<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Her Majesty's Government (HMG; Welsh: Llywodraeth Ei Mawrhydi), commonly referred to as the UK government or British government, is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . </P> <P> The government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining ministers . The prime minister and the other most senior ministers belong to the supreme decision - making committee, known as the Cabinet . The government ministers all sit in Parliament, and are accountable to it . The government is dependent on Parliament to make primary legislation, and since the Fixed - terms Parliaments Act 2011, general elections are held every five years to elect a new House of Commons, unless there is a successful vote of no confidence in the government or a two - thirds vote for a snap election (as was the case in 2017) in the House of Commons, in which case an election may be held sooner . After an election, the monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) selects as prime minister the leader of the party most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons, usually by possessing a majority of MPs . </P> <P> Under the uncodified British constitution, executive authority lies with the monarch, although this authority is exercised only by, or on the advice of, the prime minister and the cabinet . The Cabinet members advise the monarch as members of the Privy Council . They also exercise power directly as leaders of the Government Departments . </P>

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