TEXT 2 The British Parliament
Great Britain is known as mother of parliaments. One of the fundamental principles of the unwritten constitution is the sovereignty of Parliament. It means that Parliament has unlimited power in the legislative and executive spheres and there is no institution that can declare its acts unconstitutional. The supreme legislative authority in Great Britain, Parliament, resides in Westminster Palace.
Parliament is made up of three institutions: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch: the Queen or King. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 651 constituencies. They are known as MPs (Members of Parliament). The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, is also an MP, usually the leader of the political party with a majority in the House of Commons.
The chief officer of the House of Commons is the Speaker. He is elected by the House at the beginning of each Parliament. His job is to keep the House in order, a little like a referee at a football match. He or she shouts 'Order! Order!' when MPs start shouting at each other, or when the discussion gets out of control. The Speaker sits in the centre at the back, on a high chair, and can see the whole Chamber from this position. The office of Speaker is neutral i.e. he or she is not a voting member of a political party.
The House of Lords is composed of about 1000 members. They are the Lords Spiritual (two Archbishops and twenty-four Bishops of the Church of England), and the Lords Temporal, consisting of all hereditary peers, all life peers and Law Lords, to assist the House in its judicial duties, because for a long time the House of Lords was the highest court of law in the land, and is still the Supreme Court of Appeal. The procedure of the House of Lords is rather informal and is comparable to that of the House of Commons. The Lord Chancellor presides over the House, as its Speaker.
The second chamber is not as powerful as the House of Commons. It can suggest changes in laws but it cannot suggest any changes to the Budget. The House of Lords cannot reject laws that the House of Commons wants to pass, 
though it can amend them. Even then, the Commons can reject these amendments.
The main functions of Parliament are as follows: making laws, providing money for the government through taxation, examining government policy, г ministration and spending, debating political questions, hearing legal appeals.
PART III
DIRECTIONS:
Find the English equivalents for the following words in the text:
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неписанная конституция; неограниченный полномочия; избиратели; высший законодательный орган; избирательный округ; политическая партия; спикер; состоять из; епископ; высший апелляционный суд; лорд-канцлер; бюджет; ассигновать деньги для нужд правительства; принять закон.
PART IV
DIRECTIONS:
Fill in the blanks with the correct words:
1. One of the fundamental principles of the unwritten constitution is_______.
2. It means that Parliament has unlimited power in the _______ and _______ spheres.
3. Parliament is made up of three institutions: the House of Commons, ________ and__________.
4. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of __________.
5. The chief officer of the House of Commons is ___________.
6. The members of the House of Lords are the Lords Spiritual and the _________.
7.______________ presides over the House as its Speaker.
8. The second chamber is not as ___________ as the House of Commons.
9. The House of Lords cannot _____________ that the House of Commons wants to pass.
10. The main functions of Parliament are as follows: making laws, __________.
PART V
DIRECTIONS:
Complete the sentences with the best answer:
1. Parliament resides in _______________.
a) Buckingham Palace
b) Westminster Abbey
c) Westminster Palace
2. Members of the House of Commons are elected _____________.
a) by the members of the House of Lords
b) by the voters
c) by the government
3. The chief officer of the House of Commons is ____________.
a) the Prime Minister
b) the Lord Chancellor
c) the Speaker
4. The Supreme Court of Appeal is ____________.
a) Parliament
b) the House of Lords
c) Monarch
5. The House of Lords cannot suggest any change to ______________.
a) the Budget
b) taxes
c) foreign policy
PART VI
DIRECTIONS:
Say if these statements are true or false. Correct the false statements:
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1. One of the fundamental principles of the unwritten constitution is the sovereignty of Parliament.
2. Parliament is made up of three institutions: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch: the Queen or King.
3. The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, isn't a Member of Parliament.
4. The chief officer of the House of Commons is the Speaker.
5. The Speaker belongs to the majority party.
6. The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal.
7. The House of Commons is the Supreme Court of Appeal.
8. The second chamber is as powerful as the House of Commons.
9. The House of Lords can suggest changes in laws but it cannot suggest any changes to the Budget.
10. The main functions of Parliament are as follows: making laws, providing money for the government, examining government policy, etc.
PART VII
DIRECTIONS:
Answer the questions:
1. What does the term "the sovereignty of Parliament" mean?
2. Where does Parliament reside?
3. What is Parliament made up of?
4. Who elects the members of the House of Commons?
5. Is the Prime Minister a Member of Parliament?
6. What is the main function of the Speaker?
7. Who does the House of Lords consist of?
8. Who presides over the House of Lords?
9. Compare the powers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords in legislation (making laws).
10. What are the main functions of Parliament?
TEXT 3 GOVERNMENT
PART I
DIRECTIONS:
Study new vocabulary:
| government (n) | правительство |
| general election | всеобщие выборы |
| sovereign | монарх |
| be charged | отвечать, заведовать |
| Crown (n> | корона, королевская власть |
| supervision (n) | надзор |
| dissolution (n) | роспуск (парламента) |
| preside (v) over | председательствовать |
| Secretary (n) | министр |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | министр финансов |
| Lord Chancellor | лорд-канцлер |
| Lord Chief Justice | Председатель Высшего уголовного суда |
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PART II
DIRECTIONS:
Read the text.
TEXT 3 Government
The effective power belongs to the Government. Great Britain has a parliamentary government based on the party system. The party which wins most seats (but not necessarily most votes) at a general election usually forms the Government. The leader of the majority party is the Prime Minister appointed by the Sovereign, and all other ministers are appointed by the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
The majority of the ministers are the members of the Commons, although there are always some ministers in the Lords. The Government is charged with the administration of national affairs. The office of Prime Minister as head of the Government has been in existence since the middle of the 18th century.
The Prime Minister has a considerable list of functions and powers. It is his or her duty to inform the grown of the general business of the Government, to exercise a general supervision over Departments, to be prepared to speak in Parliament on the most important government Bills, to answer to parliament for actions of the Government. Only the Prime Minister can recommend to the Sovereign the dissolution of Parliament before the normal time for a general election has come. He makes changes in the Government, presides over the Cabinet.
The Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers. The Cabinet is a conventional organ of Govermnent composed of about 20 most important ministers (secretary of State for the Home Department, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Secretary of State for Defense, Secretary of State for Education and Science, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Chancellor, etc.). Decisions made by the Cabinet must be unanimous. It makes its decisions collectively and is collectively responsible to Parliament. The Cabinet works as a team. If a minister cannot agree with all the others, he usually resigns from the Cabinet.
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The main functions of the Cabinet are: a) the final determination of the policy to be submitted to Parliament; b) the supreme control of the national executive power in accordance with the policy agreed by Parliament, and; c) the continuous coordination of the authority of the Departments of State.
In the performance of its functions the Cabinet makes considerable use of a system of committees. The Cabinet is the centre of the political power of the United Kingdom at the present time. The Cabinet is also the Court of Appeal. This is presided over by the Lord Chief Justice of Appeal, and a quorum is three judges. Normally the Cabinet meets for about two hours once or twice a week during parliamentary sittings at №10 Downing Street, London, the official residence of the Prime Minister.
PART III
DIRECTIONS :
Find the English equivalents for the following word - combinations in the text : назначать премьер-министра; большинство министров; быть ответственным; информировать монарха; отвечать перед парламентом за что-либо; роспуск парламента; председательствовать; состоящий из; министр финансов; апелляционный суд.
PART IV
DIRECTIONS:
Fill in the blanks with the correct words:
1. Great Britain has a ___________.
2. ____________ is appointed prime minister by the Sovereign.
3. The government is charged with ___________.
4. The Prime Minister has a considerable ____________list of
5. It is his duty to be prepared to speak in ____________.
6. _____________ government Bills.
7. The Prime Minister selects ____________.
8. The Cabinet is a _____________.
9. _____________ of Government composed of about 20 most important ministers.
10. The cabinet is the ___________ of the political power of the United King dom of the present time.
11. The cabinet is also ___________.
12. Normally it meets once or twice a week during parliamentary sittings at ________________, the official residence of the Prime minister.
PART V
DIRECTIONS:
Say if these statements are true or false. Correct the false statements:
1. Effective power belongs to the Parliament.
2. The leader of the majority party is appointed Prime Minister by the Sovereign. The majority of ministers are the members of the Lords.
3. The office of Prime Minister as head of the Government has been in existence since the middle of the 16-th century.
4. It is the duty of the Prime Minister to inform the Grown of the general business of the Government.
5. Only the Lords can recommend to the Sovereign the dissolution of Parliament before the normal time for a general election has come.
6. The Prime Minister selects Cabinet ministers.
7. One of the main functions of the Cabinet is the supreme control of the national executive power in accordance with the policy agreed by Parliament.
PART VI
DIRECTIONS:
Find international words in the text.
PART VII
DIRECTIONS:
Can you name (at least three):
a) the duties of Prime Minister
b) the most important members of the Cabinet
c) the main functions of the Cabinet
PART VIII
DIRECTIONS:
Answer the questions:
1. Who appoints the Prime Minister?
2. Who forms the Government?
3. What are the functions and powers of the Prime Minister?
4. Who selects and presides over the Cabinet?
5. How many ministers is the Cabinet composed of? Name some of them.
6. What are the main functions of the Cabinet?
7. What is "collective responsibility"?
8. Who presides over the Court of Appeal?
9. Where and how often does the Cabinet meet?
ACTIVITY H
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
TOPICAL VOCABULARY
| the supreme legislative authority | высшая законодательная власть |
| restrict (v) | ограничивать |
| constituency (n) | избирательный округ |
| election (n) | выборы |
| nominate (v) | выставлять кандидатуру |
| secret ballot | тайное голосование |
| compulsory (adj.) | обязательный |
| polling station | избирательный участок |
| majority (n) | большинство |
PART I
DIRECTIONS:
Read the text:
Elections in Great Britain
The supreme legislative authority in Great Britain is Parliament. Its power is concentrated in the House of Commons, which is elected by the adult population of the country. The maximum life of the House of Commons has been restricted to five years. For electoral purposes the United Kingdom is divided into 650 electoral districts, or constituencies (according to the number of members in the House of Commons). Each constituency has on an average about 60.000 people and each elects one member to the House of Commons. Members of Parliament are elected at a general election, which is usually held every five years.
The candidates may be nominated by different parties, but the real contest is between the two big parties - the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. In every constituency each of these two parties has a local organization, whose first task is to choose the candidate and then to help him to conduct his election campaign.
Elections are by secret ballot. British citizens may vote provided they are aged 18 or over, registered in the annual register of electors for the constituency and not subject to any disqualification. Criminals and certified lunatics don't (lave the right to vote. Members of the House of Lords are also not allowed to vole. Voting is not compulsory. It is on the same day (usually a Thursday) in all constituencies, and the polling stations are kept open from seven in the morning till nine at night.
When the polling stations are closed, the boxes are opened and the votes are counted. The national result is known by the next morning.
In a British election the candidate who wins the most votes is elected, even if he or she does not get as many as all the votes of the other candidates taken together. The practice is known as the simple majority electoral system.
As soon as the results of a general election are known, it is clear which party will form the government. The leader of the majority party becomes Prime Minister and the new House of Commons meets. The Prime Minister forms a government.
PART II
DIRECTIONS:
Find the English equivalents of the following words in the text:
законодательная власть; ограничивать; избирательный округ; в среднем; всеобщие выборы; выдвигать кандидата; избирательная кампания; тайное голосование; избирательный участок; система выборов большинством голосов; формировать правительство.
PART III
DIRECTIONS:
Fill in the blanks with the correct words:
1. The power of parliament is concentrated in ________.
2. The maximum life of the House of Commons _________to five years.
3. For electoral purposes the United Kingdom is divided into 650 electoral districts or _________.
4. Members of Parliament are elected at _______.
5. The candidates may_____ by different parties.
6. Elections are by secret______ .
7. Voting is not______ .
8. _______ are kept open from seven in the morning until nine at night.
9. The candidate who wins the most votes is elected. The practice is known as ____.
10. The leader of the majority party becomes _______.
PART IV
DIRECTIONS:
Complete the sentences with the best answer:
1. The supreme legislative authority in Great Britain is:
a) government
b) parliament
c) he Crown
2. Members of Parliament are elected at general election which is usually
held:
a) every four years
b)every five years
c)every six years
3. British citizens may vote provided they are aged:
a) 16
b)18
c)21
4. Voting is on the same day, it is usually:
a)Sunday
b)Saturday
c) Thursday
5. The national result is known by:
a) the next morning
b) Sunday
c) Saturday
6. The Prime Minister forms:
a) the House of Commons
b) the Cabinet
c) the Government
PART V
DIRECTIONS:
Are the statements true or false? Correct the false statements:
1. The Supreme legislative authority in Great Britain is Parliament.
2. The maximum life of the House of Commons has been restricted to six years.
3. The candidates may be nominated by different parties, but the real contest is between the two big parties - the Conservative party and the Labour party.
4. British citizens may vote provided they are aged 21 or over, registered in the annual register of the electors for the constituency.
5. Voting is compulsory.
6. Voting is on the same day (usually a Tuesday) in all constituencies.
7. The national result is known by the next morning.
8. The practice of election the candidate who wins the most votes is known as the simple majority electoral system.
9. The leader of the majority party becomes the Speaker and the new House of Commons meets.
PART VI
DIRECTIONS:
Answer the questions:
1. What is the supreme legislative authority in Great Britain?
2. What is the maximum life of the House of Commons7
3. Why is the United Kingdom divided into 650 constituencies?
4. What are the two big parties?
5. Who may vote in Great Britain?
6. Is voting compulsory?
7. What practice in a British election is known as a "simple majority electoral system"?
Раздел 3
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