The House of Commons

This is the House of Commons, where the Members of Parliament take their seats on the green leather … according to their party and position. One of them is chosen to be the … , who acts as a kind of chairman of the … which take place in the house. In front of him on his right sit the MPs of the biggest party, which forms the government, and facing them sit the MPs of the parties who oppose them, the … . The leaders of these two groups sit at the front on each side. MPs without special position in their parties sit behind their leaders at the back. They are called … . The leader of the government, the … , sits on the government … , of course, next to his or her … . The most important of these form the … . The minister responsible for relations with other countries is called the … . The one responsible for law and security is called the … . The one who deals with financial matters and prepares the annual … speech on the economic state of the country is called the … . Opposite this group sits the … (the main person in the largest party opposing the government) and the … , each member of which specializes in a particular area of government.

EXERCISE 8. Scan the text and find the answers to the following questions:

1. How can a person become a candidate for the election?

2. Who does an MP represent?

3. What does the job of an MP consist of?

4. How is the job of an MP paid?

People who want to be elected to Parliament need to be nominated by one of the main political parties. A candidate has to put down a deposit of 500 pounds and collect ten signatures from residents in the constituency where he wants to stand. A candidate who gets less than 5 per cent of the total votes loses his deposit. Although MPs will support a particular party, they are not controlled by that political party and theoretically don’t have to vote with their party in Parliament. MPs represent everyone in the constituency, not just the people who voted for them. A lot of MPs’ work has nothing to do with voting in Parliament. There are hundreds of things MPs must deal with in the day-to-day business of constituency life, such as housing or health care. MPs are there to help people and to try to make sure their rights under the law are not violated. Some MPs hold an advice bureau in their constituencies, where people can go for advice. Members of Parliament have been paid salaries since 1911. The rate has lately been nearly twice the average industrial worker’s wages. Since 1965 the allowances for travel, living in London, and paying part-time secretaries and research assistants have all been increased. Still many MPs have outside earnings, through journalism, work at the law courts or business.

EXERCISE 9. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the full name of the country?

2. What is the total area of the country?

3. How many parts does the UK consist of?

4. What is the capital of Scotland?

5. Who is the head of the country?

6. What is the legislative body of the UK?

7. Who does the House of Lords include?

8. Who are the heads of both Houses of Parliament?

9. What House of Parliament has more power?

10. What court was established by the Constitution Reform Act 2005?

11. What body exercises executive functions?

12. What are the main political parties in the UK?

13. Who is the Prime Minister nowadays?

14. What is London famous for?

EXERCISE 10. Surf the Internet for the information about a) London and its places of interest; b) parts of the UK; c) the royal family, etc. and make up a presentation for your groupmates.

EXERCISE 11. Compare the British and Russian state systems and speak on differences between them.