Inostrannyy_yazyk_anglysky_-_UP_British_State

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On election day the voters go to the polling-station, and record their votes by placing a cross against their candidate's name on the list, and place the paper in a ballot-box. Some people may vote by proxy. The election officials count the number of votes and the Returning Officer announces the elected candidate. The candidate in a constituency who gains most votes is returned as Member to the Commons.

If an MP resigns, dies or is made a peer during the lifetime of a Parliament, a by-election must be held in the constituency (which he represented) to elect a new member.

by-election – дополнительные выборы

Task 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: избирательная система, избирательный округ, член парламента,

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UNIT 6

WESTMINSTER PALACE

AND TRADITIONS IN PARLIAMENT

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

Westminster Palace

Parliament works in Westminster Palace which since Edward the Confessor's times was kings' and queens' residence, then it was shared by Parliament but since the 16th century it is entirely in Parliamentary use. The House of Parliament is one building 280 m long, stretching along the Thames and overlooking it. Its width is 90 m. This building was erected in the middle of the 19th century, as the old one was destroyed by the Fire of London in 1834. Its architect was Charles Barry. It is a magnificent gothicstyle carved-stone building with 1200 apartments, 100 staircases, 130 statues, 3,2 km of passages, 11 courtyards, 26 policemen, 34 doorkeepers, 250 people looking after the upkeeps of the palace.

Westminster Palace is richly decorated with statues of famous politicians of the past. So it is said in jest that British Parliament has the third House consisting of 130 statesmen immortalized in marble and bronze. When Parliament is in session Union Jack flies from the Victoria Tower by day and a light is burning on the Clock Tower with the famous Big Ben by night.

The 336-foot Victoria Tower is the largest and tallest square tower in the world. Through its archway the monarch enters for the State Opening of Parliament each November. More than 6000 Acts of Parliament are stored in the Victoria Tower.

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The Clock Tower is one of the best known sights in the world. It is 320 ft high and is popularly called Big Ben, by the name of a four-faced bell clock striking the hours. Actually Big Ben is the name of the biggest of the 5 bells, the proper name for the tower being St. Stephen's Tower. Big Ben is 150 years old and it is the most accurate clock of its size in the world. There are two versions of the origin of the name. Some people believe that the tower got its name from Benjamin Caunt, a famous boxer. Others think that it was from Sir Benjamin Hall, an enormous Welshman who worked at the Palace when the clock was being built. There are 334 steps up to the belfry and 59 more up to the lantern at the top. Each number on the clock face is 60,9 cm long, the hour hand is 274,3 cm long, the minute hand is 426 cm long. It travels at 30,4 cm a minute. The weight of the Big Ben is 13,5 tons, the same as of 250-300 men. On the 11th floor there is a small prison cell which used to be for anyone who committed a crime inside the Houses of Parliament. In the past the clock used to be winded by hand (until 1913) and it took 30 hours a week to wind it. Now the job is done by an electric motor.

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constituency. The winner is the candidate who gets more votes than any other single candidate, even if the difference is only one vote. This system is simple and clear, but it means that sometimes the elected candidate represents only the third of those who voted and the candidate who comes second, even very close to the winner, gets nothing.

The weakness of the electoral system was revealed in the 1980s, when the conservatives enjoyed a large majority in the Commons although at the elections of 1979, 1983 and 1987 more people voted against the Conservative Party than for it. In 1987 the Liberal Alliance received 23,1 % of the total vote but won only 22 seats (3,5 %) in Parliament. This is the reason why all the smaller parties continue their campaign for proportional representation, which would give them far more seats in Parliament.

General Elections in Britain are held every 5 years, as every Parliament (and Government accordingly) is elected for this term. The Prime Minister chooses the date of the next General Elections, but does not have to wait until the end of the 5 years. A time is chosen that will give as much advantage as possible to the political party in power.

About a month before the election the Prime Minister meets a small group of close advisers to discuss the date, which would best suit the party. The date is announced to the Cabinet. The Prime Minister asks the Queen to dissolve the Parliament. Once it is dissolved, all MPs are unemployed.

Party manifestos are published and campaigning begins throughout the country lasting for about 3 weeks with large-scale press, radio and television coverage.

Voting takes place on Polling Day (usually a Thursday). MPs are elected by direct and secret ballot. Citizens of 18 and over have the right to vote (except prisoners, lords and mentally ill). Voting is not compulsory and about 75 % of the electorate take part in General Elections.

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Task 7. Make verbs from these words with the help of the prefix en- and translate them: sure, act, title, able, force, large, trust.

Task 8. Make these words negative with the help of the prefixes un-, im-, dis-, ir-, il- and translate them: likely, rational, advantage, regular, appear, stable, possible, deniable, personal, limited, legal, written, responsible.

Task 9. Answer the questions:

1.What are the advantages of the absence of the written constitution?

2.What are the disadvantages of the absence of the written constitution?

3.What is meant by Charter 88"?

4.What do the British people think of their constitution?

UNIT 8

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

The British people have always prided themselves on their electoral system believing it to be one of the most democratic. It is known as a majority system. The foundation of the British electoral system is the single-member constituency. The United Kingdom is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies, each one of which elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to sit in the House of Commons. Each MP represents 66000 electors. A person may represent a constituency even if he does not live there.

Any number of candidates can stand for election in each

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Notes to the text: to overlook – возвышаться над чем-либо carved-stone – высеченный из камня

upkeep – содержание (в исправности), ремонт to immortalize – увековечить, обессмертить

Union Jack – «Юнион Джек», государственный флаг Соединенного Королевства Великобритании и Северной Ирландии (учрежден в 1801)

to store – хранить на складе belfry – колокольня lantern – фонарь

(clock) face – циферблат

Task 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: воздвигнуть сооружение,

сказать в шутку, государственный деятель, бить (о часах), точное название, точные часы, часовая стрелка, минутная стрелка, тюремная камера, совершить преступление, заводить (часы).

Task 3. Define the tense and the voice of the predicates in the following sentences:

1.This building was erected in the middle of the 19th century.

2.Westminster Palace is richly decorated with statues of famous politicians of the past.

3.Sir Benjamin Hall, an enormous Welshman, worked at the Palace when the clock was being built.

Task 4. Find in the text 5 adjectives in the superlative degree, then form the comparatives and the superlatives of the following adjectives used in the text: magnificent, high, popular, famous, small, enormous, old.

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Task 5. Answer the questions:

1.Where does Parliament work?

2.How does the House of Parliament look like?

3.What is Victoria Tower famous for?

4.How is the Clock Tower popularly called? What is the origin of its name?

5.How does Big Ben look like?

Task 6. Read and translate the text.

State Opening of Parliament

The State Opening of Parliament is a glamourous annual ceremony opening every new session of Parliament. The Queen's gilded coach parades from Buckingham Palace through Whitehall to Westminster, escorted by brilliantly uniformed Household Cavalry. As the Queen enters the Houses of Parliament the air shakes with the booming of heavy guns, and all London knows that the processes that have so long protected England from oppression have once again been renewed with all their age-old ceremony.

The State Opening of Parliament is a procedure which is strictly scheduled, its every minute is significant. Yet when the Queen is seated on the throne there comes a long and awkward pause. Since the Civil War in the 17th century, when Oliver Cromwell defeated and abolished monarchy (Charles I was beheaded) and established a republic for 11 years, no monarch has ever been allowed into the House of Commons. So, sitting on a throne in the House of Lords, the Queen sends her representative, Black Rod, to knock on the door of the Commons to ask the 650 members of Her Majesty's House if they will go and listen to her speech outlining Parliamentary business of the new session. Black Rod is to cross the building to reach the opposite end of the Palace where the House of Commons is situated. The door is closed in

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demands are not groundless. It is undeniable that during the 198090s the British Government was found guilty of infringing the European Convention of Human Rights more than any other member of the European Community.

These points are seen quite the other way by the opponents. They regard the present system as virtue rather than a defect as it ensures strong government. So the debate should be about how to find the balance between strong government and strong democracy. The calls for constitutional reforms are unlikely to disappear; they may become even more insistent. The problem is that no government once elected will wish to restrict its powers. So the British people come to the conclusion that only a constitutional crisis will persuade them whether or not a written constitution is necessary.

Notes to the text:

to alter – изменять, переделывать, вносить изменения to abolish – отменять, упразднять

to save – избавлять от

it is undeniable – несомненно, явно to infringe – нарушать

virtue – достоинство, хорошее качество

Task 6. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: преимущество, принятие парламентского закона, всеобщее соглашение, вносить поправки, достаточная гарантия, диктатура, большинство или меньшинство, выдающиеся политики, проводить кампанию, требовать чего-либо, суверенитет, необоснованные требования, признать виновным, Европейское Сообщество, гарантировать (обеспечивать), более настоятельные требования конституционных реформ, ограничивать власть (полномочия), прийти к заключению, убеждать.

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Task 5. Answer the questions:

1.How does the British Constitution differ from the constitutions of many other countries?

2.What are the three main sources of the British Constitution?

3.What are: Statute of Westminster? Common Law? Conventions?

Part II

The absence of the written constitution is regarded by many people as an advantage. They think that because the constitution is not contained in any written document it can be easily altered by the passing of an Act of Parliament or by general agreement to vary, amend, abolish or create a convention. So they think it can more readily be adapted to changing political conditions and ideas, its flexibility saves serious disturbance to existing organs and forms of government.

There is, on the other hand, a strong counter-argument and criticism of the existing political system. The opponents think that Britain's unwritten constitution is no longer a sufficient safeguard of democratic and individual rights, as there is no constitutional protection either for the nation as a whole or for individuals, as neither the Queen nor the Lords can effectively oppose a government which commands the majority in the Commons. An elected government unlimited by constitution is a menace to people's liberties whether it be a dictatorship of Right or Left, of a majority or a minority.

In 1988 a group of distinguished politicians, lawyers, academics, writers and journalists began to campaign under the title "Charter 88" (the Charter of 1688) for wide-ranging reforms. They called for a Bill of Rights, protecting individual liberties, for a written constitution which would define and limit the powers of Parliament, because a Bill of Rights without a written constitution limiting Parliament's sovereignty might be worthless. These

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front of him. He is to knock humbly 3 times. The door is opened and he announces the Queen's order. And ministers in pairs hurry after the messenger: the Prime Minister with the Leader of the Opposition, ministers in power with the ministers of the Shadow Cabinet. But there are no seats for them in the House of Lords. So they crowd at the entrance and listen to the Queen standing at the door.

The State Opening Speech is drafted by the Queen's Government and describes what the Government intends to implement during the forthcoming session. During the next week or so the Government and Opposition debate aspects of the Queen's Speech in the House of Commons and vote on the amendments which the Opposition proposes. Since the speech is a statement of policy, defeat on any vote would oblige the Government to resign.

Notes to the text:

State Opening of Parliament – официальное открытие сессии парламента

gilded coach – позолоченная карета

to parade – шествовать, проходить строем

Household Cavalry – Королевская конная гвардия (состоит из двух полков: Лейб-гвардейского конного полка и Королевского конногвардейского полка)

oppression – притеснение, гнет to abolish – отменять, упразднять

Black Rod – «Черный жезл», герольдмейстер (постоянное должностное лицо в палате лордов; назначается монархом; приглашает членов палаты общин на тронную речь монарха; во время церемоний несет черный жезл)

humbly – робко

to draft – составлять

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Task 7. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: эффектный, ежегодная церемония, вековой, неловкий, установить республику, представитель, посыльный (курьер), толпиться у входа, предстоящая сессия, поправка, политическое заявление, уходить в отставку.

Task 8. Find participles I and II in the following sentences:

1.The Queen's gilded coach parades from Buckingham Palace through Whitehall to Westminster, escorted by brilliantly uniformed Household Cavalry.

2.So, sitting on a throne in the House of Lords, the Queen sends her representative, Black Rod, to knock on the door of the Commons to ask the 650 members of Her Majesty's House if they will go and listen to her speech outlining Parliamentary business of the new session.

3.So they crowd at the entrance and listen to the Queen standing at the door.

Task 9. Guess the words used in the text by their definitions: which happens once a year; a person, who brings information sent; to give up a job; to group together; soon to appear; system of government with a hereditary ruler such as a king or queen.

Task 10. Answer the questions:

1.Why is the State Opening of Parliament called a glamourous ceremony?

2.Is a monarch allowed to enter the House of Commons? What time did this tradition date back?

3.What is the role of Black Rod?

4.Is the State Opening Speech an important event in the political life of the country? Explain why you think so.

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Civil Code – гражданский кодекс Criminal Code – уголовный кодекс

convention – соглашение, общее согласие, обычай binding – обязательный, обязывающий

divine – божественный

Task 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: отличаться от чего-либо,

поворотный момент, лишать чего-либо, ограничивать, принимать постановления, конституционного значения, парламентские акты (законы), права и обязанности, подписывать, расширять права, провозгласить суверенитет, ограничение свободы, подобный прецедент, руководствоваться девизом, нарушать правила, потерять должность, разрушить карьеру.

Task 3. Find in the text the derivatives of the following words: different, to agree, to regulate, constitution, significance, to follow, to limit, to begin, sovereign, to extend, to interpret, to decide, responsible, to found, proper, able.

Task 4. Find in the text and translate all the word combinations with the nouns used in the possessive case. Paraphrase the following word combinations using the possessive case of nouns: the exports of Britain,

the approval of the politicians, the success of the company, the population of the world, the rights of the citizens,

the decision of the lawyer,

the economic system of the government, the resignation of the president.

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between the Parliament and the Government, the Government and the Civil Service and so on. For example: the divine right of the Queen to choose her Prime Minister is a convention as well as the Queen's all other prerogatives; a member of the Government cannot criticize his Government, he is either to agree or to resign – that is collective responsibility convention. Many traditional ceremonies are conventions too (Queen's Opening of Parliament, her belonging to the House of Lords, inability to enter the House of Commons, the Commons appearance in the House of Lords at the State Opening of Parliament, the duties of the Speaker, etc.).

Notes to the text:

Glorious Revolution – «Славная революция» (1688-1689). Statute of Westminster – Вестминстерский статут (1931; акт

парламента о правовом положении британских доминионов и их взаимоотношениях с Великобританией; наряду с другими актами составляет статутарную основу английской конституционной практики)

Magna Carta – Великая хартия вольностей (грамота,

подписанная королем под давлением восставших баронов в 1215; ограничивала королевскую власть и предоставляла более широкие права крупным феодалам)

Petition of Rights – Петиция о правах

Habeas Corpus Act – Закон о неприкосновенности личности

Bill of Rights – Билль о правах

dominion – доминион (название стран Британской империи, находившихся от нее в различной степени политической и экономической зависимости; признавали в качестве главы государства британского монарха; термин был введен в 1926, в 50-е гг. вышел из употребления)

Common Law – общее право

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Task 11. Read and translate the text.

Traditions in Parliament

Part I

The "throning" of a Speaker for the House of Commons is a tradition. He is generally elected by the common consent of all parties and is dragged from the floor of the House forcibly by two MPs and he puts up a resistance. This ceremony dates back to the period before the Bourgeois Revolution, when the Speaker, as the representative of the Commons, had the unpleasant task of presenting its demands to the King. Sometimes he might lose his head for it or be thrown into the Tower.

Having been chosen the Speaker is carefully segregated. He is aloof from any political involvement, he lives in a big gothic house inside the Palace of Westminster, earns good money and retires with a peerage and a pension. His job requires a special temperament – phlegmatic but firm, as his main job is to keep fair play between the parties and between back-benchers and frontbenchers, to protect the House from outside influences, and this can justify much of the pomp. He insists that MPs call each other "honourable members", bow to him on entering and leaving and address all their speeches to him. But too often the Speaker's role degenerates into having to control childish squabbles and "unmanaged" debates with outbreaking of anger or uproar.

There are 5 rows of benches running the length on either side of the Speaker. Her Majesty's Government sitting to the right of the Speaker and Her Majesty's Opposition sitting to the left of him have always held face-to-face debates. Sometimes those debates became so heated that MPs crossed swords with each other and fights began. Therefore a rule was imposed prohibiting members from crossing the space marked on the floor by red lines. This space is the width of two drawn swords. The red line in front

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of each front bench still marks the limit beyond which an MP may not approach the opposite side. If he steps on the lines the speaker immediately calls him to order and he is to apologize.

Notes to the text:

to put up a resistance – оказывать сопротивление to segregate – отделяться, изолироваться

to be aloof from – держаться в стороне от, чуждаться involvement – участие

honourable – почтенный

squabble – перебранка, ссора из-за пустяков outbreaking – (внезапное) начало, вспышка uproar – шум, беспорядки

Task 12. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: с общего согласия,

выставлять требования, зарабатывать много денег, уходить в отставку (на пенсию), честная игра, оправдывать, наставать на чем-либо, проводить дебаты, скрестить мечи, навязывать правило, запрещать, приближаться, призывать к порядку, извиняться.

Task 13. Match the words having the opposite meaning:

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by him on June 15, 1215. Lords' Council set by the Charta was the first limitation of monarch's absolute power and the beginning of future Parliament.

2.The Petition of Rights signed by Charles I in 1628. It substantially limited monarch's absolute power and extended the rights of Parliament and courts and protected the property of the bourgeoisie. It was signed by King Charles but ignored, that caused the English Revolution headed by Cromwell.

3.Habeas Corpus Act 1679 proclaimed sovereignty of person and his property, restraint or extension of the person's liberty in courts.

4.The Bill of Rights – the statute of 1689 signed by William III and Mary II. With minor changes it confirmed the Petition of Right and proclaimed the foundation of Constitutional Monarchy.

5.Statute of Westminster – the Act of Parliament of 1931 regulating the relations between the UK and its dominions. It confirmed full sovereignty of the former British dominions.

The second source of the British Constitution is Common Law. In most countries there exist the Civil Code and Criminal Code. In Britain there is the so called Common Law based on precedent, modified by a constant process of interpretation. Since the times of Queen Elizabeth I every case in court has been recorded. When a judge comes to a legal decision he is to agree it with similar or analogous precedents, i.e. to find a precedent, be guided by it, correlate his decision upon the precedent. Common Law is guided by the motto "What is not proved directly forbidden is allowed".

Conventions – the third source of the British Constitution – are unwritten laws. Though not codified or written they have a binding force as rules of the Constitution. If anyone violates those unwritten rules – he may lose his post, find himself in isolation, his career may be ruined. Conventions regulate the relations on different levels of the society from top to bottom: between the Monarchy and the Parliament, the Monarchy and the Government,

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UNIT 7

BRITISH CONSTITUTION

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

Part I

In this important respect Britain differs from other countries because it has no written constitution,

Constitution is usually adopted at a turning point in the history of a country. In Britain for more than 300 years there have been no upheavals, no turning points since the time of the Glorious Revolution when the Bill of Rights was recognized and signed by Mary and William (1688-1689). That document deprived monarchy of its absolute power and limited it greatly. No constitution was written down either then or since but the Bill of Rights may be regarded as one which established a Constitutional Monarchy in Britain.

To bring the changes of life in agreement with the time a number of regulations were adopted known as Acts of Parliament. More than 6000 acts of Parliament are stored in Victoria Tower of Westminster. Some of them are of constitutional significance and form Statute of Westminster. When speaking of British Constitution usually the following three main sources are mentioned: Statute of Westminster, Common Law and Conventions.

Statute of Westminster makes the Bible of the British constitution, it comprises the most important Acts of Parliament, which regulate political system of the country and rights and duties of British citizens. They are:

1. Magna Carta – the Great Charter of English liberties, forced from King John Lackland by English barons. It was signed

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Task 14. Answer the questions:

1.Why does a Speaker resist taking up the post?

2.What does the job of the Speaker look like?

3.How did the tradition of red line appear?

Part II

Ladies in the Gallery were allowed since 1762 but Sheridan's wife could hear her husband speak only dressed up as a man. A separate screen gallery was built for ladies. The question of segregation was finally settled by the enemy bomb which destroyed the House of Commons in 1941. Today men and women sit together in the Strangers' gallery which is open from 5.30 p. m. to about 10.30 p. m. on weekdays except Friday (from 9.30 a. m. to 3 p. m.)

Before the official Opening of Parliament at the beginning of each session underground chambers of the House of Lords are searched by the Queen's Body Guard. This ceremony commemorates the unsuccessful attempt to blow up King James of England and his Parliament by Guy Fawkes and other conspirators on November 5, 1605.

British people are rather critical about their Parliament. They admit that for any visitor to the either of the two Houses it becomes clear that all that most members do about power is to talk about it. Talk is their business, and how they talk! They talk apparently to no one, but never mind. 40,000 words are said every working day. Most of the speeches are not intended to influence thought or action. Even angry Parliamentary debate has the same effect upon national events as a slammed door has upon domestic arguments. 9/10 of what goes on at Westminster is an elaborate piece of playacting. When the time comes the Whips and the Speaker will see that the vote should go with the Government.

But there is another side of the work of Parliament. By 3speeches Parliament limited monarchs, tamed tyrants, averted revolutions. In fact an MP can say whatever he likes, raise

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whatever problem, thus leaving no closed zones or white spots. The problem may be rejected, talked to death but can not be concealed from public. Parliamentary democracy is the main factor of the stability of the British political system. They joke that British Parliament can do anything but turn man into woman.

The sitting of each House is preluded by processions of the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker into their Houses. Inspector of the police announces "Hats off, strangers! Speaker in Chair". Strangers and MPs bow to the Speaker. Prayers are then read by the bishop on duty for that day. The prayers include a petition that members may lay aside "all private interests, prejudices and affections", so that the public wealth, peace and tranquillity of the Realm may be maintained. The Speaker wears a horsehair wig, black silk robe, knee breeches and buckled shoes.

A session of the House of Commons lasts for about 160170 days (in the House of Lords it is shorter) with several intervals during its work. By present custom, a session is divided into 5 periods: from November (when the session is opened) till Christmas (about 3 weeks), from January till Easter (2 weeks), from Easter till Whitsun (2 weeks), from Whitsun till the end of July or late August (2 months).

Notes to the text: segregation – отделение, изоляция

to commemorate – служить напоминанием to tame – смирять, смягчать

to avert – предотвращать Realm – королевство

horsehair wig – парик из конского волоса knee breeches – бриджи до колен buckled shoes – туфли на пряжках

Whitsun – Духов день, седьмое воскресение после Пасхи

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Task 15. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: уладить вопрос,

кроме, личная охрана королевы, неудачная попытка, неважно, семейные споры, происходить, тщательно продуманная театральная игра, поднять проблему, белые пятна, утаить от общественности, посторонний человек, читать молитвы, епископ, откладывать в сторону, сохранять спокойствие, длиться, Пасха.

Task 16. Check your memory and say what these numbers refer to: 1762; 1941; 5.30; 10.30; 1605; 40,000; 9/10; 160-170; 5.

Task 17. Divide the text into parts and give them names.

Task 18. Answer the questions:

1.How did it happen that men and women could sit together in the Strangers' gallery?

2.What is Guy Fawkes famous for?

3.Do they talk much in Parliament?

4.How do you understand the joke that British Parliament can do anything but turn man into woman?

5.When are the words “Hats off, strangers!” usually pronounced?

6.How long does a session of the House of Commons last?