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New
Year 9

How is the country run?

I can explain who governs the UK, how they get the authority and describe some of the responsibilities of the Cabinet.

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New
New
Year 9

How is the country run?

I can explain who governs the UK, how they get the authority and describe some of the responsibilities of the Cabinet.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Government has the authority to govern the UK. The Government is chosen and led by the Prime Minister (PM).
  2. The UK Government has three main branches: legislative, executive and judiciary.
  3. The Cabinet is chosen by the PM. It leads government departments and makes key decisions on government policies.

Keywords

  • Government - the group of people with the authority to govern a country; in the UK, the Government is chosen and led by the Prime Minister (PM)

  • Cabinet - a group of MPs who lead major government departments; the Cabinet meets weekly to make decisions about how government policy will be carried out

Common misconception

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet have total control over the UK.

The Prime Minister leads the Government but must answer to Parliament. Members of Parliament (MPs) debate and approve laws and can challenge a Prime Minister. The Cabinet makes decisions but is accountable to Parliament and the law.


To help you plan your year 9 citizenship lesson on: How is the country run?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may want to fully create the guide suggested in Task B. You could present your guide in different ways, e.g., fact file, poster, leaflet. You may also choose to include illustrations.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:government,individuals who are elected and have the authority to run the country

individuals who are elected and have the authority to run the country

Correct Answer:Parliament,has three parts: House of Commons, House of Lords and the monarch

has three parts: House of Commons, House of Lords and the monarch

Correct Answer:authority,the power to have the responsibility to give orders and make decisions

the power to have the responsibility to give orders and make decisions

Q2.
Which statement is true?
The Government has the same role as Parliament.
Parliament and the monarch have the same role.
Government and the monarch have the same role.
Correct answer: The Government and Parliament have different roles.
Q3.
What is this describing? When people vote to choose their leaders or representatives.
Correct Answer: election, elections, an election, general election, a general election
Q4.
The is the leader of the political party who is in power and head of the Government.
Correct Answer: Prime Minister, PM
Q5.
Which statement is accurate?
Political parties are all either left wing or right wing.
Political parties are all right wing.
Political parties are all left wing.
Correct answer: Some parties mix both left and right wing views or focus on specific issues.
Q6.
What is this describing? Courses of action or goals that people plan to carry out, or are in the process of carrying out.
Correct answer: policies
strategies
objectives

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: The Government is chosen and led by the .
monarch
Correct answer: Prime Minister
people
Q2.
Match the words to their correct definitions.
Correct Answer:society,the people living in an ordered community

the people living in an ordered community

Correct Answer:Cabinet,group of MPs who lead major government departments

group of MPs who lead major government departments

Correct Answer:monarch,this person is the Head of State in the UK

this person is the Head of State in the UK

Q3.
Which is not a branch of the UK Government?
legislative
judiciary
executive
Correct answer: presidential
Q4.
Who does the leader of the Government answer to?
the Cabinet
the Judiciary
Correct answer: Parliament
Q5.
Members of Parliament debate and approve and can challenge a Prime Minister.
Correct Answer: laws
Q6.
What does the Cabinet do?
Correct answer: makes key decisions on policies
oversees the judiciary branch
advises the Prime Minister