UNIT 2

Political systems of great britain, australia and the usa

LIST OF WORDS

executive power / authority

legislative power / authority

the legislature

judicial power / authority

the judiciary

to appoint (for life)

commander-in-chief of the armed forces

to conclude treaties / peace

to declare war

to summon / dissolve Parliament

to adopt / pass laws / bills

royal assent

at the whim of smb.

to meet smb.’s expenses

on behalf of smb.

to reject a law

denial of rights

to grant the right to smth.

to grant a title / the vote

to share powers / sovereignty

parliamentary sovereignty

a two-party system

the Constitutional Convention

to amend the Constitution / law

struggle for equality and justice

direct election

to delegate authority

to recognize/ accept smb’s authority

to challenge smb’s authority

to take office

to hold public office

secret ballot

to have/ enjoy public confidence

to be sworn in

TEXT 1. Complete the text by translating the words in brackets. Make necessary grammatical changes. Answer the questions that follow the text.

Political System of Great Britain

Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. It does not have a single constitutional document; instead, the unwritten constitution of Britain has evolved over several centuries, and it consists of parliamentary laws, judicial precedents, and constitutional agreements or customs.

The chief of the state is the king (or queen). Royal power is for life and is (наследовать) by the monarch’s direct (потомки) in the male line, and in case there are none, in the female line, according to seniority. The monarch is considered to be the (высший) bearer of (исполнительный) power, the head of the judicial system, the supreme (верховный главнокомандующий), the temporal head of the Anglican Church, and the head of the Commonwealth. Juridically the monarch has the right to (назначать) the prime minister, the other ministers, judges, diplomats, officers of the army, navy, and air force, bishops and archbishops, and governors, as well as (заключать) international treaties, declaring war, and concluding peace. The monarch is considered to be an integral part of Parliament, the so-called Crown-in-Parliament, and in this capacity (созывать) Parliament into session, which is opened by his speech from the throne. The monarch also has the power to (распускать) the House of Commons and to sanction bills that have been (принимать) by Parliament and possesses the right to (жаловать) the titles of peer, baron, knight, and other honorific titles. But in fact the monarch of England is only the nominal chief of state (who reigns but does not rule); the royal powers and prerogatives are almost entirely in the hands of the (исполнительный) authority—the cabinet of ministers.

The highest organ of (законодательный) power is Parliament, which consists of the king (or queen), the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. These component parts of Parliament are considered independent of each other, since they are constructed on different principles, have separate residences, and different powers; however, in order that laws may be (принимать), it is usually necessary that they come to an agreement.

The legal rights enjoyed by the two houses of Parliament are different. Financial (законопроекты) may only be introduced in the House of Commons, and their (принимать) does not require the concurrence of the House of Lords. However, the House of Lords retains the right to postpone final approval of other (законопроекты). Thus, although the House of Lords occupies a subordinate position in the (законодательный) process, under specific circumstances it can slow bills that have been (принимать) by the House of Commons. The procedure for (принятие законопроекта) in both houses is approximately the same; however, the chairman of the House of Commons, the Speaker, has broad powers and can decisively affect the entire course of its work, whereas the Lord Chancellor, who (председательствовать) in the House of Lords, is (быть лишенным) these powers. The monarch has the right to finally (отклонять) a law (the so-called absolute veto), but this right has not been utilized since the beginning of the 18th century.

1. What is peculiar about the constitution of Great Britain?

2. Who is the formal chief of the state?

3. What are the duties of the monarch?

4. What does the phrase “the monarch reigns but does not rule” imply?

5. What is the structure of British Parliament?

6. What is the highest organ of legislative power?

7. What is the highest organ of executive power?

8. What are the legal rights enjoyed by each house of Parliament?

9. What are powers of the presiding officers of each House?

10. What is the procedure of passing bills?

TEXT 2. Read the text and make a short presentation (up to 5 minutes) on the history of British Parliament on the basis of the issues suggested after the text. Texts 5 and 6 from SUPPLEMENTARY READER may also be helpful to you.