How is the UK governed and how do its institutions relate to one another?
An overview of UK government covering the constitution, Parliament, the prime minister and executive, the relationships between the branches, and devolution, and how these institutions fit together.
An overview of the AQA A-Level Politics UK Government module, covering the constitution, Parliament, the prime minister and executive, the relationships between the legislature, executive and judiciary, and devolution, and how to study them.
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What this module is asking
The UK Government section of AQA A-Level Politics asks you to understand the structure and workings of the UK political system: the nature of the constitution, the role of Parliament, the power of the prime minister and executive, the relationships between the three branches, and the impact of devolution. It rewards precise knowledge of institutions and balanced evaluation of where power really lies.
The five topics
How the parts fit together
The constitution sets the rules; Parliament is the sovereign law-making body within it; the executive governs but is accountable to Parliament; the judiciary interprets the law and checks the executive; and devolution distributes power below Westminster. The recurring theme is the location and limits of power. In theory parliamentary sovereignty makes Parliament supreme; in practice the executive dominates because it usually commands a Commons majority and controls the legislative timetable (the "elective dictatorship"). Against that dominance stand a growing set of checks: select committees and the Lords within Parliament, judicial review and the Supreme Court (the Miller cases) outside it, and the devolved governments below it. The crucial analytical point AQA rewards is that the balance is conditional: a large, united majority frees the executive, while a small, hung or divided Parliament empowers the checks, as the contrast between strong-majority governments and the 2017 to 2019 minority and hung parliaments shows.
How to study UK Government
Work dot point by dot point against the specification, learn key examples and reforms (the Human Rights Act 1998, the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Scotland Acts, the Miller cases), and practise the evaluative essay structure: a thesis, balanced and weighed arguments, and a sustained judgement. The 9-mark "explain and analyse three" questions reward three separate, developed and analysed points; the 25-mark essays reward a line of argument carried through every paragraph.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20209 marksExplain and analyse three ways in which power is dispersed in the UK system of government. (Paper 1, Section A, short-answer)Show worked answer →
Three distinct dispersals of power, each developed and analysed.
One: between the executive and the legislature. Parliament can scrutinise and ultimately dismiss the government, and the Lords revises legislation. Analyse that fusion of powers limits this, since the executive usually controls the Commons.
Two: to the judiciary. The Supreme Court and judicial review check that ministers act lawfully. Analyse that this is bounded by parliamentary sovereignty.
Three: to the devolved nations. Devolution transferred powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Analyse that this is asymmetric and reversible because Westminster remains sovereign.
Markers reward three clearly different dispersals, accurate detail, and analysis of how parliamentary sovereignty limits each.
AQA 202120 marksEvaluate the view that the UK executive dominates the political system. (Adapted from Paper 1, Section C essay; 25-mark essay rescoped to 20.)Show worked answer →
A balanced essay with a sustained judgement and developed arguments on both sides.
For dominance: the fusion of powers and a Commons majority let the executive control legislation and the timetable, the prerogative gives wide powers, and patronage disciplines the party (the "elective dictatorship").
Against dominance: select committees, the Lords, the courts (Miller cases), devolution and the need to retain party and Commons support all constrain the executive, especially without a large, united majority.
Markers reward a clear line of argument, named examples, weighing of the two sides, and a judgement that dominance is real but conditional on the parliamentary arithmetic. AO3 (evaluation) carries the most weight.
Related dot points
- The nature and sources of the UK constitution, the way it has developed over time, the changes since 1997, and the debates about further reform such as a codified constitution and the protection of rights.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the nature and sources of the UK constitution, how it has developed, the constitutional reforms since 1997, and the debate over codification and the protection of rights.
- The structure and role of the House of Commons and House of Lords, the comparative powers of the two chambers, the legislative process, and how effectively Parliament represents, legislates and scrutinises the executive.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the structure and functions of the House of Commons and House of Lords, the comparative powers of the two chambers, the legislative process and how effectively Parliament holds the executive to account.
- The structure, role and powers of the executive, the concept of ministerial responsibility, the powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the factors governing the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the structure and powers of the executive, ministerial responsibility, the powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the factors that determine the balance between them.
- The relationships between the legislature, executive and judiciary, the role and powers of the Supreme Court, the doctrines of judicial review and parliamentary sovereignty, and the influence of the European Union on UK government.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the relationships between the legislature, executive and judiciary, the role and powers of the UK Supreme Court, judicial review and judicial independence, and the historic and current influence of the European Union.
- The development of devolution in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, the powers of the devolved bodies, the impact of devolution on the UK constitution, and the debates over further devolution and the future of the Union.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the development and powers of devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, devolution within England, its impact on the UK constitution, and the debate over further devolution and the Union.
Sources & how we know this
- AQA A-level Politics (7152) specification — AQA (2017)