Конспект урока с тестом по английскому языку на тему: Queen and Parlamient (Политическая система Великобритании))

The Political System of The UK

Politics is part of our lives. It is everywhere: in newspapers, on the radio and on TV. And today we are going to speak about the British monarchy and a parliamentary democracy.

The idea of democracy plays a great role in politics. The word "democracy" is translated from Greek as "the power of people".

Greek demos - "the people"

kratein - "to rule"

It is a political system in which the people of a country rule through any form of government they choose to establish.

What do you think "democracy" means?

Well, democracy means:

• All people and authorities follow the constitution.

• People elect their representatives to rule the country.

• People do what they want within the framework of the law.

• People say what they think.

• People elect the head of the state directly.

• People can live in any place they choose.

What about the political system of the United Kingdom?

Do you know the type of ruling this country?

Explain such words as monarchy, an absolute monarchy, a parliamentary monarchy.

A Monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch, usually a single person, is the head of state.

An absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government where the king and queen have absolute power over everything.

A Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation.

b) When you listen to a politician who speaks English you can understand some words without translation. Find the Russian equivalents.

EXERCISE 1

Remember all new words:

• To appoint the Prime Minister

• To determine the policy

• To delay the bill

• To revise the bill

• To examine the bill

• To vote (on) the programme

• To draft the programme

• To sign a bill

• To pass a new law

• To rule the country

• To oppose the government policy

• To make laws

• To discuss the bill

• To approve the bill

• To challenge the bill

• To give the royal assent

Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch - Queen Elisabeth II as a head of state. Who rules the country in fact? The monarch or Parliament?

THE MONARCH

Is the official head of state and an integral part of Parliament in her constitutional role; has mostly representative functions; gives the royal assent to the bills passed by the House of Commons (общин) and the House of Lords; is the head of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Who is the official head of state now?

Queen Elizabeth II .She was born on 21 April, 1926; was married to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on 20 November, 1947; ascended the throne on 6 February 1952; and was crowned on 2 June, 1953. In law, the Queen is the head of the executive, legislature, judiciary, the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Crown and the head of the Established Church of England. In practice, she has little direct power. She is one of the longest-reigning monarchs in British history She is widely respected for the way in which she performs her duties and is generally popular. The Queen and the royal family continue to take part in many traditional ceremonies.

How much power does the Queen have?

The Queen is a symbol of the country history and its traditions. She is very rich. She travels about the United Kingdom, meets different people and visits schools, hospitals and other special places. So do all the members of the Royal family: the Queen's husband, her son Prince Charles, the Queen's daughters: Princess Anna and Princess Margaret.

At the beginning of the century many countries all over the world were ruled by Britain. All of them were included into the British Empire and were its colonies. India, Pakistan, Ceylon, for example, were among them. Now these countries are independent states. But in 1949 Britain and the former colonies founded the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth (Содружества наций) includes many countries such as Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others.

The Queen of Great Britain is also the Head of Commonwealth and the queen of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The real power in the country belongs to the British Parliament and to the British Government.

Do you know when limits began to the placed on the powers of the monarch? As far back as 1215 when barons forced King John to recognize in the Magna Carta that they had certain rights. The constitutional monarchy we know today developed in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, as day-to-day power came to be exercised by Minister in Cabinet.

The Queen, however, has powers that can surprise many. She can choose a Prime Minister, dissolve the Parliament and declare war like an absolute monarch.

But these days the Queen's influence is mainly informal. She has a right and a duty to express her views on government matters to the Prime Minister at their weekly audience. But these meetings and all communications between the Monarch and her Government remain strictly confidential. Having expressed her views, the Queen follows the advice of her Ministers.

EXERCISE 2

Decide if these statements true or false according to the text.

1. Limits began to be placed on the powers of the monarch in 1215.

2. King John was forced to recognize that the barons had certain rights.

3. The constitutional monarchy we know today developed in the 19^thcentury.

4. Nowadays the Queen's influence is mainly formal.

5. The Queen has a right and a duty to express her views on government matters to the Prime Minister at their monthly audience.

6. The Queen acts on the advice of her Ministers.

THE GOVERNMENT

The British Government consists of the Prime Minister and other Ministers.

the Prime Minister is the head of government; is the leader of the party with the majority seats (места) in the House of Commons

the Cabinet - about 20 ministers; determines government policies and coordinates government departments

Non-Cabinet Ministers

PARLIAMENT

the House of Commons - (about 650 elected MPs - members of Parliament) makes laws; discusses political problems

the Official Opposition - the largest opposition party; forms the Shadow Cabinet ("теневой" кабинет)

the House of Lords - (over 1,100 permanent, non-elected members; peers (пэры, лорды) and life peers) examines and revises bills from the House of Commons; can delay bills for one year

The British Parliament

The British Parliament is the oldest in the world. It originated in the 12th century. The British Parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons and the Queen as its head. The House of Commons plays the major role in law-making. It consists of Members of Parliament (called MPs for short). Parliamentary elections are held every 5 years and it is the Prime Minister who decides on the exact day of the election. The minimum voting age is 18. The leader of the opposition is a recognized post in the House of Commons. The parliament and the monarch have different roles in the government and they only meet together on symbolic occasions, such as coronation of a new monarch or the opening of the parliament. The House of Commons is made up of six hundred and fifty elected members, it is presided over by the speaker, a member acceptable to the whole house. The House of Lords has more than 1000 members, although only about 250 take an active part in the work in the house. Members of this Upper House are not elected.

The real power in the country belongs to the British Parliament and to the British Government. The British Parliament has two "houses": the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords doesn't have much power but it is very important as it can offer and change laws, it can delay laws too.

The House of Commons makes laws about the policy of the country, taxes and many other things.

THE PEOPLE

(All men and women over 18)

(See UNIT 7.1)

So, let's summarize the information about the British political system.

Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state, but she has no real power. Her role is mostly ceremonial. And the Queen and the royal family continue to take part in many traditional ceremonies. Her power is limited by Parliament. Parliament comprises the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen in her constitutional role. The center of Parliamentary power is the House of Commons. The House of Commons makes laws, discusses political problems. The party which has majority of the seats in the House of Commons is called the Government. Elections, in which citizens over 18 may vote, are held every five years.

EXERCISE 3

Answer the questions.

1. Who is the Head of State in the UK?

2. Who is the head of the government in the UK?

3. Do the people elect the Prime Minister directly?

4. How many Houses does it consist of?

5. Which House represents the people of Britain?

6. How often do British people vote for MPs?

7. What are the members of the House of Commons called?

8. Does the Queen rule the country?

9. What does the Queen do?

10. What do you know about the Royal family?

11. What countries were included into the British Empire at the beginning of the century?

12. What happened in 1949?

13. Who does the real power in Britain belong to?

14. What do you know about the British Parliament?

15. Why is the House of Lords very important?

16. How often do the British people elect members of the House of Commons?
    
    
    

EXERCISE 4

Find the correct statement.

1. The Queen votes on the bills.

2. The Queen signs the bills.

3. The Queen has mostly representative functions.

4. The Queen rules the country.

5. The government represents the legislative branch of power.

6. The government represents the executive branch of power.

7. The Cabinet is responsible for government policies.

8. The Cabinet Ministers revise bills from Parliament.

9. Parliament represents the legislative branch of power.

10. Parliament represents the executive branch of power.

11. The House of Commons controls the government.

12. The Government controls the House of Commons.

13. The House of Lords has the power to delay bills for one year.

14. The House of Lords opposes the decisions of the House of Commons.

15. The Cabinet coordinates the work of the government departments.
    The Cabinet makes laws.