Government of the United Kingdom

The government of the United Kingdom refers to both how the UK is governed and the actual politicians of the day who are responsible for major political decision-making. Government in the UK has developed over many centuries within the British tradition of parliamentary democracy, with the ranks of the government mostly drawn from Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, the UK's lower legislative chamber in Parliament. Other government ministers come from the unelected upper chamber, the House of Lords - or may indeed be neither MPs nor peers at all - but it is expected that the most senior members of the government would be elected MPs. A general election is held at least every five years, and the largest party in the House of Commons typically becomes the party of government, with many of its MPs serving as ministers. The leader of this majority party usually becomes prime minister. This person forms a Cabinet, or the executive branch of government, consisting of senior ministers, and also appoints junior ministers and individuals to various other roles. Currently, the government comprises a coalition of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, opposed by the official Opposition Labour.