How is the UK governed, and how effectively does Parliament hold the executive to account?
The UK political system: the uncodified constitution and parliamentary sovereignty, the executive (Prime Minister and Cabinet), the legislature (Commons and Lords), the FPTP electoral system, and how Parliament scrutinises the government.
An SQA Higher Politics answer on the UK political system, covering the uncodified constitution and parliamentary sovereignty, the executive of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Commons and Lords, the First Past the Post electoral system, and how Parliament holds the government to account.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to describe how the UK is governed and explain how effectively Parliament holds the executive to account. Candidates study two political systems in depth, and the UK is one option. Questions ask you to describe an institution (the Prime Minister, the Commons), analyse its powers, or evaluate the effectiveness of scrutiny, so you need accurate institutional knowledge and a balanced judgement.
The answer
The constitution and parliamentary sovereignty
Because the constitution is uncodified and flexible, it can be changed by an ordinary Act of Parliament, which makes the UK system adaptable but also concentrates power in whoever controls the Commons.
The executive
The Prime Minister is powerful but not all-powerful: the office depends on Cabinet and party support and a Commons majority, and a Prime Minister who loses these can be forced out.
The legislature
The electoral system
Holding the executive to account
Examples in context
A government with a large Commons majority can pass its programme with little difficulty, showing the weakness of scrutiny when the executive dominates the legislature. Select committees, by taking evidence from ministers and officials and publishing critical reports, repeatedly expose policy failings and force responses, showing scrutiny working. The House of Lords often amends legislation and sends it back to the Commons, delaying and improving Bills even though it cannot block them outright. These examples let a Higher answer evaluate how effectively Parliament checks the executive rather than just listing the institutions.
Try this
Q1. Describe two powers of the UK Prime Minister. [4 marks]
- Cue. Appointing and dismissing ministers and chairing Cabinet; also setting the agenda and using prerogative powers, while leading the largest party in the Commons.
Q2. Explain two ways Parliament holds the government to account. [6 marks]
- Cue. Select committees investigate departments and take evidence; PMQs and the Opposition challenge ministers directly, backed by the revising role of the Lords.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher 201920 marksEvaluate the effectiveness of the UK Parliament in holding the executive to account.Show worked answer →
A -mark essay: up to marks for knowledge and understanding and up to for analysis, evaluation and a sustained conclusion.
KU should set out the scrutiny tools: Prime Minister's Questions, select committees, debates, the Opposition, votes of confidence, and the role of the House of Lords as a revising chamber. Naming real mechanisms strengthens KU.
Evaluation marks come from judging how effective each tool is, especially the weakness of a government with a large Commons majority and party discipline, against the strength of select committees and the Lords. A sustained conclusion on overall effectiveness lifts the answer.
SQA Higher specimen12 marksAnalyse the powers of the UK Prime Minister.Show worked answer →
A -mark analysis question, roughly half KU and half analysis. Markers reward developed explanation, not a list.
KU should explain the Prime Minister's powers: appointing and dismissing ministers, chairing Cabinet, setting the agenda, using prerogative powers, and leading the largest party in the Commons.
Analysis marks come from explaining the limits on those powers, including the need for Cabinet and party support and a Commons majority, and judging how far the office is dominant. A clear judgement lifts the answer.
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Sources & how we know this
- SQA Higher Politics Course Specification — SQA (2020)