- •1. Early Britain. Ancient population.
- •2. The Roman invasion.
- •4. The raids of the Danes and their role in the unification of the country.
- •5. The Norman invasion. The main principles of feudalism.
- •6. Early British education. The first universities. A medieval town.
- •7. England in the 14-15th centuries (the 100 Years’ War, the Peasants’ Revolt, the War of the Roses).
- •8. The policy of the new monarchs: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I.
- •9. Gaining power and expansion during the Tudor period.
- •10. British government and society in the 16th century.
- •11. British economy and the problems of the poor in the 16th century.
- •12. The Crown and Parliament during the Stuart period.
- •13. Republican and restoration Britain.
- •14. The 17th century British society.
- •15. Changes in political life in Britain in the 18th century.
- •16. Life of the British in town and in the country in the 18th century.
- •17. Industrial revolution in Britain and the war with Napoleon.
- •18. Reforms in Britain in the first half of the 19th century.
- •19. Britain’s international and home policy in the first half of the 19th century.
- •20. The years of self-confidence in Britain: industrial power, towns and the rise of the middle class.
- •22. Social and economic changes in Britain between 1876 and 1914.
- •21. The years of self-confidence: population, politics, the British Empire and life in Ireland.
- •23. Britain the World War I.
- •24. The after-effects of World War I for Britain.
- •25. Great Britain in World War II.
- •26. Britain after World War II. The Suez Canal conflict.
- •27. Attitude to the British towards the monarchy in the 20th century and Thatcher’s government.
- •32. Seas and coastline of the uk. Climate.
- •33. Britain in 1957-1979. Harold Macmillan.
- •Harold Wilson and Edward Heath
- •34. Tony Blair. Brown as Prime Minister.
- •Foreign policy. Brown remains committed to the Iraq War, but said in a speech in May 2007 that he would "learn the lessons" from the mistakes made in Iraq.
- •36. Legislative branch of government. Constitution. Passing a bill. Function of the monarch in the Parliament.
- •39. Migration in the uk.
- •37. Elections and parties. Local government. European Union.
- •38. Population of the uk. Population density and distribution.
- •40. Ethnic and geographic identity. Being British. Family and class.
- •41. The place of Britain in the world economy. Chief industries.
- •42. Agriculture. Transport and communication. Overseas trade.
- •43.Compulsory schooling. Educational reforms. Exams.
- •44. Post 16 education. Higher education.
- •45.British culture. Arts.
- •46. British culture. Science and technology. Religion. Religious, political, social and everyday contacts.
- •47. British culture. Sport. Food. National costume. Naming conventions.
- •48.British press.
- •Magazines
- •49. British radio and television. Television
- •50. Places to see in London.
Foreign policy. Brown remains committed to the Iraq War, but said in a speech in May 2007 that he would "learn the lessons" from the mistakes made in Iraq.
35.Executive and judicial branches of government. Power in Great Britain is divided among three branches: the legislative branch, the executive brunch and the judicial brunch. The legislative branch is represented by Parliament which consists of two chambers: The House of Lords and the House of Commons. The executive brunch is headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the monarch. According to the tradition, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that has won the elections and has the majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister appoints the ministers to compose the government. After that the newly appointed ministers are presented to the monarch for the formal approval. The most important ministers of the government form the Cabinet. Members of the Cabinet make joint decisions or advise the Prime Minister. The main function of the executive branch of the government is to administer the laws.The judicial brunch interprets the law. The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court, which consists of two divisions: the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. The Lord Chancellor is the head of the judiciary in England and Wales.
36. Legislative branch of government. Constitution. Passing a bill. Function of the monarch in the Parliament.
Parliament is the national legislative power of the UK It is the ultimate legislative authority in the UK composed of the elected House of Commons and the unelected House of Lords, whose members are mostly appointed. The House of Commons is the more powerful of the two houses.
The Parliament Act 1911 fixed the life of a parliament at 5 years, although it may be dissolved. It can make, unmake or alter any law. The life of the Parliament is divided into sessions, each lasting for one year. Each session begins and ends most often in October and November.
The UK is divided into parliamentary constituencies of equal population, each of which elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. The House of Commons is made up of 650 elected members, known as members of Parliament, each of whom represents the area of the United Kingdom. They are elected either at general elections or at an election following the death or retirement of a Member of Parliament. The election campaign usually lasts three weeks. Everyone over the age of 18 can vote in an election. Elections are held every 5 years. But the Prime Minister can decide on the exact date within those five years.
Before a proposal for a new law starts its progress through the parliament, there will be much discussion. Most bills begin life in the House of Commons, where they go through a number of stages.
First reading: This is a formal announcement only, with no debate
Second reading: The house debates the general principles of the bill and in most cases, takes a vote.
Committee stage: A committee of MPs examines the details of the bill and votes on amendments (changes) to parts of it.
Report stage: The House considers die amendments.
Third reading: The amended bill is debated as a whole.
The bill is sent to the House of Lords, where it goes through the same stages. (If the Lords make new amendments, these will be considered by the Commons.)
After both Houses have reached agreement, the bill receives the royal assent and becomes an Act of Parliament which can be applied as part of the law.
House of Lords. The House of Lords has 724 members (though this number is not fixed), constituted of hereditary peers, life peers (Lord Temporal), and bishops of the Church of England (the Lords Spiritual).
The present British monarch is Queen Elizabeth the Second, who succeeded to the throne in 1952. But every action of the government is carried out in its name. The Queen personifies the State.
But although the Queen is deprived of actual power, she has retained many important though formal functions. This includes summoning, proroguing and dissolving Parliament, appointing every important office holder, such as government judges, officers in the armed forces, bishops and some others. She also appoints a Prime Minister to form a government. As Head of State the Queen has international affairs, the power to declare war and make peace, to recognize foreign states and governments, to conclude treaties and so on. She is informed and consulted on every aspect of national life.
The monarch embodies also the unity of Commonwealth.