Life in the UK Test — Government, Law and Your Role: free study guide (2026)

The Development of British Democracy

Democracy is a system of government in which the whole adult population gets a say — either by voting directly, or by choosing representatives who make decisions on their behalf. It feels like the natural order of things in Britain today, but at the turn of the 19th century Britain was not a democracy as we would recognise it. There were elections to choose members of Parliament (MPs), but only a small group could take part in them: men over the age of 21 who owned a certain amount of property.

The word to learn here is the franchise — the number of people who have the right to vote. Over the course of the 19th century the franchise grew, and political parties began to involve ordinary men and women as members.

The Chartists

In the 1830s and 1840s a campaign group called the Chartists pushed for reform. They demanded six changes: a vote for every man; elections every year; all regions being equal in the electoral system; secret ballots; the right of any man to stand as an MP; and payment for MPs. At the time the campaign was generally judged a failure — but by 1918 most of the Chartists' reforms had become reality. That before-and-after is a classic exam angle: a 'failed' movement whose demands nearly all came true.

1918, 1928, 1969 — the three dates to know

In 1918 the vote was extended to women over 30, and to all men over 21 whether they owned property or not. In 1928 the bar was made equal: men and women could vote from age 21. And in 1969 the voting age came down to 18 for everyone, where it remains today.

The long road to democracy — a timeline

The whole story draws together into a timeline, and it is worth walking once. In AD 43 the Romans arrived, and over roughly four centuries built roads, public buildings and a structure of law. In 1215 King John's noblemen forced him to agree to Magna Carta — the 'Great Charter' — a legal document restricting the king's power to raise taxes or change laws; kings began calling Parliaments to consult their nobles, a similar Parliament developed in Scotland, and the idea that judges should be independent of the government started to take root. Magna Carta is often described as the beginning of constitutional democracy.

In 1640 Charles I recalled Parliament to help him deal with rebellion in Scotland; Parliament refused him money for an army, the English Civil War followed, Parliament won, and in 1649 the king was executed. England declared itself a republic, with Oliver Cromwell ruling as 'Lord Protector' until his death in 1658. In 1660 came the Restoration: Parliament invited Charles II back from exile in the Netherlands, and he accepted that he could not always act alone — sometimes he would need Parliament. In 1679 Parliament passed the Habeas Corpus Act, still relevant today, which guarantees that nobody can be held prisoner unlawfully.

In 1688 the Glorious Revolution removed James II — who had refused to work with Parliament and arrested bishops of the Church of England — without a battle, as Parliament invited William of Orange to take the throne. The Declaration of Rights that followed confirmed the king could no longer raise taxes or administer justice without Parliament's agreement; monarchs now needed ministers to govern, and party politics was born. The 18th century brought the Enlightenment and the idea that people have a right to their own political and religious beliefs free of state interference. Then the reform era: the Great Reform Act of 1832 greatly increased the number of voters, which until then had meant wealthy landowners only; the Reform Act of 1867 created many more urban seats, though most men — and all women — still could not vote; 1918 and the Equal Franchise Act of 1928 finished the job.

The Constitution and the Monarchy

A constitution is the set of principles by which a country is governed — the institutions responsible for running it, the checks on their power, and the laws and conventions around them. Britain's is unusual: it is not written down in any single document, so it is described as 'unwritten'. The main reason is that the UK, unlike America or France, has never had a revolution that permanently swept in a totally new system of government; its most important institutions have simply developed over hundreds of years. Some people argue everything should be gathered into one document; others believe the unwritten constitution allows more flexibility and better government.

The main constitutional institutions form a list worth memorising: the monarchy; Parliament — that is, the House of Commons and the House of Lords; the Prime Minister; the cabinet; the judiciary (the courts); the police; the civil service; and local government. Alongside them sit the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which have the power to legislate on certain issues.

A constitutional monarchy

King Charles III is the head of state of the UK — and monarch or head of state of many Commonwealth countries besides. The UK is a constitutional monarchy: the King does not rule the country. Instead he appoints the government the people have chosen at a democratic election, inviting the leader of the party with the most MPs — or the leader of a coalition — to become Prime Minister. The King meets the Prime Minister regularly and can advise, warn and encourage, but decisions on policy belong to the Prime Minister and cabinet.

The King has reigned since his mother's death in September 2022. He is married to Queen Camilla, and his eldest son Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is the heir to the throne. His ceremonial duties include opening the new parliamentary session each year with a speech summarising the government's plans, and every Act of Parliament is made in his name. Abroad, he represents the UK — receiving foreign ambassadors and high commissioners, entertaining visiting heads of state and making state visits in support of Britain's diplomatic and economic relationships. Above all the monarchy provides stability and continuity: governments and Prime Ministers come and go, but the head of state continues, a focus for national identity and pride.

The National Anthem

The UK's National Anthem is 'God Save the King', played at important national occasions and at events the King or Royal Family attend. Its first verse runs: 'God save our gracious King! Long live our noble King! God save the King! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King!'

Swearing loyalty: the oath and the affirmation

New citizens swear or affirm loyalty to the King at their citizenship ceremony. The oath is: 'I (name) swear by Almighty God that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, his Heirs and Successors, according to law.' Those who prefer not to swear a religious oath make the affirmation instead: 'I (name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, his Heirs and Successors, according to law.'

Parliament: Commons, Lords and the Speaker

The UK's system of government is a parliamentary democracy. The country is divided into parliamentary constituencies, and at a General Election the voters in each constituency elect one member of Parliament. All the elected MPs together form the House of Commons. Most MPs belong to a political party, and the party with a majority of MPs forms the government; if no party wins a majority, two parties can join together in a coalition. The Houses of Parliament themselves are a World Heritage Site.

The House of Commons

Of Parliament's two chambers, the House of Commons is regarded as the more important — because its members are democratically elected. The Prime Minister and almost all cabinet ministers are MPs. Each MP represents a constituency, a small area of the country, and their responsibilities are a four-part list the test likes: MPs represent everyone in their constituency; help to create new laws; scrutinise and comment on what the government is doing; and debate important national issues.

The House of Lords

Members of the House of Lords are known as peers. They are not elected and represent no constituency, and the chamber has changed a great deal over the last half-century. Until 1958 every peer was either a 'hereditary' peer who inherited the title, a senior judge, or a bishop of the Church of England. Since 1958 the Prime Minister has been able to nominate life peers — people with distinguished careers in politics, business, law or another profession, appointed by the monarch on the Prime Minister's advice; leaders of other main parties can nominate too, and an independent Appointments Commission proposes non-party peers. Since 1999 hereditary peers have lost their automatic right to attend: they now elect a small number of their own to represent them.

The Lords is normally more independent of the government than the Commons. It suggests amendments and proposes new laws for MPs to discuss, checks the laws the Commons has passed to make sure they are fit for purpose, and holds the government to account in the interests of the people — helped by peers who are genuine specialists in their fields. The Commons has the power to overrule the Lords, but it is not used often.

The Speaker

Debates in the Commons are chaired by the Speaker — the chief officer of the House. The Speaker is politically neutral and represents no party, despite still being an MP with a constituency and constituents' problems like any other. MPs choose the Speaker among themselves by secret ballot. The Speaker keeps order in debate, makes sure the rules are followed — including guaranteeing the opposition its time to debate the issues it chooses — and represents Parliament on ceremonial occasions.

Elections and by-elections

A General Election is held at least every five years. If an MP dies or resigns between elections, the constituency holds a fresh contest called a by-election. Elections use the 'first past the post' system: in each constituency, the candidate with the most votes wins. The party winning a majority of constituencies usually forms the government — and if nobody manages that, two parties may form a coalition.

Contacting your representatives

Everyone elected to represent you has a duty to serve their constituents, and reaching them is easy. Contact details for all your representatives and their parties are available at your local library and on the official websites — senedd.wales/find-a-member-of-the-senedd lists every Senedd member, and www.parliament.scot/msps lists MSPs. You can write to your MP at their constituency office or at the House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, or telephone the Commons switchboard on 020 7219 3000. Many MPs, Senedd members and MSPs also hold regular local 'surgeries', usually advertised in the local paper, where you can raise an issue face to face.

The Government

The Prime Minister

The Prime Minister (PM) is the leader of the political party in power. The PM appoints the members of the cabinet and controls many important public appointments. The Prime Minister's official home is 10 Downing Street in central London, near the Houses of Parliament, and there is also a country house outside London called Chequers. A Prime Minister can be replaced if the MPs of the governing party decide it, or can resign — which a PM usually does after losing a General Election.

The cabinet

The Prime Minister appoints about 20 senior MPs as ministers in charge of government departments. The big offices to know: the Chancellor of the Exchequer, responsible for the economy; the Home Secretary, responsible for crime, policing and immigration; the Foreign Secretary, responsible for managing relationships with foreign countries; and other ministers, called Secretaries of State, covering areas such as education, health and defence. Together these ministers form the cabinet, a committee that usually meets weekly and takes the big decisions on government policy — many of which must then be debated or approved by Parliament. Beneath them, each department also has Ministers of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State looking after particular areas of its work.

The opposition

The second-largest party in the House of Commons is the opposition, and its leader usually becomes Prime Minister if the party wins the next General Election. The opposition's job is to point out what it sees as the government's failures and weaknesses — most visibly at Prime Minister's Questions, held every week while Parliament is sitting. The leader of the opposition also appoints senior MPs as 'shadow ministers'; together they form the shadow cabinet, challenging the government and putting forward alternative policies.

The party system

Anyone aged 18 or over can stand for election as an MP, but candidates are unlikely to win without the nomination of a major party — the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, or one of the parties representing Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish interests. A few MPs sit as 'independents', representing no main party and usually championing an issue that matters to their constituency. The main parties actively recruit members of the public to join their debates, contribute to their costs and help at elections; they have branches in most constituencies and hold policy-making conferences every year. Around them operate pressure and lobby groups, organisations that try to influence government policy — some representative, like the CBI (the Confederation of British Industry, which speaks for British business), and some campaigning on a single front, like Greenpeace on the environment or Liberty on human rights.

The civil service

Civil servants support the government of the day: they develop and implement its policies and deliver public services, and they are accountable to ministers. Crucially, they are chosen on merit and are politically neutral — not political appointees. Joining the civil service works like applying for any other job in the UK. Civil servants are expected to serve with dedication and to uphold the service's core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality — which includes staying politically neutral. That neutrality is one of the exam's favourite facts.

Local government

Towns, cities and rural areas are run by democratically elected councils, often called local authorities. Some areas have both a district council and a county council with different jobs; most large towns and cities have a single authority. Councils provide a range of local services, funded partly by central government and partly by local taxes. Many appoint a mayor as the ceremonial head of the council, while in some towns an elected mayor actually leads the administration. London is a special case: 33 local authorities, with the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London coordinating policy across the capital. For most local authorities, elections for councillors are held in May every year, and many candidates stand for a political party.

The Devolved Administrations

Since 1997, some powers have been devolved from central government so that people in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have more control over the matters that directly affect them. A Welsh Assembly and a Scottish Parliament have existed since 1999, and Northern Ireland has its own Assembly — though that one has been suspended on a few occasions. Some things stay firmly with the UK government wherever you live: policy and laws on defence, foreign affairs, social security and most taxation are all reserved to Westminster. Many other public services, such as education, are in the hands of the devolved administrations — and each devolved administration runs its own civil service.

Wales: the Senedd

The Welsh government and the Senedd are based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. There are 60 Senedd members (MSs), elected every four years by a form of proportional representation. Members may speak in either Welsh or English, and every Senedd publication appears in both languages. The Senedd can make laws for Wales in 21 areas — including education and training, health and social services, economic development and housing — and since 2011 it has been able to pass laws on those subjects without needing the UK Parliament's agreement. Its home, the Senedd building, opened in March 2006.

Scotland: the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999 and sits in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. It has 129 members (MSPs), also elected by a form of proportional representation. The rule for its powers runs the other way round from Wales: the Scottish Parliament may legislate on anything not specifically reserved to the UK Parliament — including civil and criminal law, health, education, planning and additional tax-raising powers. Its building opened in October 2004.

Northern Ireland: the Assembly at Stormont

Northern Ireland's story is different again. A Northern Ireland Parliament was established in 1922, when Ireland was divided — but it was abolished in 1972, shortly after the Troubles broke out in 1969. The present Northern Ireland Assembly was established soon after the Belfast Agreement — also called the Good Friday Agreement — of 1998. It has 108 elected members, known as MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly), chosen by a form of proportional representation, and a power-sharing agreement distributes ministerial offices among the main parties. The Assembly decides on matters including education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services, and meets at Stormont. One important safeguard to remember: the UK government keeps the power to suspend all the devolved assemblies, and has used it several times in Northern Ireland when local leaders found it difficult to work together.

The media and government

Everything Parliament does is public. Proceedings are broadcast on television and published in official reports called Hansard, which you can read in large libraries and at www.parliament.uk. Most people follow political events through newspapers (the press), television, radio and the internet. The UK has a free press — what newspapers write is free from government control, and some owners and editors use that freedom to campaign hard for their own political views. Broadcast is different: by law, radio and television coverage of the political parties must be balanced, with equal time given to rival viewpoints.

Voting and Elections

The UK has had a fully democratic voting system since 1928, and the present voting age of 18 was set in 1969. With few exceptions, every UK-born and naturalised adult citizen has the right to vote — and adult citizens of the UK, together with qualifying citizens of the Commonwealth and Ireland who are resident in the UK, can vote in all public elections.

Getting on the electoral register

You cannot vote in a parliamentary or local election unless your name is on the electoral register. If you are eligible, registering is straightforward: use the register-to-vote service at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, either online or with a paper form returned to your local Electoral Registration Office. Every year from July an annual canvass takes place, when households are contacted — by post, email, phone or a knock at the door — to check the register's details are up to date. If your name, address or nationality changes, you must register again. By law each local authority must let anyone inspect its electoral register, though only under supervision; it is kept at the electoral registration office (or council office in England and Wales) and can also be seen in some public buildings, such as libraries. Northern Ireland uses a different system, called 'individual registration': everyone entitled to vote must complete their own registration form, and once registered you stay on the register as long as your personal details do not change. More information is available from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

European parliamentary elections

The official study material also describes elections to the European Parliament, held every five years. The elected members are called MEPs (Members of the European Parliament), and they are chosen by a system of proportional representation — unlike the first-past-the-post system used for general elections. The UK left the European Union in 2020, so these elections no longer take place here, but the test marks against the study material, so learn the facts as it states them.

Election day: how voting works

Voting happens at polling stations — called polling places in Scotland. Before an election you receive a poll card telling you where yours is and when the election takes place; on the day it is open from 7.00 am until 10.00 pm. At the polling station the staff will ask for your name, address and photo ID — you can check which forms of ID are accepted at www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need. You then take your ballot paper to a polling booth and fill it in privately. Make up your own mind: no one has the right to make you vote for a particular candidate. Follow the instructions on the paper, then put it in the ballot box.

If getting to a polling station is difficult, you can register for a postal ballot — your ballot paper is sent to your home before the election, and you fill it in and post it back. You can choose this option when you register to vote.

Standing for office

Most citizens of the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth aged 18 or over can stand for public office — but there are exceptions, and they make a tidy exam list: members of the armed forces, civil servants, and people found guilty of certain criminal offences may not stand. Members of the House of Lords cannot stand for election to the House of Commons, though they remain eligible for every other public office.

Visiting Parliament and the Devolved Administrations

All four of the UK's legislatures are open to the public, and visiting one is the cheapest way to see the system you have been reading about actually working. You do not need an invitation, and in most cases you do not need to pay.

The UK Parliament

At the Palace of Westminster the public can listen to debates from the public galleries in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There are two ways in. You can write to your local MP in advance and ask for tickets, or you can simply queue on the day at the public entrance. Either way, entrance is free. Be warned that queues for the Commons are sometimes long — people often wait at least one or two hours — and that it is usually easier to get in to the House of Lords. Further information is at www.parliament.uk.

The Scottish Parliament

In Scotland the elected members, the MSPs, meet in the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh; the Parliament's own site is www.parliament.scot. Visitor services can give you information, book tickets or arrange tours. You can write to them at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP, telephone 0131 348 5000 or the freephone number 0800 092 7600, or email visit@parliament.scot. Guided tours can also be booked online at www.parliament.scot/visit/tours/guided-tours.

The Senedd

In Wales the elected members, known as MSs (Members of the Senedd), meet in the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay, and www.senedd.wales has the details. You can book a guided tour or a seat in the public galleries through the Senedd Booking Service on 0300 200 6565, by emailing contact@senedd.wales, or by using the online booking form on the Senedd website.

The Northern Ireland Assembly

In Northern Ireland the elected members, known as MLAs, meet in the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, in Belfast. To arrange a visit you can contact the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Service at education.niassembly.gov.uk/visit, go to the Assembly's own website at www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning, or simply contact an MLA.

If you are learning this for the test rather than for a day out, the details worth carrying away are the small ones: entrance to the UK Parliament is free; you get in either by asking your MP for tickets in advance or by queueing on the day; and the Lords is the easier of the two chambers to get into.

The UK and International Institutions

The UK does not sit on its own in the world. It belongs to a set of international institutions, and the test expects you to know what each one is for — and, in a couple of cases, how many members it has.

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is an association of countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development. Most of its member states were once part of the British Empire, although a few countries which were not have also joined. The King is its ceremonial head, and it currently has 56 member states. Three facts about how it works are worth holding on to: membership is voluntary; the Commonwealth has no power over its members, although it can suspend membership; and it is based on the core values of democracy, good government and the rule of law.

The 56 members stretch across every inhabited continent — from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific island states of Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, through India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, the Maldives and Brunei Darussalam in Asia, across a large African membership including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Rwanda, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon, Togo, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Mauritius and the United Republic of Tanzania, to Canada, Guyana, Belize and the Caribbean states of Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines — with Cyprus, Malta, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the UK itself completing the list. You will not be asked to recite them; you may well be asked how many there are, and who heads them.

The Council of Europe

The Council of Europe has 46 member countries, including the UK, and is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights in those countries. Note carefully what it cannot do: it has no power to make laws. What it does instead is draw up conventions and charters, the most well known of which is the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms — usually shortened to the European Convention on Human Rights. It is a separate body from the European Union, and the two are easy to confuse; the Council of Europe is the human rights one.

The United Nations

The UK is part of the United Nations (UN), an international organisation with more than 190 countries as members. The UN was set up after the Second World War, and it aims to prevent war and to promote international peace and security. Within it sits the UN Security Council, which has 15 members and recommends action when there are international crises and threats to peace. The UK is one of the five permanent members of that Security Council — a detail the test asks about directly.

NATO

The UK is also a member of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO is a group of European and North American countries that have agreed to help each other if they come under attack, and it also aims to maintain peace between all of its members.

Four numbers carry most of the marks in this section: 56 Commonwealth member states, 46 Council of Europe member countries, more than 190 members of the UN, and 15 members of the UN Security Council — of whom five, including the UK, are permanent.

Respecting the Law

One of the most important responsibilities of everyone living in the UK is to know and obey the law. Britain is proud of being a welcoming country, but all residents, whatever their background, are expected to comply with the law — and to understand that some things which may be allowed in other legal systems are not acceptable here. The consequence is put bluntly: those who do not respect the law should not expect to be allowed to become permanent residents. The law reaches into every area of life, so you should make sure you know the laws that affect your everyday life, in your personal affairs and in business.

The founding idea is equal treatment: every person in the UK receives equal treatment under the law, which means the law applies in the same way to everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from.

Criminal law and civil law

Laws divide into two kinds. Criminal law relates to crimes — usually investigated by the police or another authority such as a council, and punished by the courts. Civil law is used to settle disputes between individuals or groups. Getting an example into the right column is one of the most common things the test asks you to do.

The criminal offences to know

Carrying a weapon is a criminal offence — a weapon of any kind, even if you are carrying it for self-defence, and that covers a gun, a knife or anything made or adapted to cause injury. Selling or buying drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis is illegal. Racial crime is an offence: causing harassment, alarm or distress to someone because of their religion or ethnic origin. It is illegal to sell tobacco products — cigarettes, cigars, roll-up tobacco — to anyone under the age of 18. It is against the law to smoke tobacco products in nearly every enclosed public place in the UK, and signs are displayed to tell you where you cannot smoke.

Alcohol carries two rules that are worth separating. It is a criminal offence to sell alcohol to anyone under 18, or to buy alcohol for people under 18 — with one exception, and the exception is the part the test likes: people aged 16 or over can drink alcohol with a meal in a hotel or restaurant. Separately, some places have alcohol-free zones where you cannot drink in public; the police can also confiscate alcohol or move young people on from public places, and you can be fined or arrested.

This is not a complete list of crimes. Many others apply in most countries too — murder, theft and assault among them — and you can read more about types of crime in the UK at www.gov.uk.

Examples of civil law

Housing law covers disputes between landlords and tenants over things like repairs and eviction. Consumer rights covers disputes about faulty goods or services. Employment law covers disputes over wages and cases of unfair dismissal or discrimination in the workplace. And debt belongs here too: people might be taken to court if they owe money to someone.

The police

The job of the police in the UK comes as a three-part list: to protect life and property; to prevent disturbances, which is also known as keeping the peace; and to prevent and detect crime. The police are organised into a number of separate police forces headed by Chief Constables, and — importantly — they are independent of the government.

In November 2012 the public first elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. These are directly elected individuals responsible for the delivery of an efficient and effective police force that reflects the needs of its local communities. A PCC sets local police priorities and the local policing budget, and appoints the local Chief Constable.

The police force is a public service that helps and protects everyone, no matter what their background or where they live. Police officers must themselves obey the law: they must not misuse their authority, make a false statement, be rude or abusive, or commit racial discrimination, and officers who are corrupt or who misuse their authority are severely punished. Officers are often supported by police community support officers (PCSOs), whose roles vary by area but who usually patrol the streets, work with the public, and support police officers at crime scenes and major events. Everyone in the UK is expected to help the police prevent and detect crime whenever they can — and if you are arrested and taken to a police station, an officer will tell you the reason for your arrest and you will be able to seek legal advice.

If something goes wrong, the police complaints system tries to put it right. Anyone can complain by going to a police station or by writing to the Chief Constable of the force involved. Complaints can also be made to an independent body: in England and Wales the Independent Police Complaints Commission (its functions are today carried out by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, www.policeconduct.gov.uk); in Scotland, if you are unhappy with how your complaint has been handled, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner at pirc.scot; and in Northern Ireland the Police Ombudsman's Office (www.policeombudsman.org).

Terrorism and extremism

The UK faces a range of terrorist threats. The most serious are named as Al Qa'ida, its affiliates and like-minded organisations, and adds that the UK also faces threats from other kinds of terrorism, such as Northern Ireland-related terrorism. All terrorist groups try to radicalise and recruit people to their cause, though how, where and to what extent they try varies. The evidence is that these groups attract very low levels of public support, but anyone making their home in the UK should be aware of the threat.

It matters that all citizens feel safe, and that includes feeling safe from all kinds of extremism — defined here as vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values — including religious extremism and far-right extremism. If you think someone is trying to persuade you to join an extremist or terrorist cause, you should notify your local police force.

The Role of the Courts

Judges — who are together called 'the judiciary' — are responsible for interpreting the law and for making sure that trials are conducted fairly. The government cannot interfere with this, and that independence is the whole point of the arrangement. Sometimes the actions of the government are claimed to be illegal; if the judges agree, the government must either change its policies or ask Parliament to change the law. If judges find that a public body is not respecting someone's legal rights, they can order that body to change its practices, to pay compensation, or both. Judges also decide disputes between members of the public or between organisations — about contracts, property or employment rights, or after an accident.

The court systems of England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are not identical, and most exam questions on this topic turn on exactly where they differ.

Magistrates' Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt with in a Magistrates' Court. In Scotland, minor criminal offences go to a Justice of the Peace Court. Magistrates and Justices of the Peace (JPs) are members of the local community. In England, Wales and Scotland they usually work unpaid and do not need legal qualifications: they receive training to do the job and are supported by a legal adviser. They decide the verdict in each case before them and, if the person is found guilty, the sentence. Northern Ireland works differently — there, cases are heard by a District Judge or Deputy District Judge, who is legally qualified and paid.

Crown Courts, Sheriff Courts and the High Court

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, serious offences are tried in front of a judge and a jury in a Crown Court — the most famous of them, the Old Bailey, is described as probably the most famous criminal court in the world. In Scotland, serious cases are heard in a Sheriff Court, with either a sheriff sitting alone or a sheriff with a jury; and the most serious Scottish cases, such as murder, are heard at a High Court with a judge and jury.

Juries

A jury is made up of members of the public chosen at random from the local electoral register. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a jury has 12 members; in Scotland a jury has 15. Everyone who is summoned to do jury service must do it, unless they are not eligible — because they have a criminal conviction, for example — or they provide a good reason to be excused, such as ill health.

The jury listens to the evidence presented at the trial and then decides a verdict of 'guilty' or 'not guilty' based on what it has heard. In Scotland a third verdict, 'not proven', is also possible. If the jury finds a defendant guilty, it is the judge who decides the penalty — the jury decides guilt, the judge decides the sentence.

Youth Courts

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if an accused person is aged 10 to 17 the case is normally heard in a Youth Court, in front of up to three specially trained magistrates or a District Judge; the most serious cases still go to the Crown Court. The parents or carers of the young person are expected to attend the hearing. Members of the public are not allowed into Youth Courts, and the name or photographs of the accused young person cannot be published in newspapers or used by the media. Scotland handles this through a system called the Children's Hearings System, and Northern Ireland has a system of youth conferencing to consider how a child should be dealt with after an offence.

County Courts and civil disputes

County Courts deal with a wide range of civil disputes: people trying to get back money that is owed to them, cases involving personal injury, family matters, breaches of contract, and divorce. In Scotland most of these matters are dealt with in the Sheriff Court. More serious civil cases — where a large amount of compensation is being claimed, for instance — are dealt with in the High Court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in the Court of Session in Edinburgh in Scotland.

The small claims procedure

The small claims procedure is an informal way of helping people settle minor disputes without spending a lot of time and money on a lawyer. The limits differ across the UK: it is used for claims of less than £10,000 in England and Wales, £5,000 using the simple procedure in Scotland, and £5,000 through the small claims process in Northern Ireland. The hearing is held in front of a judge in an ordinary room, with people from both sides of the dispute sitting around a table. Small claims can also be issued online through Money Claims Online at www.moneyclaim.gov.uk. Details are available from your local County Court or Sheriff Court, and online at www.gov.uk for England and Wales, www.scotcourts.gov.uk for Scotland and www.justice-ni.gov.uk for Northern Ireland.

Getting legal advice

Solicitors are trained lawyers who give advice on legal matters, take action for their clients and represent them in court. There are solicitors' offices throughout the UK, and many advertise in local newspapers, but it is important to find out which aspects of law a particular solicitor specialises in and to check that they have the right experience for your case. Citizens Advice (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) can give you names of local solicitors and tell you which areas of law they specialise in, and so can the Law Society (www.lawsociety.org.uk) in England and Wales, the Law Society of Scotland (www.lawscot.org.uk) and the Law Society of Northern Ireland (www.lawsoc-ni.org). Solicitors' charges are usually based on how much time they spend on a case, so it is very important to find out at the start how much your case is likely to cost.

Your Rights: the Fundamental Principles

Britain has a long history of respecting an individual's rights and ensuring essential freedoms. Those rights have their roots in Magna Carta, the Habeas Corpus Act and the Bill of Rights of 1689 — the settlement you met as the Declaration of Rights after the Glorious Revolution — and they have developed over a long period of time since. British diplomats and lawyers had an important role in drafting the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the UK was one of the first countries to sign the Convention, in 1950.

The European Convention on Human Rights

The Convention's principles include the right to life; the prohibition of torture; the prohibition of slavery and forced labour; the right to liberty and security; the right to a fair trial; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and freedom of expression, meaning speech. The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, and the government, public bodies and the courts must all follow the principles of the Convention. Two dates to keep straight: 1950 for signing the Convention, 1998 for the Act that brought it into UK law.

Equal opportunities

UK laws ensure that people are not treated unfairly in any area of life or work because of their age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexuality or marital status. If you face problems with discrimination you can get more information from Citizens Advice, or from the relevant commission: in England and Wales the Equality and Human Rights Commission (www.equalityhumanrights.com); in Scotland the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland and the Scottish Human Rights Commission (www.scottishhumanrights.com); and in Northern Ireland the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (www.equalityni.org) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (www.nihrc.org).

Domestic violence

In the UK, brutality and violence in the home is a serious crime. Anyone who is violent towards their partner can be prosecuted — whether they are a man or a woman, and whether the couple are married or living together. Any man who forces a woman to have sex, including a woman's husband, can be charged with rape.

Anyone facing domestic violence should get help as soon as possible. A solicitor or Citizens Advice can explain the options available, and in some areas there are safe places to go and stay in, called refuges or shelters. The 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline is available at any time on 0808 2000 247, and its voicemail service lets callers leave a message to be called back; there is more at www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk, at the Women's Aid website www.womensaid.org.uk, and in the GOV.UK guidance at www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help. If you are in danger, call the police, who can also help you find a safe place to stay.

Female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as cutting or female circumcision, is illegal in the UK. Practising FGM is a criminal offence — and so is taking a girl or woman abroad for FGM.

Forced marriage

A marriage should be entered into with the full and free consent of both people involved. A careful line is drawn here: arranged marriages, where both parties agree to the marriage, are perfectly acceptable in the UK. A forced marriage is different — it is one where one or both parties do not, or cannot, give their consent to enter into the partnership, and forcing another person to marry is a criminal offence.

Forced Marriage Protection Orders were introduced in 2008 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007, and similar Protection Orders were introduced in Scotland in November 2011. A court order can be obtained either to protect a person from being forced into a marriage, or to protect a person who is already in a forced marriage. A potential victim, or someone acting on their behalf, can apply for one — and anyone found to have breached an order can be jailed for up to two years for contempt of court.

Taxation and National Insurance

Paying tax is one of the plainest duties of living and working in the UK, and the test expects you to know how the money is collected as well as what it pays for.

Income tax

People in the UK pay tax on their income. That includes wages from paid employment, profits from self-employment, taxable benefits, pensions, and income from property, savings and dividends. The money raised from income tax pays for government services such as roads, education, the police and the armed forces.

PAYE and self-assessment

For most people the right amount of income tax is taken automatically out of their employment income by their employer and paid directly to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the government department that collects taxes. That system is called 'Pay As You Earn', or PAYE. If you are self-employed you pay your own tax instead, through a system called self-assessment, which involves completing a tax return; other people may need to complete a tax return too. If HMRC sends you one, complete and return it as soon as you have all the information you need. There is more at www.gov.uk/income-tax, and help with taxes and tax forms on the HMRC self-assessment helpline, 0300 200 3310.

National Insurance Contributions

Almost everybody in the UK who is in paid work — including self-employed people — must pay National Insurance Contributions. The money raised pays for state benefits and services such as the state retirement pension and the National Health Service. Employees have their contributions deducted from their pay by their employer, while self-employed people pay their contributions themselves.

There is a consequence to not paying enough. Anyone who does not pay enough National Insurance Contributions will not be able to receive certain contributory benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance or a full state retirement pension. Some workers, part-time workers among them, may not qualify for statutory payments such as maternity pay if they do not earn enough. Further guidance is at www.gov.uk/national-insurance.

Getting a National Insurance number

A National Insurance number is a unique personal account number. Its job is to make sure that the National Insurance Contributions and the tax you pay are properly recorded against your name. All young people in the UK are sent a National Insurance number just before their 16th birthday — that age is a favourite exam detail.

A non-UK national who is living in the UK and looking for work, starting work or setting up as self-employed will need a National Insurance number. Note the useful exception, though: you can start work without one if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK. To get a number you apply online and prove your identity as part of the application. After you apply you receive an email with your application reference number, and that email will tell you whether you need to provide further proof of your identity. The application service is at www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number.

Driving in the UK

In the UK you must be at least 17 years old to drive a car or a motor cycle, and you must have a driving licence to drive on public roads. To get a UK driving licence you have to pass a driving test, which tests both your knowledge and your practical skills. You need to be at least 16 years old to ride a moped, and there are other age requirements and special tests for driving large vehicles.

How long a licence lasts

Drivers can use their driving licence until they are 70 years old. After that, the licence is valid for three years at a time and has to be renewed. In Northern Ireland there is an extra rule for beginners: a newly qualified driver must display an 'R' plate — R for restricted driver — for one year after passing the test.

Driving on a licence from another country

If you have a licence from another country, you may use it in the UK for up to 12 months. To carry on driving after that you must get a full UK driving licence. You can check whether you are able to drive in the UK on a non-GB licence at www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence.

Your vehicle: tax, insurance and the MOT

If you are resident in the UK, your car or motor cycle must be registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and you must pay an annual vehicle tax — which cannot be passed on when a vehicle changes hands. If the vehicle is parked off the road and not being used, you must tell the DVLA by making a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN); a SORN cannot be transferred either if the vehicle is sold or given to a new owner. You must also have valid motor insurance, and it is a serious criminal offence to drive without it.

Finally, the MOT. If your vehicle is over three years old you must take it for a Ministry of Transport (MOT) test every year, and it is an offence not to have an MOT certificate once your vehicle is more than three years old. More about vehicle tax and MOT requirements is at www.gov.uk. Four numbers carry this topic: 17 to drive, 16 for a moped, 70 before three-yearly renewal, and three years before the first MOT.

Your Role in the Community

Becoming a British citizen or settling in the UK brings responsibilities, but it also brings opportunities. Everyone has the opportunity to participate in their community, and a whole section is given over to what that looks like in practice — starting with the values that hold it together.

Values and responsibilities

Although Britain is one of the world's most diverse societies, there is a set of shared values and responsibilities that everyone can agree with. They are: to obey and respect the law; to be aware of the rights of others and respect those rights; to treat others with fairness; to behave responsibly; to help and protect your family; to respect and preserve the environment; to treat everyone equally, regardless of sex, race, religion, age, disability, class or sexual orientation; to work to provide for yourself and your family; to help others; and to vote in local and national government elections. Taking on these values and responsibilities will make it easier for you to become a full and active citizen.

Keep this list separate in your mind from the shorter one in the opening chapter: that was the five things the UK asks of anyone who wants to be a permanent resident, while this is the broader set of shared values. It is worth noticing, though, how both relate to the five fundamental principles of British life you met at the very start of your studying — democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life. The principles are what British society is founded on; this list is what living by them looks like day to day.

Being a good neighbour

When you move into a new house or apartment, introduce yourself to the people who live near you. Getting to know your neighbours helps you become part of the community and make friends, and neighbours are also a good source of help — they may be willing to feed your pets while you are away, or offer advice on local shops and services.

You can head off most problems and conflicts by respecting your neighbours' privacy and limiting how much noise you make. It also helps to keep your garden tidy, and to put your refuse bags and bins out on the street or in communal areas only when they are due to be collected.

Getting involved in local activities

Volunteering and helping your community are an important part of being a good citizen. They let you integrate and get to know other people; a community is a better place to live if its residents support one another; and joining in helps you fulfil your duties as a citizen, such as behaving responsibly and helping others. What that can mean in practice is the subject of the next topic.

Supporting Your Community and the Environment

There are a great many ways to support the place you live, and the test runs through them one by one. Some are civic duties you may be called on to perform; most are simply open to anyone who volunteers.

Jury service

Getting your name onto the electoral register does more than give you the right to vote: people on the register are also randomly selected to serve on a jury. Anyone who is on the electoral register and is aged 18 to 70 — or 18 to 75 in England and Wales — can be asked to do this.

Helping at your children's school

If you have children there are many ways to help at their schools. Parents can often help in classrooms, by supporting activities or listening to children read. Many schools also organise events to raise money for extra equipment or out-of-school activities — book sales, toy sales, or bringing food to sell — and you might have good fundraising ideas of your own. Events are sometimes organised by parent-teacher associations (PTAs); volunteering to help with their events, or joining the association, does something good for the school and makes new friends in your local community at the same time. Look out for notices in the school or notes your children bring home.

School governors

School governors — known in Scotland as members of school boards — are people from the local community who want to make a positive contribution to children's education. They must be aged 18 or over at the date of their election or appointment, and there is no upper age limit. Governors have an important part to play in raising school standards, through three key roles: setting the strategic direction of the school; ensuring accountability; and monitoring and evaluating school performance. You can contact your local school to ask whether it needs a new governor, and in England you can also apply online at www.governorsforschools.org.uk. In England, parents and other community groups can also apply to open a free school in their local area — see www.gov.uk/set-up-free-school.

Joining a political party

Political parties welcome new members, and joining one is a way to demonstrate your support for certain views and to get involved in the democratic process. Parties are particularly busy at election times, when members work hard to persuade people to vote for their candidates — handing out leaflets in the street, or knocking on people's doors and asking for their support. That door-knocking is called 'canvassing', and one small right is worth knowing: you don't have to tell a canvasser how you intend to vote if you don't want to.

British citizens can stand for office as a local councillor or a member of Parliament, or the devolved equivalents — an opportunity to become even more involved in the political life of the UK. You may also be able to stand for office if you are an Irish citizen or an eligible Commonwealth citizen. Individual party websites explain how to join.

Helping with local services

There are opportunities to volunteer with a wide range of local service providers, including local hospitals and youth projects, and services often want to involve local people in decisions about the way they work. Universities, housing associations, museums and arts councils may advertise for people to serve as volunteers on their governing bodies. You can also volunteer with the police, becoming a special constable or a lay — that is, non-police — representative, and you can apply to become a magistrate. Vacancies are often advertised in your local newspaper or on local radio, and there is more about these roles at www.gov.uk.

Giving blood and donating organs

Donated blood is used by hospitals to help people with a wide range of injuries and illnesses, and giving blood takes only about an hour. You can register to give blood in England and North Wales at www.blood.co.uk, in the rest of Wales at www.welsh-blood.org.uk, in Scotland at www.scotblood.co.uk, and in Northern Ireland at nibts.hscni.net. Many people in the UK are waiting for organ transplants; if you register to be an organ donor at www.organdonation.nhs.uk, it can make it easier for your family to decide whether to donate your organs when you die. Living people can also donate a kidney.

Other ways to volunteer

Volunteering means working for good causes without payment, and there are many benefits to it: meeting new people, and helping make your community a better place. Some volunteer activities give you a chance to practise your English, or to develop work skills that will help you find a job or improve your curriculum vitae (CV). Many people volunteer simply because they want to help other people.

The kinds of activity on offer include working with animals, such as caring for animals at a local rescue shelter; youth work, such as volunteering at a youth group; helping improve the environment, such as taking part in a litter pick-up in your local area; working with the homeless, in a homelessness shelter for example; mentoring, such as supporting someone who has just come out of prison; work in health and hospitals, such as staffing an information desk; and helping older people, at a residential care home for instance.

Charities and voluntary organisations

There are thousands of active charities and voluntary organisations in the UK, working to improve the lives of people, animals and the environment in many different ways. They range from the British branches of international organisations, such as the British Red Cross, to small local charities working in a particular area. A spread of them is named: charities working with older people, such as Age UK; with children, such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC); and with the homeless, such as Crisis and Shelter. There are medical research charities such as Cancer Research UK, environmental charities including the National Trust and Friends of the Earth, and charities working with animals such as the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).

Volunteers are needed to help with their activities and to raise money. Charities often advertise in local newspapers, and most have websites with information about their opportunities; you can also find volunteering opportunities across many organisations at doit.life/volunteer. There are plenty of opportunities for younger people to volunteer and receive accreditation that helps them develop their skills — see www.gov.uk/volunteering. One programme to know by name: the National Citizen Service gives 16- and 17-year-olds the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities, develop their skills and take part in a community project.

Looking after the environment

It is important to recycle as much of your waste as you can. Using recycled materials to make new products uses less energy and means we do not need to extract more raw materials from the earth; it also means less rubbish is created, so the amount going into landfill is reduced. You can learn more about recycling and its benefits at www.recyclenow.com, which also tells you what you can recycle at home and locally if you live in England. The equivalent information is at www.walesrecycles.org.uk for Wales and www.zerowastescotland.org.uk for Scotland, and in Northern Ireland it comes from your local authority.

Two more everyday habits close the chapter. Shopping for products locally where you can is a good way to support your local community: it helps businesses and farmers in your area and in Britain, and it reduces your carbon footprint, because the things you buy have not had to travel as far. And walking or using public transport to get around, when you can, is a good way to protect the environment — you create less pollution than when you use a car.