CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch has an important constitutional role as head of state, but the power of the Crown is limited by Parliament.

The UK Parliament is the legislative organ and constitutionally is composed of the monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Queen in Parliament represents the supreme authority within the UK. The House of Lords is mostly hereditary. The center of parliamentary power is the House of Commons which is an elected representative body. There are two main political parties in Great Britain: the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.

The executive power is exercised by the Government. It consists of the ministers appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The UK Prime Minister is the leader of the party having a majority in the House of Commons. The Cabinet includes about 20 ministers. Ministers are collectively responsible for government decisions and individually responsible for their own departments.

The second largest party forms the official Opposition with its own leader and «shadow cabinet». The Opposition has a duty to criticize government’s policy and to present an alternative program. The UK has no Minister of Justice. The highest judicial body in the British judicial system is the House of Lords.

A constitution is a set of rules which define the relationship between the various organs of government and citizens of a country. Its purpose is to set the parameters of governmental power and the rights and duties of citizens.

The British Constitution is not contained in a single document. An unwritten constitution is more flexible and can be easily changed. Since Parliament is «sovereign», it can, without any special procedure and by simple Act, alter any law at any time. The principle sources of British law are Legislation and Judicial Precedent, the subsidiary sources are Custom and Books of Authority.

1. Is the UK an absolute or a constitutional monarchy? 15. What is the purpose of a constitution?

2. What is the role of a monarch? 16. What can you say about the British Constitution?

3. What is the UK Parliament composed of? 17. How can it be altered?

4. Who represents the supreme authority within the UK? 18. What are the sources of British Law?

5. What is the difference between the two chambers of the British Parliament?

6. What are the two main political parties in Great Britain?

7. How is the executive power exercised?

8. How are the ministers appointed?

9. Who becomes the Prime Minister?

10. What is the responsibility of ministers?

11. What is the role of the Opposition in Parliament?

12. Is there a Minister of Justice?

13. What is the highest judicial body?

14. How can you define a constitution?

Ex.1

constitution, monarchy, monarch, parliament, limit, legislative, organ, composition, authority, center, elect, representative, political, party, conservative, execution, minister, recommendation, Prime Minister, leader, majority, collectively, individually, department, form, official, opposition, cabinet, criticize, policy, alternative, program, justice, system, rule, parameter, contain, document, sovereign, special, procedure, act, alter, principle, precedent, subsidiary.

Ex.2

constitutional monarchy, head of state, power of the Crown, legislative organ, to compose, the House of Lords, the House of Commons, to represent, supreme authority, hereditary, elected representative body, the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, executive power, to exercise, to consist of, to appoint, majority, to include, responsible, government decisions, department, shadow cabinet, duty, government’s policy, to present an alternative program, Minister of Justice, the highest judicial body, a set of rules, to define, relationship, various organs of government, citizens of the country, purpose, to set the parameters, rights and duties, to contain, single document, flexible, to change, special procedure, to alter, principle sources, Legislation, Judicial Precedent, subsidiary sources, Custom.

Ex.3

constitution – constitutional – constitutionally

legal – illegal – legislation – legislative – legislature – legitimate – illegitimate

present – presentable – represent – representative – representation

elect – election – elective – electoral – electorate

part – depart – departure – department

alter – alternative

vary – various – variant – variable – variety

govern – government – governmental – governor – governess

just – justice – judge – judgment – judicial – judiciary

respond – respondent – response – responsible – responsibility – correspond

correspondent

execute – execution – executive – executor – executioner

define – definition – definite – indefinite

Ex.4

1. The UK is an absolute monarchy.

2. The British Queen has an unlimited power.

3. The UK Parliament is an executive body.

4. The UK Parliament is composed of two chambers.

5. The House of Lords is elective and the House of Commons is hereditary.

6. The executive power is exercised by the Government.

7. The ministers are appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the PM.

8. The UK PM is the leader of the Opposition.

9. The Opposition has no right to criticize government’s policy.

10. Great Britain has no Minister of Justice.

11. The British Constitution is rigid and can’t be easily changed.

12. A Constitution is a set of rules defining the relationship between the state and the citizens.

13. The British Constitution is not contained in a single document.

14. Parliament can alter any law without any special procedure.

15. The principle sources of British law are Legislation and Judicial Precedent.

Date: 2015-01-12; view: 1308