I. The british monarchy today

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

B

‘backbenchers’ – the rank and file MPs occupying the back benches in the House of Commons

bill – a draft of a law presented to a legislation for enactment

Buckingham Palace – the Queen’s residence

By-elections – follow the death or retirement of an MP

C

Cabinet of Ministers – MPs and peers chosen by the Prime Minister including heads of the departments (20 MPs)

Chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords

The Commonwealth - the association of former members of the British Empire and Great Britain founded in 1949

the Conservative Party – otherwise the Tory Party, the most powerful and is often called a party of business directors, advocates support of established institutions

Constitutional monarchy – a monarch reigns with the support of Parliament

D

Downing Street – the place where the Cabinet meets

F

‘frontbenchers’ – the leading members of both parties who occupy the first two rows of seats in the House of Commons

G

General elections – held every five years

Government – the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization

H

the House of Commons – the center of parliamentary power (659 elected MPs)

the House of Lords – made up of 1,185 hereditary and life peers and peeresses

L

the Labour Party – represents the interests of workers or made up largely of organized labour groups

Leader of the Opposition – a recognized post in the House of Commons

the Liberal Party – otherwise ‘Whigs’, associated with ideals of individual esp. economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives

Lord Chancellor – the Speaker of the House of Lords, the Head of the legal system, a member of the Cabinet

M

Member of Parliament (MP) – an elected member who represents an area in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Monarch – the Head of State (a king or a queen)

P

Parliament – Britain’s legislature, comprises the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Queen

Prime Minister – the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, Chairman of the Cabinet

S

Secret ballot – an official ballot printed at public expense on which the names of all the candidates and proposals appear and which is distributed only at the polling place and marked in secret

“Shadow cabinet” – the official opposition with its own leader of the second largest party in the House of Commons

Speaker – a parliamentary official elected by MPs

W

Westminster Palace – the seat of Parliament

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

THE ISLAND OF GREAT BRITAIN

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND

WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND

LONDON

A

Aberdeen – the oil center of Scotland

B

Belfast – the capital city of Northern Ireland

Ben Nevis – the highest point in the British Isles (1343 m)

Birmingham – an important industrial city where metal goods are produced

C

Cardiff – the capital city of Wales, an important industrial city and a port, an administrative and educational centre, situated near the mouth of the Taff River

the City – the financial center of the UK with many banks offices and the Stock Exchange

E

the East End – otherwise Docklands. Until the mid-20^th century, workers in the area depended largely on employment at the Docklands, major sources of income now include service industries and light manufacturing (notably clothing).

Edinburgh – the capital city of Scotland, the cultural center of associated with the world-famous Edinburgh Festival of Music and Drama

Eisteddfod – a festival of Welsh culture

the ‘Emerald Isle’ – the poetic name of the island of Ireland

G

Glasgow – Scotland’s biggest city, an important industrial centre

K

kilt – a skirt worn by men and women in Scotland, made of tartan cloth

L

the Lake District – a favourite holiday area in Northern England, containing the beautiful lakes which give it its name, associated with the history of English literature an especially with the name of William Wordsworth (1770-1859),the founder of the Lake School of poets

leek and daffodil – the national emblems of Wales

Loch Ness – the best-known lake in Scotland where some people think a large monster lives

London – the capital city of England and the UK, the largest city in Britain, the most important commercial, manufacturing and cultural centre

Lough Neagh – the largest lake in the British Isles

R

red rose – the national emblem of England

S

the Severn – the longest river in the British Isles (388 km)

shamrock – the national emblem of Ireland

the Shannon – the largest river of Ireland

Snowdon – the highest mountain in England and Wales

Snowdonia – the national park of Wales

Stonehenge – an ancient monument, built in prehistoric times beginning about 3100 BC, it is a monumental circular setting of large standing stones surrounded by an earthwork

Swansea – the second largest city in Wales

T

the Thames – the most important river in the British Isles (344 km)

thistle – the national emblem of Scotland

U

the UK – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Ulster – used as equivalent to Northern Ireland

the Union Jack – the flag of Great Britain made up of three crosses (the upright red cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England; the white diagonal cross is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland; the red diagonal cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland)

W

the West End – the cultural center of London with many sightseeings (Buckingham Palace, the Tower, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey etc.)