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 Queens husband, her son Prince Charles, the Queens 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 () 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 18th and 19th 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 Queens 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 19thcentury.
4. Nowadays the Queens 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 () 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 ( )
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the House of Lords - (over 1,100 permanent, non-elected members; peers (, ) 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 doesnt 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)
