Vocabulary Notes

UK POLITICAL SYSTEM

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. This means that Great Britain is governed by Parliament and the Queen is Head of State.

The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Houses of Parliament. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords is composed of hereditary and life peers and peeresses. The members of the House of Commons are elected by the people. They are elected from the constituencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the United Kingdom.

The executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The government is usually formed by the political party which is supported by the majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is the majority party leader and is appointed by the Queen. The Prime Minister chooses a team of ministers; twenty of the ministers are in the Cabinet. The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and the Shadow Cabinet. The two leading parties in Great Britain are the Conservative Party (the Tories) and the Labour Party.

The judiciary branch of the government determines common law and is independent both of the legislative and the executive branches. There is no written constitution in Great Britain, only precedents and traditions.

Vocabulary Notes

a constitutional monarchy - конституционная монархия

the Queen - королева

Head of State - глава государства

the legislative power - законодательная власть

to be exercised by - осуществляться (чём-л.)

the Houses of Parliament - парламент

the House of Lords - палата лордов

the House of Commons - палата общин

to be composed of smth - состоять из чего-л.

hereditary and life peers - наследственные и пожизненные лорды и пэры

a peeress - пэресса

to be elected by the people - избираться народом

to be elected from a constituency - избираться от избирательного округа

the real governing body- реальный правящий орган

the executive power - исполнительная власть

Prime Minister - премьер-министр

the Cabinet - кабинет

to be supported by the majority - поддерживаться большинством

to be appointed by - назначаться (кем-л.)

to choose a team of ministers - создавать команду министров

the Shadow Cabinet - теневой кабинет

the judiciary branch of the government - судебная власть

to determine common law- определять общее право

to be independent of smth - не зависеть от чего-л.

Ex. 7. Ответьте на вопросы по-английски.

1. What does the term " constitutional monarchy" mean?

2. What body exercises the legislative power in the country?

3. How are the chambers of Parliament composed?

4. What body exercises the executive power?

5. How is the executive branch of the government formed?

6. What is the official opposition?

7. What does the judiciary branch of the government do?

8. Is there a written Constitution in Great Britain?

Plan + key words

the UK - constitutional monarchy

(Parliament + the Queen)

branches

• the legislative power – Parliament

ü the House of Lords – hereditary peers

– life

ü the House of Commons people

(governing body)

• the executive power

the Queen

ü the Prime Minister the majority party leader

ü The Cabinet (20 Ministers)

to govern

the Opposition – 2^nd largest party to exercise

(the leader + the Shadow Cabinet) to consist

to elect

2 parties – the Conservative to appoint

the Labour to choose

to determine

• the judiciary branch – common law, independent

no written constitution