The United Kingdom

Basic facts

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is commonly known as the United Kingdom. The UK consists of four countries: England (GB), Wales (GB), Scotland (GB) and Northern Ireland. The name Britain is sometimes used to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole.

The capital city is London, which is among the world's leading commercial, financial, and cultural centres. Other major cities are: Cardiff in Wales, Edinburgh in Scotland, Belfast in Northern Ireland. Great Britain is divided into small regions called counties. 

It is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the official head of the State is the monarch (a king or a queen) but his or her powers are limited by the constitution. For years it has been Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Parliament is the supreme legislative body and the highest authority in the UK. It consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Government is formed by the party which has the majority in Parliament and the Queen appoints its leader as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is the executive organ of government. 

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