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The system of local government is different in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom. The oldest and largest divisions in England and Wales are called counties. In Scotland, the largest divisions are regions. Northern Ireland is sometimes known as the Six Counties, but local government there is based on districts.

Local government of the United States refers to the government at the city, town or village level.

COMPREHENSION

ASome countries are mentioned in the text. What are they?

BDifferent terms are used for offices at nation-state level. What are they?

CFor sentences 1-6 choose the variant (a, b) which fits best according to the text.

1.The term local government is used to contrast with ………….

a)city government.

b)national government.

2.Local governments are usually financed by …………………..

a)receiving contributions from charity organizations.

b)raising taxes.

3.The system of local governments in different countries ………

a)varies greatly.

b)is the same.

4.Common names for local government entities include ……….

a)region, department, county, district, city, etc.

b)federation, union, state, confederation.

5.Australia and the Netherlands are countries with ……………..

a)two tiers of government.

b)three tiers of government.

6.The system of local government in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom is ……………………………………

a)the same.

b)different.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

ARead the words and guess their meaning. Mind the stress.

'contrast (n) cont'rast (v)

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2.Sometimes the power of local governments to raise taxes is ……… .

3.Common names for local government entities ………

state, region, county, city, town, etc.

4.In modern nations, modern governments ……… to raise taxes.

5.The term local government is used to ……… the central government.

6.Such names as state, province, prefecture, district, etc. are often used informally in countries where they do not …... .

7.Offices at the nation-state level ……… as the central government.

E Learn the active vocabulary.

DISCUSSION

Speak about the system of local government in Belarus.

AScan Text 6.2 and answer the questions:

a)What geographical names are given in the text?

b)What events are the years of 1985, 1995, 1998 connected with?

BRead the text and complete the information below.

1. The oldest and largest divisions in England and Wales are called ………………………………………………….… .

2. Counties and districts are run by …………………..…… .

3. Councils consist of ……………………………………… . 4. Councillors are elected for a period of ……………..…… . 5. Councils make policies for ……………………………… . 6. Local government officers have a role similar to that of

…………………………………………………………… . 7. Local councils and committees are responsible for …….. .

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6.2 Local Government in Britain

For administrative purposes Britain is divided into small geographical areas. The oldest and largest divisions in England and Wales are called counties. In Scotland, the largest divisions are regions. Counties and regions are further divided into districts. Parishes, originally villages with a church, are the smallest units of local government in England. These are called communities in Scotland and Wales. Boroughs were originally towns large enough to be given their own local government. Now, only boroughs in London have political power, which they took over in 1985 when the Greater London Council was abolished.

Counties and districts are run by councils, which have powers given them by central government. A system of local councils was first established in the 19th century, but since then there have been many changes to their structure and powers. Councils have a twotier structure (= two levels of government), with both county and district councils. The county council is the more powerful. Unitary authorities have only one tier of government. The first unitary authorities were created in 1995. Since then, all of Wales and Scotland and many parts of England have become unitary authorities.

Councils consist of elected representatives, called councilors. They are elected by the local people for a period of four years (in Scotland for three years). Most councilors belong to a political party and, especially at a county level, people vote for them as representatives of a party, not as individuals. County councils meet in a council chamber at the local town hall. Councilors elect a chair person from amongst themselves. In cities, he or she is called the Lord Mayor. Members of the public are allowed to attend council meetings.

Councils make policies for their area. Decisions are made by the full council or in committees. Policy is carried out by local government officers, who have a similar role to that of civil servants. Local authorities(= councils and committees) rather than central government are responsible for education, social services, housing, transport, the police and fire services, town planning, recreation facilities and other local services.

Councils employ about 1,4 million people. Formerly, staff employed by the council carried out most activities, but now

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councils often give contracts to private firms. Many local government functions, e.g. rubbish collection, must be put out to tender (= competed for by private companies). This procedure is called compulsory competitive tendering intended to save money.

Central government provides a lot of money spent by councils in the form of grants. It also collects taxes on commercial properties throughout the country and then shares the money out between local authorities according to their population.

Councils also charge local people a council tax. This is the only tax that they are allowed to collect. The council tax has existed since 1993 and is based on the actual value of a person’s house.

COMPREHENSION

For sentences 1-9 choose the right variant (a, b), which fits best according to the text.

1.The largest administrative divisions in England are called …..

a)communities.

b)counties.

2.In Scotland, the largest divisions are …………………………

a)regions.

b)districts.

3.A system of local government was first established in ………

a)the 15th century.

b)the 19th century.

4.Councilors are elected by local people for a period of ……….

a)four years.

b)six years.

5.Councils make policies for …………………………………..

a)the whole country.

b)their area.

6.Now councils often give contracts to ………………………...

a)private firms.

b)individuals.

7.Central government provides a lot of money spent by councils in the form of …………………………………………………

a)taxes.

b)grants.

8.Money is shared between the local authorities according to ….

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a)the size of the territory.

b)their population.

9.The council tax is based on ……………………………………

a)the value of a person’s house.

b)the value of the income.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

A Read the words and guess their meaning. Mind the stress.

BMatch the verbs and the nouns as they occur together in the text.

CGive the Russian equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

to divide into; to elect representatives; to be run by; to belong to; to provide services; to take the power; counties; a two-tier structure; unitary authorities; a chair person; to establish; to attend meetings; to make policies; to carry out policy; to be responsible for; to employ the staff; according to; to charge a tax.

DOpen the brackets. Use the correct word forms and word combinations from Exercise C.

1.For administrative purposes Britain (делиться на) small geographical areas.

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2. The largest divisions in England and Wales are called (округа).

3. Councils and districts (управляться) by councils.

4. A system of local councils first (создавать) in the 19th century.

5. Councils have (двухуровневая структура).

6. Councils consist of (избираемые представители), called councilors.

7. Most councilors (принадлежать) a political party.

8. Local authorities (отвечать за) education, social services, town planning, transport.

9. Central government shares the money between local authorities (в зависимости от) their population.

UNIT 7

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

READING PRACTICE

AScan Text 7.1 and answer the questions:

a)What do figures 33 and 132 stand for?

b)How many states do not use the name of their government form in their official names?

BRead the text and complete the information below.

1. Synonyms of a form of government include ……………… . 2. The general attributes of the forms of government are …….. .

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3.Not all states ………………………. in their official names.

4.There ate 33 kingdoms in the word, but only 18 ……….… .

5.The word ‘republic’ is used by …………………..…..…… .

7.1 Forms of Government

A form of government is a term that refers to the set of political institutions by which a government of a state is organized in order to exert its powers over a community politics. Synonyms include “regime type” and “system of government”. This definition holds valid even if the government is unsuccessful in exerting its power. But a failed government is still considered a form of government. Churches, corporations, clubs, and other subnational entities also have “government” forms.

Beyond official typologies it is important to think about regime types by looking at the general attributes of the forms of government:

traditional or modern;

autocracy (totalitarianism or authoritarianism), oligarchy, or democracy;

direct or indirect elections;

republic or monarchy;

constitutional monarchy or absolute monarchy;

majority government or coalition government;

parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential;

confederation, federation, or unitary.

Nineteen states in the world do not explicitly name their government forms in their official names (the official name of Jamaica, for instance, is simply “Jamaica”), but most have an official name which identifies their form of government, or at least the form of government toward which they are striving:

Australia, the Bahamas, and Dominica are each officially a commonwealth.

Luxemburg is a grand duchy.

Russia and Switzerland are each a federation.

There are 33 kingdoms in the world, but only 18 named as such. The other 15 are known as realms. Jordan is

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specifically titled the “Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” while Britain is formally the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Andorra, Liechtenstein, and Monaco are each a principality.

The word “republic” is used by 132 nations in their official names. Many specify a type of republic: China is titled a “people’s republic; North Korea- a “democratic people’s republic”, Egypt and Syria-“Arab republics”; Algeria is a “democratic and popular republic”; Vietnam-a socialist republic.

States that wish to emphasize that their provinces have a fair amount of autonomy from central government may specifically state this: Germany and Nigeria are each a federal republic, Ethiopia is a federal democratic republic, the Comoros is a federal Islamic republic, and Brazil is a federative republic. Besides the Comoros, four other nations dictate that they are Islamic republics.

Eleven nations simply refer to themselves as states, but a handful specify what kind of state. Papua New Guinea and Samoa emphasize that they are independent states, while the United States of America and the United Mexican States are made up of constituent states.

Brunei and Oman are sultanates.

COMPREHENSION

A The text states different attributes of the forms of government. Match these attributes with the countries according to the text.