Life in the UK Test
Sign in
Back to The UK Government, the Law and Your Role

The Prime Minister and Cabinet

Study note

The Prime Minister, often shortened to PM, is the leader of the UK government. The PM is normally the leader of the political party that has won the most MPs in the House of Commons at a general election. Because that party has the most seats, it is able to form a government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister appoints a group of senior ministers to run the main government departments, and together these ministers are known as the Cabinet. Cabinet ministers take charge of areas such as the economy, home affairs and foreign affairs. It is the Prime Minister who chooses the Cabinet, not the monarch. So remember two key points for the test: the PM leads the government and is usually leader of the party with the most MPs, and the PM appoints the senior ministers who make up the Cabinet.

Memory tip: PM leads the government; the Cabinet are the senior ministers running departments.

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 6

Who is the leader of the UK government?

Score so far: 0 / 0
Show all questions and answers for The Prime Minister and Cabinet(6 questions with explanations)

The Prime Minister and Cabinet: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Who is the leader of the UK government?

    • The Lord Mayor
    • The monarch
    • The Prime Minister
    • The Speaker

    Correct answer: The Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister is the leader of the government.

  2. 2. What is the Cabinet?

    • The upper house of Parliament
    • A type of court
    • The monarch's household
    • The senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister to run government departments

    Correct answer: The senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister to run government departments

    The Cabinet is the group of senior ministers appointed by the PM to lead departments.

  3. 3. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party with the most of what in the House of Commons?

    • voters abroad
    • councillors
    • MPs
    • peers

    Correct answer: MPs

    The PM is normally the leader of the party with the most MPs in the House of Commons.

  4. 4. The Prime Minister is the leader of the UK government.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: True

    True. The Prime Minister leads the government.

  5. 5. Which of these statements is correct?

    • The monarch appoints the senior ministers who form the Cabinet
    • The Prime Minister appoints the senior ministers who form the Cabinet

    Correct answer: The Prime Minister appoints the senior ministers who form the Cabinet

    The Prime Minister chooses the senior ministers who make up the Cabinet.

  6. 6. Which of these statements is correct?

    • The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party with the fewest MPs
    • The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party with the most MPs

    Correct answer: The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party with the most MPs

    The PM is normally the leader of the party with the most MPs in the Commons.

Back to The UK Government, the Law and Your Role, or try a mock test or timed exam.