II. Find the Russian equivalents in the text.

1. законодательный 2. цель 3. принимать (закон) 4. текущие проблемы 5. заседание 6. срок полномочий 7. выбирать, избирать 8. вести дебаты 9. происходить 10. внешняя/внутренняя политика 11. содержание законопроекта 12. законодательство 13. правительство

14. собрать/потратить деньги 15. руководить, направлять, управлять 16. принимать участие 17. дело, вопрос 18. палата парламента 19. влиятельный, могущественный 20. изменения в законах 21. отвергать 22. вносить поправки 23. европейские предложения 24. юридическая апелляция 25. ограничить власть

 

III. Make up a list of legal terms.

IV. Answer the questions.

A.

1. What does Parliament consist of?

2. How many MPs are there in Parliament?

3. What’s the main purpose of the House of Commons?

4. How many days a year do they sit?

5. What’s the term of the House of Commons?

6. What are the most important qualities of the speaker?

7. What do debates usually concern?

8. What does the work of the House of Commons include?

 

B.

1. How many members are there in the House of Lords?

2. Who supervises debates?

3. What do Lords take part in?

4. Who is more powerful, the Lords or the Commons?

5. What can’t Lords do?

6. What does the work of the House of Lords include?

7. How do they try to limit Lords’ power?

 

VI. Use the plan and key words to speak about British Parliament.

A. The House of Commons - the purpose (laws + political issues) - sittings (5 days/ week, 175 days/ year) term – 5 - the speaker (presides, enforces) - the debates (policy, bills) - work (making laws,          controlling finance,          scrutinizing the Government)

B. The House of Lords 1,000, unelected The Lord Chancellor supervises not so powerful can’t reject, can amend work (legislation, bills,          the work of the Government,          European proposals,          legal appeals)

 

Present Continuous

1. Write the sentences with the verbs in the present continuous.

1 John and I are staying in a beautiful hotel. (stay)

2 Annie and Joe are making a cake for tea. (make)

3 Spencer …………… at home today. (work)

4 I …………… for a letter from my parents. (wait)

5 You …………… too fast. (walk)

6 We …………… our next holiday. (plan)

7 The girls …………… their grandmother today. (visit)

8 She …………… in her bedroom at the moment. (read)

9 I …………… to listen to the radio but it's very noisy in here. (try)

10 The sun …………… beautifully today. (shine)

 

2. Complete the questions and answers, adding am, is, are to the questions and am, is, are, or 'm not, isn't, aren't to the short answers.

1. Is it raining outside?' 'No, it isn't. '

2. Are the children playing outside?' 'Yes, they are. '

3. ……… you doing your homework now?' 'Yes, I …….

4. ……… I hurting you?' 'No, you ……………'

5. ……… she waving to us?' 'Yes, she ……………'

6. ……… we stopping here?' 'Yes, we ……………

7. ……… your neighbours moving out?' 'No, they ………

8. ……… he helping you with your homework?' 'Yes, he …

9. ………… they planning a party?' 'No, they …………….

Write the questions using the present continuous.

1. What/she/do?                   What's she doing?

2. You/learn/French at school? Are you learning French at school?

3. What book / you / read? …………………………….

4. I / speak / clearly?......................................................

5. Why / we / sit in the dark?...........................................

6. Where / they / stay?..........................................................

7. It / snow?..........................................................................

8. Why / he / run so fast?...................................................

9. Why / she / laugh?........................................................

10. The plane / land now?..................................................

 

4. Fill in: am/is/are/do/don’t/does/doesn’t.

E.g.: Excuse me, do you speak English?

1. ‘Have a cigarette.’ ‘No, thank you, I ……… smoke.’

2. Why ……… you laughing at me?

3. ‘What ……… she do?’ ‘She is a dentist’

4. I ……… want to go out. It ……… raining.

5. I can’t talk to you at the moment. I ……… working.

6. George is a good tennis player but he ……… play very often.

 

5. Present Continuous (I am doing) or Present Simple (I do).

1. Excuse me, do you speak (you / speak) English?

2. Tom is having (have) a shower at the moment.

3. They don’t watch (not / watch) television very often.

4. Listen! Somebody …………… (sing).

5. She’s tired. She …………… (want) to go home.

6. How often …………… (you / read) a newspaper?

7. ‘Excuse me, but you ……………… (sit) in my place.’ ‘I’m sorry.’

8. I’m sorry, I ……………… (not / understand). Please, speak more slowly.

9. ‘Where are you, Roy?’ ‘I’m in the sitting-room. I ………………….. (read).’

10. What time …………… (she / finish) work every day?

11. You can turn off the radio. I ………… (not / listen) to it.

12. He ………………….. (not/usually/drive) to work. He usually ……………. (walk).

GOVERNMENT

Read the words:

majority, although, represent, senior, regularly, major, issue, supreme, department, responsible, currently, actual, support, reject

 

Read the text:

The Government of the UK is a body of ministers who are responsible for the administration of national affairs. The ministers are the leading members of the political party which wins a majority of seats in Parliament. The party which wins the second largest number of seats in Parliament becomes the official Opposition.

The Prime Minister, the leader of the party with a majority, is appointed by the Queen. (The Queen appoints, but does not select the Prime Minister. She has no choice.) A1l other Ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The majority of ministers are members of the Commons, although the Government is also fully represented by ministers in the Lords. The Lord Chancellor is always a member of the House of Lords,

The Cabinet. The most senior Ministers (usually about 20 in number) compose the Cabinet, which meets regularly (once or twice a week) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to decide government policy on major issues, exercise supreme control of government and coordinate gov­ernment departments.

Ministers are responsible collectively to Parliament for all Cabinet de­cisions; individual ministers are responsible to Parliament for the work of their departments.

The "Shadow Cabinet". The Opposition party, which is not currently in power, under the direction of its leader forms a "Shadow Cabinet". The ministers in the Shadow Cabinet deal with the same matters as the Cabinet of Ministers in the current government, debating with the actual Cabinet ministers from the Government side.

The people elect MPs.

After an election a Government is formed.

The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen.

The Prime Minister selects his Ministers.

The Ministers form the Cabinet.

The Cabinet decides Government policies.

The Parliament agrees to support or reject Government policies and laws.

PARLIAMENTARY CONTROL

Ministers are responsible to Parliament for their department and its actions. The Commons can force a government to leave office. This happened in 1979, when the official Opposition put forward a no-confidence motion which was carried by one vote. The Government was therefore obliged to advise the Queen to dissolve Parliament and a general election followed.

One of Parliament's most prized occasions is Commons’ Question Time. For roughly one hour a day, ministers are asked by MPs searching questions on major government policies. This is often the best way for MPs to probe ministers about government intentions. The Prime Minister is questioned twice a week.

 

Vocabulary Notes

to leave office – уйти в отставку

no-confidence – вотум недоверия

to probe – зондировать