Civil servants support the government in developing and implementing its policies. They also deliver public services. Civil servants are accountable to ministers.

Some of the principles included in the European Convention on Human Rights are right to life, prohibition of torture, prohibition of slavery and forced labour, right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the freedom of expression (speech).

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have parliaments or assemblies of their own, with devolved powers in defined areas.

The public can listen to debates in the Palace of Westminster from public galleries in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Despite this crucial victory for Britain, the German air force was able to continue bombing London and other British cities at night-time. This was called the Blitz.

As well as getting the right to vote, people on the electoral register are randomly selected to serve on a jury. Anyone who is on the electoral register and is aged 18 to 70 can be asked to do this.

The denominations of coins are: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.

In 1745 there was another attempt to put a Stuart king back on the throne in place of George l’s son, George II. Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the grandson of James Il, landed in Scotland. He was supported by clansmen from the Scottish highlands and raised an army. Charles initially had some successes but was defeated by George Il’s army at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Charles escaped back to Europe

Famous horse racing events include: the Royal Ascot, a five-day race meeting in Berkshire attended by members of the Royal Family; the Grand National at Aintree near Liverpool; and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

In Ireland, the Black Death killed many in the Pale and, for a time, the area controlled by the English became smaller.

Selling or buying drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis is illegal in the UK. Criminal law relates to crimes, which are usually investigated by the police or another authority such as a council, and which are punished by the courts.

The Reform Act of 1832 had greatly increased the number of people with the right to vote. The Act also abolished the old pocket and rotten boroughs and more parliamentary seats were given to the towns and cities. This created many more urban seats in Parliament and reduced the amount of property that people needed to have before they could vote.

Charles I wanted the worship of the Church of England to include more ceremony and introduced a revised Prayer Book. He tried to impose this Prayer Book on the Presbyterian Church in Scotland and this led to serious unrest.

In Scotland, the national Church is the Church of Scotland, which is a Presbyterian Church. It is governed by ministers and elders. The chairperson of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the Moderator, who is appointed for one year only and often speaks on behalf of that Church.

In 1975 Margaret Thatcher was elected as Leader of the Conservative Party and so became Leader of the Opposition.

The National Anthem of the UK is ‘God Save the King/Queen’. It is played at important national occasions and at events attended by the King/ Queen or the Royal Family.

The small claims procedure is an informal way of helping people to settle minor disputes without spending a lot of time and money using a lawyer. This procedure is used for claims of less than £10,000 in England and Wales and £3,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Mousetrap, a murder-mystery play by Dame Agatha Christie, has been running in the West End since 1952 and has had the longest initial run of any show in history.

Night clubs with dancing and music usually open and close later than pubs. The licensee decides the hours that the pub or nightclub is open.

The Habeas Corpus Act became law in 1679. This was a very important piece of legislation which remains relevant today. Habeas corpus is Latin for ‘you must present the person in court’. The Act guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully. Every prisoner has a right to a court hearing.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) wrote books which are still read by adults and children today. His most famous books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services (known as the Beveridge Report) report was commissioned by the wartime government in 1941.It recommended that the government should find ways of fighting the five ‘Giant Evils’ of Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness and provided the basis of the modern welfare state.

Public houses (pubs) are an important part of the UK social culture. Many people enjoy meeting friends in the pub. Pubs are usually open during the day from 11.00 am (12 noon on Sundays).

In the Iron Age, most people were farmers, craft workers or warriors.