UNITED KINGDOM System of Government

Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch - Queen Elizabeth П - as head of State. Its formal title is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"Great Britain" (England, Wales and Scotland) came into existence when the English and Scottish crowns were united at the beginning of the 17th century and their parliaments a century later. The British and Irish Parliaments were united in 1801. In 1922 the southern part of Ireland, predominantly Roman Catholic, became a separate state - now the Irish Republic. Northern Ireland, with its Protestant majority, chose to continue as part of the United Kingdom and had its own parliament between 1921 and 1972.

Political stability owes much to the monarchy, the continuity of which has been broken only once (during the brief republic in the 17th century) in over a thousand of years. Democratic government has developed from the establishment of Parliament over 700 years ago. As a constitutional monarch, the Sovereign now performs the functions of an impartial head of State, acting on the advice of her

ministers.

Parliament comprises the House of Lords and the House of Commons, together with the Queen in her constinational role. The Lords is made up of hereditary and life peers and peeresses and the two archbishops and 24 most senior bishops of the established Church of England. The Commons is the elected House, consisting of 650 members of Parliament (MPs), each representing a local constituency area.

The two-chamber system has long been a feature of British parliamentary government, although over the years the balance between the two Houses has undergone a complete change. In modern practice the centre of parliamentary power is in the Commons. Limitations on the Lords' powers of legislative veto are based on die belief that the main function of the House is to complement the Commons and not to rival it. In these days the Lords hardly ever executes its powers to delay Bills.

General elections to choose MPs and the next Government must be held at least every five years. Voting, which is not compulsory, is by secret ballot and is from the age of 18.

Under the traditional two-party system, governments are formed by the party which has majority support in the Commons.

After each general election the King or Queen invites the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons to become Prime Minister and form the Government. This Minister has an official London house while he (or she) is in office; it is at No. 10, Downing Street. He also has the use of a country house, named Chequers.

The leader of the Government, the Prime Minister, chooses a number of ministers, including 20 or so in the Cabinet. The second largest party traditionally forms the official Opposition with its own leader and "shadow cabinet". Ministers are collectively responsible for government decisions, and individually responsible for their own departments.

Local government is carried out by elected authorities which deal with planning and housing, education, personal social services, police, fire brigades and many other local services.

The United Kingdom has no written constitution or bill of rights. The "unwritten constitution" is a mixture of law, convention and tradition which has evolved over the centuries.

Essentially people in Great Britain are not granted specific rights but are instead free to do anything not forbidden by law. However, Britain now accepts the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, and it is possible to take complaints to these forums if internal remedies prove unsatisfactory.

One feature arising from the historic development of the United Kingdom is the fact that its constituent parts, England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, all have their own legal systems and law courts. However, most law, particularly that affecting businesses, applies throughout the United Kingdom.

Criminal law is concerned with wrongs against the community as a whole, civil law with the rights and duties of individuals among themselves.

Keeping the peace and bringing offenders to trial are primarily the concern of the police, whose action depends on common consent since the number of officers is small in relation to the population (roughly one to 400 people). The police are not normally armed and their powers are carefully limited. Special efforts are being made to improve relations between the police and the community.

In England and Wales where prosecutions are initiated by the police, proposals have been made for a prosecution service independent of the police. In Scotland the police make the preliminary investigations and a public prosecutor decides whether or not to prosecute. As soon as anyone is arrested he or she must be charged and brought to court with the minimum of delay. Unless the case is serious, the arrested person is usually granted bail if he or she cannot quickly be brought to

court.

Compensation may be paid to victims of violent crime and people hurt while trying to prevent offenses.

Judges are independent and non-political and, except for lay magistrates who try less serious criminal cases, are appointed from practicing barristers, or solicitors.

Criminal cases take place in open court although there are some restrictions, such as those to protect children. The more serious cases take place before jury of ordinary, independent citizens who decide on guilt or innocence. People accused of crimes are presumed innocent until proved guilty, and every possible step is taken to deny the prosecution any advantage over the defence. Other than in cases of murder, for which the sentence is life imprisonment, courts can choose penalty most appropriate for a particular offender.

The legal profession has two branches: solicitors and barristers (advocates in Scotland). Solicitors undertake legal business for lay clients, while barristers advise on problems submitted through solicitors and present cases in the higher courts.

People with little money are given help to meet the costs of legal advice and representation in court.

Discussion

1. What is the official name of the country? 2. During a short period of time Britain was not a monarchy but a republic. When was it and for how long? 3. Who is considered to be the first British king? 4. Who is the current British monarch? When did Elizabeth II become the Queen? 5. How many MPs are there in the House of Commons? 6. How many members of the House of Lords are there? 7. How can Lords be classified? 8. Name the latest British Prime Ministers. 9. What are the major political parties in the UK? 10. What is the historical, traditional name of the Conservative Party? II. What sort of MPs are called back-benchers? 12. What was the original purpose of a Parliament? 13. Who controls the Parliament? 14. Who

opens Parliament? 15. Who writes the Queen's speech pronounced at the opening of each session of parliament? 16. Which classes of people are disqualified from sitting in the House of Commons? 17. Who is the speaker of the House of Lords? 18. What are the responsibilities of the House of Lords? 19. Who are members of the Cabinet? 20. What is the doctrine of collective responsibility? 21. The British Prime Minister is primus inter pares. What does this mean? 22. What other offices does a Prime Minister hold? 23. What is civil service? 24. Can civil servants be members of trade unions? 25. Can civil servants take part in politics?

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1318