must also be on the electoral register.
Citizens of the UK, the Irish Republic and qualifying Commonwealth countries who live in the UK and are 18 or over can vote in all public elections.
Scottish Parliament: Holyrood, Edinburgh. Welsh Parliament (Senedd): Cardiff. Northern Ireland Assembly: Stormont, Belfast.
Magistrates' Courts handle minor crimes. Serious crimes go to the Crown Court with a judge and jury. In Scotland, the Sheriff Court.
12 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 15 in Scotland.
To protect life and property, prevent disturbance, and prevent and detect crime. They are independent of the government.
Buy alcohol or tobacco: 18. Drive a car: 17. Ride a moped: 16. Vote or stand as an MP: 18.