The Prime Minister, the House of Commons, the Crown , the Cabinet, the Privy Council

1. ... is the principal spokesman of the Government in the House of Commons.

2. ... formulates the policy of the Government.

3. There are 330 members of ...

4. The Prime Minister sits in ...

5. ... appoints the ministers.

6.7 Match the department on the left with its duties on the right.

1. Ministry of Defence a) administration of the courts and

the law

2. Treasury b) conduct of British overseas relations

3. the Lord Chancellor’s Office c) administration of law and order

including criminal justice, police service

and prisons

4. Foreign and Commonwealth d) defence policy and the armed forces

Office

5. Home Office e) responsible for public finance and

expenditure

6. Department of Trade f) provision of a common legal service

for a large number of government

departments

7. Department of Industry g) general promotion of education and is

also responsible for the arts, libraries

and museums

8. Department of Employment h) responsible for many aspects of

Welsh affairs

9. Department of Transport i) commercial policy and relations with

overseas countries

10. Department of Education j) management of the Civil Service

and Science

11. Department of Energy k) manpower policies; labour legislation;

payment of unemployment benefits

12. Department of Environment l) provision of advice to the Government

on English law

13. Department of Health and m) deals with urban affairs; local Social

Security government and planning

14. Welsh Office n) industrial policy

15. Civil Service Department o) policies in relation to all forms of

energy

16. Board of Inland Revenue p) administration of the tax laws

17. The Law Officer’s Department q) National Health Service and the

social security system

18. Department of the Procurator r) policies for the main transport

General and Treasury Solicitor industries.

19. Ordnance Survey s) publication of parliamentary and

government papers

20. Office of Population Censuses t) the surveying and mapping of Great

and Surveys Britain

21. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office u) registration of births, marriages and

deaths

6.8. Choose the correct alternative and complete each of the sentences below.

1. The............................met urgently at 10 Downing Street to decide Government policy on the new economic crisis.

a) civil service b) Privy Council c) Cabinet d) ministries

2. Parliament is a.............................body.

a) legislation b) legislature c) legislative d) legislate

3. In general, a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament when it has received the..............................of both Houses of Parliament and the Sovereign.

a) consent b) ratification c) enactment d) assent

4. The Chancellor of the Exchequer asked Parliament to ................ the existing tax on alcoholic drinks and replace it with a tax on all drinks except water.

a) Act b)Code c) Law d) Bill

6.9. Wordsearch. Find thirty words (across, down or diagonally) connected with the political set-up of the UK in the puzzle below.

6.10. Complete the following dialogue.

1. What is «the Cabinet», and what is «the Government»? Why does the Cabinet dominate?

2...........................................................................................................

1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of «Cabinet Government»?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Questions are being raised about the effectiveness of the British system of government. What are they?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Some people call for reorganizing the Civil Service. Is this reform necessary? If so, why? / Why not?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. In Britain ministers are drawn solely from one political party. Is that similar to your country?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Much of government in Britain has always gone on in secret. Does it surprise you? If so, why?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Do you think greater openness in government is of benefit to Britain? If so, why? / Why not?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Is there a balance in government between partisan politicians and an impartial civil service?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. What broad changes would you propose if you were Prime Minister?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. What do you think of a United European Government?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. You’re very helpful. I’d say that the discussion was rather useful.

2. ..........................................................................................................

6.11. Written Practice.

Write a paragraph explaining how the Crown, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, MPs and the House of Lords are important in politics in Britain. What bodies are very powerful in making decisions? Which of them have no power at all? How does this compare with your country?

UNIT 7

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

7. Before reading the text, match a word on the left with a definition on the right.

1. refuse a) an estimate of probable future income and

expenditure

2. council b) aids, circumstances, which make it easy to do

things

3. consumer c) waste or worthless material

4. compulsory d) a person who uses goods

5. facilities e) organized welfare efforts carried on under

professional auspices by trained personnel

6. budget f) the business of supplying an essential

commodity, as gas or electricity, or a service, as

transportation, to the general public

7. run g) to give work to, usually for payment

8 social service h) that must be done, required

9. public service i) a group of persons appointed or elected to

give advice, make rules, carry out plans, manage

affairs, etc.

10.employ j) to organize, manage, cause to be in operation

7.1. Test your general knowledge in the quiz below.

1. Members of councils are

a) elected by the public

b) appointed by the monarch

c) chosen by the Prime Minister.

2. Councillors are

a) paid government officials

b) ordinary citizens who do not draw salaries.

3. A councillor must be at least

a) 16 years old

b) 18 years old

c) 21 years old.

4. Local authorities are created by

a) the Crown

b) the Parliament

c) the Ministries

7.2.Now read the text and see if you were right.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1926