Political Structure

Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. The Queen or the King of Great Britain is the head of the state. Since 1952 Elizabeth 11 (the second) has been the Queen of Great Britain. Yet her powers are not absolute, they are limited by Parliament. The Queen’s power is hereditary, not elective.

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has a Parliament which consists of two Houses: the House of Commons having 630 members and the House of Lords with approximately 800 peers.

There are several political parties in the country. The most important of them are: the Conservative, which started as Royalists in the 17th century, the Liberal, which began its activity as anti-Royalists in the 17th century, and the Labour party, which w'as established at the beginning of the 20th century.

The party, which obtains the majority of seats in the Parliament, is called the Government, and the others - the Opposition. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party that has a majority in the House of Commons. All the affairs of the state are conducted in the name of the Queen (or King), but it is the Prime M inister who is the ruler of the country, presiding over the meetings of the cabinet, which are always secret. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and ministers.

Any M.P. (Member of Parliament) may introduce a bill to the Parliament. Every bill has three readings at first in the House of Commons. There is no debate allowed after the first reading. After the second reading there may be a discussion. After the discussion the voting is done, but not by show of hands. There are two corridors -’’Division Lobbies” (палати (кулуари), відкриті для публіки) - at each side of the House. The one on the right is for the “Yes”, the one on the left is for the ^uNo”. When voting is announced, the members go out into the Lobbies, to the right or to the left. As they reenter the House, they are counted at the door, one by one.

After the third reading the bill goes before the House of Lords. If Lords agree to the bill, it will be placed before the Queen for signature. The Queen having signed it, it becomes an Act of Parliament.

The USA

To regard - розглядати, вважати; subject of British Crown - підданий Британської Корони; snow-capped peak - засніжена вершина; mining — гірничодобувна промисловість; treaty — договір.

Geographical Position

The United States of America was founded on July 4th 1776, when the thirteen English colonies decided that they could no longer regard themselves to be subjects of British Crown. We know the United States to win its freedom from England and after six years of fighting to become a new country. George Washington was elected its first president. Since 1783, when the War of Independence ended in favour of the colonists, the USA has steadily increased its power and the original thirteen states have grown now to fifty.

The United States lies in the central part of the North American continent with the Atlantic Ocean to the East, the Pacific to the West, Canada to the North, and Mexico to the South. The USA is a country of great contrasts. Its climate ranges from the arctic cold of Alaska to tropical heat of Florida; its landscape ranges from the endless plain of the Middle West to the snowy peaks of Rocky Mountains.

The USA is divided into three areas - Eastern area - a highland, Central area - a plain, and Western area that is mountainous and includes the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, mountains with their snow-capped peaks and clear mountain lakes. The Northern part of the USA embraces the region of the Five Great Lakes - Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario. These lakes are thought to be the largest reservoir of the fresh water of the world.

The Mississippi is one of the world’s great continental rivers. Its waters are gathered from two-thirds of the United States. Together with the Missouri River (its chief Western branch), the Mississippi flows some 4,000 miles (6,420 km).

Niagara Fails is known to be the natural wonder of America. It is situated midway between New York and Chicago. Niagara is an Indian word that means “roaring water”, because the roar of the falling water can be heard within a distance of 25 km.

The USA is rich in coal, oil, iron and other minerals. Heavy industry prevails in the USA, including such branches as the mining, metallurgical, engineering and chemical industries. War industry plays an important role in the US economy.