Государственное
бюджетное профессиональное образовательное учреждение Краснодарского края
«Новороссийский
социально – педагогический колледж»
Методическая
разработка
по
английскому языку
по
теме
«
Political system of the UK
»
Новороссийск,
2015
Пояснительная
записка.
Данная разработка предназначена для студентов средних специальных
образовательных учреждений и организаций.
Разработка содержит тексты по теме, упражнения и вопросы, которые способствуют
закреплению лексико-грамматических навыков и умений. Особенностью данной
методической разработки является ее коммуникативная направленность,
предлагающая обучение умению вести беседу на английском языке и пониманию
английской речи.
Данная разработка может быть использована для самостоятельного изучения темы.
Автор: Чатоева Ольга Михайловна,
преподаватель английского языка.
Содержание
1. The constitution.
2. Three branches
of government.
3. Political
parties.
4. The British
Commonwealth of nations.
5. Questions.
6. Test.
Political system of the UK
Great Britain is a
parliamentary monarchy. Officially the head of the state is the king or queen.
The power of the monarch is not absolute but constitutional. The monarch acts
only on the advice of the ministers.
The hereditary
principle upon which the monarchy is founded is strictly observed. The now
reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth, II is a descendant of the Saxon King Egbert.
The monarch, be
it king or queen, is the head of the executive body, an integral part of the
legislature, the head of the judicial body, the commander -in-chief of the
armed forces of the crown, the head of the Established Church of England and
the head of the British Commonwealth of Nation.
1. THE
CONSTITUTION.
Practically
speaking, there is no written constitution in Great Britain. The term “English
Constitution” means the leading principles, conventions and laws, many of which
have been existing for centuries, though they have undergone modifications and
extensions in agreement with the advance of civilization. These principles are
expressed in such documents of major importance as Magna Carta,
a famous document in English history agreed upon in 1215 by King John and
barons, which set certain limits on royal power and which was later regarded as
a law stating basic civil rights; Habeas Corpus Act, a law
passed in 1679, which guarantees to a person arrested the right to appear in
court of justice so that the jury should decide whether he is guilty; The
Bill of Rights, an act of Parliament passed in 1689, which confirmed
certain rights of the people; the laws deciding the succession of the royal
family, and a number of constitutional acts, separate laws and agreements.
2.
THREE BRANCHES
OF
GOVERNMENT.
Power in Great Britain is divided among three branches: the legislative branch,
the executive branch and the judicial branch.
The legislative
branch is represented by Parliament, which consist of two chambers, or two
houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Parliament in
Britain has existed since 1265. Having been organized in the reign of King
Edward I, it is the oldest parliament in the town.
The House of
Lords consists of more than 1000 peers, including the “lords spiritual”: the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, and 24 bishops of the Church
of England. The peers (with the exception of the “lords spiritual”) have the
right to sit in Parliament during their lifetime and transmit their right to
their eldest sons.
During the
present century a new practice has appeared: the practice of “creating” new
peers. They are called “life peers”, because their children do not inherit
their titles like the children of hereditary peers. New peers are created by
the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. Sometimes a prominent
politician is made a peer, sometimes a leading civil servant who has served the
country well. As a result, about one-third of the Lords today are not
representatives of hereditary nobility but company directors, bankers,
newspaper proprietors and other businessmen.
The members of
House of Commons are elected by a general election. The whole country is
divided into constituencies, every one of which chooses one delegate. Big
cities are divided into several constituencies each. Members of the House of
Commons are elected for five years.
Parliament’s
main function is to make laws. The procedure of making laws is as follows: a
member of the House of Commons proposes a bill, which is discussed by the
House. If the bill is approved, is sent to the House of Lords, which, in case
it does not like it, has the right to veto it for one year. If the House of
Commons passed the bill again the following year, the House of Lords cannot
reject it. Finally the bill is sent to the Queen for the “royal assent”, after
which it becomes a law.
The executive
branch is headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the king (queen).
According to tradition, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that has
won the election and has the majority in the House of Commons. The Prime
Minister appoints the ministers of the government (about twenty) form the
Cabinet. Members of the Cabinet make joint decision or advice the Prime
Minister.
The main
function of the executive branch of the government is to administer the laws
(to see to it that the laws are carried out, actually to rule the country).
The judicial
branch interprets the laws.
The highest
judicial body is the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of two
divisions: the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. It is often said
that English law is superior to the law of most other countries. Indeed, the
English judicial system contains many rules which protect the individual
against arbitrary action by the police and the government.
3. POLITICAL
PARTIES.
The two main
political of Great Britain are the Conservative Party and the Labor Party.
The Conservative
Party (otherwise called the Tory Party) is right-wing, tending to be opposed to
great and sudden changes in the established order of society. It is against
state control of industry.
The Labor Party,
sometimes called the Socialists, has a close association with the Trade Unions,
although it is not as left-wing as it used to be. It has many supporters,
especially among working-class and middle-class people.
4. THE BRITISH
COMMONWEALTH OF NATION
For centuries
British sailors and merchants travelled all over the world, discovered new
lands and claimed them for England. Large territories in North America, Africa,
the whole continent of Australia, New Zealand, India and a lot of islands in
the ocean got under British rule. Thus, gradually, in the course of centuries,
the huge British Empire came into begin. After World War II, with the growth of
national liberation movement in the world, the countries which were dependent
on Great Britain and formed parts of the British Empire began claiming
independence. As a result of this movement, the British Empire fell apart.
However, centuries-long economic, cultural and political ties of these former
colonies and dominions with Great Britain were too strong for them to
completely break away from each other, and it was found advisable to maintain
the old ties. A new organization was established: the British Commonwealth of
Nations, including about 50 independent states which were formerly parts of the
British Empire. The British Commonwealth of Nations encourages trade and
friendly relations among its members. The Queen is the official head of the
Commonwealth.
5.QUESTIONS.
1.
Is
there a written constitution in Great Britain?
2.
Name
some important documents which contain the leading principles of government
3.
When
was Magna Carta signed? Who signed it?
4.
What
does Habeas Corpus guarantee?
5.
When
did Parliament pass the bill of Rights?
6.
Which
are three branches of state power in Great Britain?
7.
The
British Parliament is the oldest parliament in the world, isn’t it? How old is
in?
8.
How
many peers are there in the House of Lords?
9.
Who
are “hereditary peers” and “life pees”?
10.
How
are the members of the House of Common elected?
11.
What
is the main function of Parliament?
12.
Explain
in detail how laws are made
13.
Who
is the executive branch headed by?
14.
How
is the Prime Minister chosen?
15.
What
is the Cabinet? What is the work of the Cabinet?
16.
Which
are two main political parties in Great Britain?
17.
What
is the Labor Party sometimes called?
18.
How
was the British Empire formed?
19.
What
is the name of the new association of former British colonies and dominions?
20.
What
is the official head of the British Commonwealth of Nations?
6. TEST
1. Fill
in the blanks with the correct words from the list:
Superior, interprets, legislative,
existed, peers, inherit, laws, approved, veto, executive, majority, Cabinet,
administer, confirmed, justice, guaranteed, descendant, reigning, hereditary,
parliamentary.
1.
The
British Parliament has _________ since 1265.
2.
The
judicial branch __________ laws.
3.
Great
Britain is a __________ monarchy.
4.
If
a bill is __________ by the House of Commons, it sent to the House of Lords.
5.
The
Bill of right __________ certain rights of the people.
6.
It
is often said that English law is __________ to the law of most other
countries.
7.
The
monarch in Great Britain is founded on __________ principle.
8.
The
most important ministers of the government form the __________.
9.
According
to tradition, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party which has the
__________ in the Houses of Commons.
10.
The
children of life do not _________ their titles.
11.
Habeas
Corpus Act __________ to a person arrested the right to appear in court of
__________.
12.
The
__________ monarch Queen Elizabeth II is a __________ of the Saxon King Egbert.
13.
The
main function of the executive branch is to __________ laws.
14.
Many
leading principles, conventions and laws have __________ modifications in
agreement with the advance of civilization.
15.
The
power of the queen of England is not __________.
16.
The
__________ branch of power is represented by Parliament.
17.
The
House of Lords consists of more than 1000 __________.
18.
Magna
Carta set certain limits on royal __________.
19.
The
__________ branch of power is headed by the Prime Minister.
20.
Parliament’s
main function is to make __________.
21.
The
House of Lords has the right to __________ a bill for one year.
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