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Britain is one of a small number of nations without a written constitution, and the British legislature, ''Parliament'', is free to legislature however it pleases. In British law, the only authority higher than parliamentary legislation is the law of the [[European Union]], and Britain is subject to EU law only by virtue of the fact that Parliament has chosen to accept it.
Britain is one of a small number of nations without a written constitution, and the British legislature, ''Parliament'', is free to legislature however it pleases. In British law, the only authority higher than parliamentary legislation is the law of the [[European Union]], and Britain is subject to EU law only by virtue of the fact that Parliament has chosen to accept it.
Parliament consists of the Queen, the [[House of Lords]] and the [[House of Commons]]. The Queen today takes no part in active politics (the last time that a monarch refused to ratify a law passed by the Lords and Commons was in 1714).
Parliament consists of the Queen, the [[House of Lords]] and the [[House of Commons]]. The Queen today takes no part in active politics (the last time that a monarch refused to ratify a law passed by the Lords and Commons was in 1714). While the House of Lords is considered to be the more prestigious chamber, the Commons is dominant by virtue of the fact that its members are elected rather than appointed. The Lords can only delay rather than veto legislation, though the Commons rarely chooses to push through laws against the Lords' wishes (it has done so only five times since the Lords' absolute veto was removed in 1911).
===National and regional legislatures===
Scotland has its own parliament, headed by a '''First Minister''' and elected every four years (the last elections having taken place in May 2007).
Wales too has its own legislature (the National Assembly for Wales), with somewhat more restricted powers than the Scottish Parliament.
Northern Ireland has its own legislature (and executive) too, which operates under a complicated system designed to ensure fairness between the Protestant/pro-UK and Catholic/pro-Irish communities.
===Local government===
Each locality in the UK has its own '''local authority''': there are '''councils''' of various sorts, as well as a number of elected '''mayors''' (most notably in London, whose current mayor is the popular but controversial left-wing politician [[Ken Livingstone]]). The powers of local authorities have been declining for many years, but it is believed that they are due for a significant revival.
It should be noted that most mayors in Britain are relatively powerless officials who serve as mere figureheads (rather like the Queen). However, a number of cities, such as London, have powerful mayors with a full executive role.
==Parties==
==Parties==