State and Government of Great Britain

Great Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch — Queen Elizabeth II — as head of the State.

Political stability owes much to the monarchy. Its continuity has been interrupted only once (the republic of 1649–1660) in over a thousand years. The Queen is impartial and acts on the advice of her ministers.

Parliament

The Parliament comprises the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen in her constitutional role. The Commons has 650 elected Members of Parliament (MPs), each representing a local constituency. The Lords is made up of hereditary and life peers and peeresses, and the two archbishops and 24 most senior bishops of the established Church of England. The centre of parliamentary power is the House of Commons. Limitations on the power of the Lords — it rarely uses its power to delay passage law — are based on the principle that the House as a revising chamber should complement the Commons and not rival it. The proceedings of both houses of Parliament are broadcast on television and radio, sometimes live or more usually in recorded and edited form. Once passed through both Houses, legislation receives the Royal Assent.

General elections to choose MPs must be held at least every five years. Voting, which is not compulsory, is by secret ballot and is from the age of 18. The candidate polling the largest number of votes in a constituency is elected. In the election of June 1987, when 75 percent of the electorate voted, the Conservative Party gained an overall majority of 101 (Conservative — 375 seats, Labour — 229, Liberal — 17, Social Democratic — 5 and others — 24). In 1988 the Liberal and Social Democratic parties merget and are now Liberal Democrats.

Government

The Government is formed by the party with majority support in the Commons. The Queen appoints its leader as Prime Minister. As head of the Government the Prime Minister appoints ministers, of whom about 20 are in the Cabinet - the senior group which takes major policy decisions. Ministers are collectively responsible for government decisions and individually responsible for their own departments. The second largest party forms the official Opposition with its own leader and “shadow cabinet”. The Opposition has a duty to criticise government policies and to present an alternative programme.

Policies are carried out by government departments staffed by politically neutral civil servants. They serve the government of the day regardless of its political complexion.

Party gained the right to form a Government by winning the general election in May 1997. Mr. Blair, the leader of the Labour Party, became Prime Minister. He selected a team of Ministers to serve in his Ministries. There is no limit on the size of the Cabinet but the number of salaried Secretaries of state is limited to 21. Cabinet meetings are usually held on a Thursday morning in the Cabinet room at 10 Downing Street.

Local government

Parliament in London is responsible for carrying out national policy, but many public services are provided by local government. The United Kingdom is divided into administrative areas known as “counties” and each county has a “county town” where the offices of the local government are located. Local government is responsible for organising such services as education, libraries, police and fire services, road-building and many others.

2. Вивчіть наступні слова.

monarchy - монархія

the House of Commons - Палата громад

the House of Lords - Палата лорд1в

to represent - репрезентувати, бути представниками

local constituency - місцевий виборчий округ (виборча кампанія)

peer — пер, лорд

bishop - епископ

by secret ballot - таємним голосуванням

majority - більшість

to appoint - призначати

responsible for smth. - відповідальний за щось

department - відділ, галузь, відомство

opposition - опозищя

“shadow cabinet” - “тіньовий кабінет"

authority - влада

legislation - законодавство

to carry out - виконувати, втілювати (syn. - fulfil, realize)

to carry out policy - проводите політику

county - графство (Brit), округ (Amer.)

3. Дайте відповідь на наступні запитання:

1. What kind of country is Great Britain?

2. Who is the Queen of Great Britain?

3. What Houses does the Parliament of Great Britain comprise?

4. What House is the centre of parliamentary power in Great Britain? 6

5. Is voting compulsory in Great Britain?

6. What are the main Parties in Great Britain?

7. Who appoints the Prime Minister of Great Britain?

8. Who appoints the British Ministers?

9. What party forms the official Opposition?

10. What do the local authorities provide?

 

 

4. Опишіть систему уряду Великої Британії, використовуючи наступну схему.

Практичне заняття №6

Тема: Я – студент юридичного факультету.

 

І. Робота над текстом за темою заняття.

 

1. Прочитайте та перекладіть текст. Внесіть необхідні зміни, що відповідають вашому життєвому досвіду. Перекажіть текст.