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Political system of GB

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. That means that GB is governed by the Parliament, that is partly elected, and the Queen is the Head of State. The British Queen Elisabeth the Second does not have any real political power; she reigns, but does not rule. She has really very few functions; she can dissolve (распустить) the Parliament and form the Government when there is no clear majority.

The British Parliament consists of 2 Chambers (Палаты): the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There about 1,100 lords in the House of Lords - hereditary (наследственные) and life (пожизненные) peers. There is no real political power in the House of Lords. The House of Commons consists of 650 members of Parliament (MPs); they are elected by people every 5 years. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the UK. To become a law, a bill (законопроект) must be approved by both Houses of parliament; the lords cannot veto a bill; they can delay (отложить) it maximum for 1 year.

Prime Minister (nowadays it is David Cameron), who is usually the majority party leader, is appointed by the Queen and chooses a team of ministers; 12 of the ministers are in the Cabinet.

The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and the Shadow Cabinet. The 2 leading parties in GB are the Conservative Party and the Labor Party. Since 1945 no other party has been in power.

There is no written constitution in GB; only precedents and traditions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What does ‘constitutional monarchy” mean?

2. What does the British Parliament consist of?

3. What is the official opposition?

4. Is there a written constitution in GB?

5. Who are the Queen and Prime Minister of GB nowadays?

6. What do you know of the House of Lords? /of the House of Commons?

7. What are 2 leading political parties in the UK?