BRITISH INSTITUTIONS

Parliament is the most important authority in Britain. Parliament first … ¹ in the 13th century. Britain does not have a written constitution, but a set of laws.

In 1689 Mary II and William III … ² the first constitutional monarchs. They …³ rule only with the support of the Parliament. Technical­ly Parliament …⁴ of three parts: the Monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The continuity of the English monarchy …⁵ only once during the Cromwell republic. Succession to the throne is hereditary but only for Protestants in the direct line of descent. Formally the monarch has a number of roles. The monarch …⁶ to be politically neutral, and should not make political decisions. Nevertheless, the monarch still per­forms some important executive and legislative duties …⁷ opening and dissolving Parliament, signing bills …⁸ by both Houses and fulfilling international duties as head of state. The present sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II who …⁹ in Westminster Abbey in 1953.

The House of Lords comprises about 1 200 peers. The house … ¹⁰ over by the Lord Chancellor. The House of Lords has no real power but acts as an advisory council for the House of Commons. As well as …¹¹ legislative functions, the Lords is the highest court of appeal.

The House of Commons consists of Members of Parliament who … ¹² by the adult suffrage of the British people in general elections which … ¹³ at least every five years. The country is divided into 650 constituencies each of which elects one Member of Parliament. The Commons, therefore, has 650 Members of Parliament. The party which … ¹⁴ the most seats forms the Government and its leader becomes the Prime Min­ister. The functions of the Commons … ¹⁵ legislation and secu­rity of government activities. The house is presided over by the Speaker. The government party sits on the Speaker's right while on his left the members of the Opposition sit.

B) Discuss the following questions on the text with your partner.

1. What is the most important authority in Britain?

2. Does Great Britain have its constitution?

3. Who were the first constitutional monarchs?

4. What are the parts the Parliament made up of?

5. Does the monarch have any duties?

6. Who is the present sovereign?

7. How many peers are there in the House of Lords?

8. Does the House of Lords have real power?

9. How are the Members of Parliament elected?

10. How many Members of Parliament are there in the House of Commons?

11. Who becomes the Prime Minister?

29. Find the words on the British Institutions in the lines below. Then transcribe them to avoid possible mispronunciation and miscommunication in future:

Authorityyfiyfconstitutionaltyuityimonarchytdysuccessionwetrtyhereditarykjlkldescenttyuikuyexecutiveyuloilegislativeuipiodissolvingiopiopsovereigniopkoppeerertrtysuffrageipioelectionuipiosecurityiogovernmentdrhylipslotsdioy

&30. Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 1194