What type of government does the UK have?

The United Kingdom has a constitutional monarchy, which is a system of government where a hereditary monarch acts as the head of state within the parameters of a constitution or laws. This means that the monarch's powers are primarily ceremonial and symbolic, while the actual governance of the country is carried out by elected officials within a parliamentary system.

In this arrangement, the monarch's role includes duties such as the opening of Parliament, granting royal assent to legislation, and representing the nation at state functions. However, the day-to-day responsibilities of running the government rest with the Prime Minister and Parliament, who are accountable to the public and make legislative decisions.

This system differs significantly from a federal republic, where power is divided between national and state governments, or a dictatorship, where one individual or group holds absolute power, and the citizens have little to no role in governance. Similarly, a theocracy is a system where religious leaders control the government, deriving authority from religious doctrine, which is not applicable in the UK's secular governmental structure.