Unit 5 the british political system

GETTING STARTED

Answer the following questions:

● What is Britain’s official name?

● What do you know about the UK political system?

READING

1. Read the article and find political terms you have already had in the previous units.

The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy. The Queen is the head of State, but she doesn't rule, she only reigns. She has mostly representative functions.

The present Sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II. Born in 1926, succeeded to the throne in 1952. The monarchy is hereditary, descending to the Sons of the Sovereign in order of seniority or to the daughters. So the eldest of the Queen HRH (His Royal Highness) Prince Charles, is the heir to the throne.

Although the Queen's active role in politics is minimal, she performs the functions of an impartial head of state and serves as a personal symbol of national unity. She is also the Head of the Commonwealth of Nations. The Queen is the head of the executive, the head of Judiciary, the commander-in-chief of all Armed Forces of the Crown. She summons and dissolves Parliament, as a rule she opens the new session of Parliament, she must give Royal Assent to the law. But she acts not on her own but on the advice of the Government, which she cannot constitutionally ignore.

For over 150 years Britain's system of parliamentary democracy has been based on political parties. It depends on the existence of at least two parties in the House of Commons, each of which is capable of forming a government.

Parliament consists of three elements – the Monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. These meet together only on occasions of ceremonial significance.

The members of the House of Lords are called peers. There are no elections for the House of Lords. Some peers are hereditary. They hold titles of nobility which can be passed on to their sons. Others are life peers; they are people who have served the nation in a special way. The Queen chooses life peers in consultation with the Prime Minister. The House of Lords is less important than the House of Commons.

The members of the House of Commons are chosen by election. They are elected for a maximum of five years. They are called M.P.

British citizens can vote when they are 18 years old. After an election, the political party with the largest number of members of the House of Commons forms the government. The leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister and he or she chooses the ministers who will together form the Government.

The party which won the second most votes forms the official opposition. It is also called the Shadow Cabinet. Both sit on the two sides of the Hall. One side is for the governing party, the other is for opposition. Nowadays the Conservative Party is the governing one and the Labour Party forms the opposition.

The session is opened by the Queen. But she reads her speech in the House of Lords and not in Commons. All the members are paid for their work and have to attend the sittings. When Parliament is not sitting they visit their constituencies.

Law, which is proposed to the Parliament, is called "a Bill". It passes through the House of Lords, the House of Commons, signed by the Queen and becomes law. When the members vote they leave the House through two doors. On one door is written "Yes", on the other - "No". When they are leaving the Hall they are counted by four tellers.

The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution set out in a single document. The set of rules has been developed over many centuries: it is made up of Acts of Parliament, common law and conventions. So it is comparatively easy to change it.

Parliament has such functions as passing, or abolishing laws; voting on taxation, discussing political problems.

Government ministers are answerable to Parliament for the activities of their departments and for the general conduct of national policies.

The Union Flag combines three elements of three flags of England (St. George's flag), Scotland (St. Andrew's flag) and Ireland (St. Patrick's flag). It is called "The Union Jack".

3. Answer the following question:

Why do you think the hereditary system of peers’ appointment is always a hot-issue problem of British society?

DEVELOPING VOCABULARY

1. Make up a list of new words from the text. Use your dictionary if necessary.

2. Find synonyms to the following words and word expressions.

a head of a state, to perform some functions, significance, to abolish, to be answerable to.

3. Fill in correct prepositions.

1) Queen Elizabeth II succeeded … the throne in 1952.

2) The monarchy is hereditary, descending … the Sons of the Sovereign … order of seniority or … the daughters.

3) Parliament has such functions as passing, or abolishing laws and voting … taxation.

4) The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution set … in a single document.

5) Government ministers are answerable to Parliament … the activities of their departments.

6) A bill passes … the House of Lords, the House of Commons, signed … the Queen and becomes law.

7) They hold titles of nobility which can be passed … … their sons.

8) Prince Charles is the heir … the throne.

4. Make up sentences about the British political system starting with the given words.

1) The UK…

2) The Queen performs…

3) There are no elections…

4)The MPs are

5) The political party…

6. The Sovereign opens…

9) When MPs vote…

LISTENING / WATCHING

1. Watch a video under the title “The State Opening of Parliament”. Take part in the discussion. Express your views on the following questions:

1) What is the name of the present sovereign of the UK and Northern Ireland?

2) How old is the tradition of the state opening of Parliament?

3) Describe the procedure of the state opening of Parliament. What old traditions are strictly followed?

4) What elements does the British Parliament consist of?

5) What are the contents of the Queen’s speech in Parliament?

2. Watch a TV news analysis concerning parliamentary elections 2010 in the UK. Speak about the chances of winning in the elections of the candidates of the Tories, the Labour Party, the Liberals, and the Green Party. Ground your approaches.

TALK POINT

1. Compare the political systems of the UK and Belarus.

WRITING

1. Identify the strongest and the weakest features of the British political system in the form of a newspaper article.