Unit 8 political system of great britain. Parliament. Political parties. Political system of the usa. The us constitution. Elections.

1. Transcribe and memorise the following words:

Monarch, to interpret, constituency, a majority, peer, hereditary, legislation

2. Read, translate and retell the following text:

The political system of Great Britain

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

The political system of Great Britain has three branches: Parliament, which makes laws, the government, which „executes” laws i.e. puts them into effect, and the law courts, which interpret laws. Although the Queen is officially head of all three branches, she has little direct power.

There is no written constitution in Great Britain. The main principles of British legislation are expressed in other documents, like "Magna Charta", "Habeas Corpus Act", "Bill of Rights", the Parliamentary Act which decided the position of the House of Lords, the Judicature Act, etc. The British legislation does not provide written guarantees or individual political rights.

Parliament in Great Britain exists since 1265 and is the eldest in the world. It has two parts: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 650 constituencies. They are known as MPs or Members of Parliament. The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, is also an MP and usually the leader of the political party with a majority in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister is advised by the cabinet of about twenty other ministers. The Cabinet includes the ministers in charge of major government departments or ministries. Members of the House of Lords (peers) are not elected. About 70 percent of them are “hereditary peers” because their fathers were peers before them. The other 30 percent are “life peers” whose titles are not passed on to their children. They are officially appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the Government, for various services to the nation.

Word list

1. to execute – виконувати

2. court – суд

3. House of Lords – палата лордів

4. House of Commons – палата громад

5. to be in charge – завідувати

6. peer – пер, лорд

3. Read the text and mark these statements t (true) or f(false) according to the text

1. The head of Great Britain is Queen (King).

2. Legislative branch executes laws.

3. Executive branch interprets laws

4. The Queen has little direct power.

5. The Constitution of Great Britain is the eldest in Europe

6. The British legislation provides individual political rights.

7. Government consists of two Houses.

8. Prime Minister is the leader of Government.

9. The fathers of peers were peers before them.

10.”Life peers” are officially appointed by the Queen.

11. The Prime Minister is advised by the voters.

4. Fill in the blanks with the given words

1. The political system of Great Britain has three branches:……..,……….,……..… 2. The main principles of British …….are expressed in various documents. 3. The British legislation does not provide individual……………….… rights 4. British Parliament has two parts : …………….., ……………….. 5. Members of the House of Commons are known as ……………... 6. The Prime Minister is advised by the …………... 7. Peers are not ………….. to the House of Lords. 8. ”Life peers” are officially appointed by the ……………... on the advice of the ……………..

the cabinet legislation MPs Queen political judicial the House of Lords legislative Government elected executive the House of Commons

Britain's hereditary monarchy is the oldest institution of government, dating back to at least the 9-th century. The present Queen -Elizabeth II - succeeded to the throne in 1952. Although she has a largely ceremonial and politically impartial role as head of state, she serves as a personal symbol of national unity. The Queen is also head of the Commonwealth and presides over the Church of England.

Britain is a parliamentary democracy, with a constitutional monarch. The House of Commons and the House of Lords with the monarch make up Parliament. Parliament is the legislature and the supreme authority. Parliament passes laws, approves taxation and debates the major issues of the day.

The executive consists of the Cabinet of Ministers. The prime Minister heads the Government and appoints ministers, about 20 of whom are in the policy-making Cabinet.

There are two main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour Party and the Conservative Party.

The administration of justice in Britain is independent of both Parliament and the Government. The judiciary determines common law and interprets statute. Every citizen has the right to equal treatment before the law. Less serious cases are tried by lay magistrates in magistrates' courts and county courts. People accused of more serious crimes are tried in open court by a judge and jury in Crown Court. The House of Lords is the final court of appeal. A person who needs legal advice or representation in court may get help with the costs out of public funds.

Definitions of the courts

Magistrates' Court - a court held before two or more justices of the peace or a stipendiary magistrate to deal with minor crimes, certain civil actions, and preliminary hearings.

Crown Court - (in England and Wales) local court in which serious criminal cases are tried.

High Court- (also High Court of Justice) - supreme court for civil cases.

The Court of Appeal hears appeals from criminal cases beard in the Crown Courts.