The UK is situated on the British Isles, north- west of the European continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. It has a total land area of 244,100 square kilometres, of which nearly 99% is land and the remainder inland water. From north to south it is about 1,000 kilometres long. Where is the UK? The official name of the UK is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".

THE BRITISH ISLES Ireland Great Britain Is Great Britain the same as the UK? NO! Great Britain The UK If you look at the full name of the UK, you will see that the UK includes Great Britain AND Northern Ireland. People in the UK are called British although they have different nationalities.

ANTHEM: God save our gracious Queen! The Union Flag, popularly known as the Union Jack, symbolises the union of the countries of the UK. It is made up of the individual flags of three countries in the Kingdom. Which countries? The capital of the UK is London John Bull is a fictional character. He is a national personification of the UK. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

LONDON 3 Big Ben The TowerBuckingham Palace Trafalgar Square Westminster Abbey St Paul's Cathedral

Politics of the United Kingdom The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional Monarch as Head of State Elizabeth II The Prime Minister of the UK is the political leader of the United Kingdom and the Head of Her Majesty's Government.Her Majesty's Government Gordon Brown was appointed Prime Minister in June 2007

The British Government The Government is like the managementGovernment is like the management of the country. The job of the Government is to run the country. It is made up of about 100 members of the political party which wins the most seats at a general election. The Cabinet Room Number 10 Number 10 Downing Street is the residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The headquarters of Her Majesty's Government.Her Majesty's Government

The Parliament consists of two chambers known as the House of Lords and the House of Commons. House of Lords the House of Commons The British Parliament While the job of Government is to run the country, the job of Parliament is to check Government is carrying out its role properly and effectively. To do this, Parliament has powers to limit the Government and prevent it from becoming too powerful. The Parliament works in Westminster Palace

House of Commons Chamber: Speaker's chair The House of Commons 646 elected Members of Parliament or MPs. The Speaker in the House of Commons

The House of Lords: Lords mace on the WoolsackLords mace on the Woolsack The House of Lords The House of Lords (approximately 7 43 unelected members, most of them appointed for life) Lord Chancellor

England Capital: London Scotland Capital: Edinburgh Northern Ireland Capital: Belfast What countries make up the UK? Wales Capital: Cardiff Short facts about the UK

LONDON Check Yourself! 3

1Where is the UK situated 2What is the official name of the UK 3What are people called in the UK 4What is Great Britain 5Is Great Britain the same as the UK 6What is the capital of the UK 7What is the nickname of the British flag 8Is John Bull a real man 9Is the UK a republic or a monarchy 10Who runs the UK 11What is the British Parliament like 12Where does the Parliament work 13Who are MPs 14Who is the Prime Minister 15Where does he work and live 16What is the British Government like 17Where does the Government work 18What countries make up the UK 19What London landmarks do you know 20 What are the capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland СHECK YOURSELF ! 21 Label the map of the British Isles ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? The British Isles Great Britain The UK Ireland ? ? ? ? ? ? next ?

St Georges cross England's Flag St Andrew's cross Scotland's Flag St Patrick's cross Northern Ireland's old flag Why doesn't the Welsh dragon appear on the Union Flag? The Welsh dragon does not appear on the flag because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England from the 13th century. TOGETHER THEY ALL MAKE THE UK FLAG

The Union Jack is the only official flag of Northern Ireland. The well known red hand flag has not been used officially since Dean McGee, 27 January 2002red hand flag