Politics of the United Kingdom

The politics of the United Kingdom are based upon a unitary state and a constitutional monarchy. Its system of government (often known as the Westminster system) has been adopted by other countries, such as Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Jamaica.

Civil service

The civil service is a permanent politically neutral organisation which supports Government Ministers in carrying out their executive duties. Its constitutional role is to support the Government of the day regardless of which political party is in power. Unlike in some other democracies, senior civil servants remain in post upon a change of Government.

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The central core of the civil service is organised into a number of Departments of State. Each Department is led politically by a senior Minister, supported by a small team of junior Ministers. In most cases the senior Minister is known as a Secretary of State and is a member of the Cabinet. Administrative management of the Department is led by a head civil servant known in most Departments as a Permanent Secretary. The majority of the civil service staff in fact work in executive agencies, which are separate operational organisations reporting to Departments of State.

Related Topics:
Departments of State - Secretary of State - Cabinet - Permanent Secretary - Executive agencies

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"Whitehall" is often used as a synonym for the central core of the Civil Service. This is because most Government Departments have headquarters in and around Whitehall (a London street).

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