The political system of Great Britain

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The British Constitution. Unlike the constitutions of most other countries, it is not set out in any single document. Instead it is made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The constitution can be change by the Act of Parliament, or by general agreement to alter a convention.

The Powers of Parliament. The three elements, which make up the Parliament – the Queen, and two chambers known as the House of Lords and the elected House of Commons – are constituted on different principles. They meet together only on occasions of symbolic significance such as the State Opening

Of Parliament, when the Commons are invited by the Queen to the House of Lords.

In reality, the House of Commons is the only one of the three which is true power. It is here that new bills are introduced and debated. If the majority of the members aren’t in favor of a bill it goes to the House of Lords to be debated and finally to the monarch to be signed. Only than it becomes law.

The Functions of Parliament. The main functions of Parliament are: to pass laws; to scrutinize government policy and administration; to debate the major issues of the day. In carrying out these functions Parliament helps to bring the relevant facts and issues before the electorate. By custom, Parliament is also informed before all important international treaties and agreements are ratified.

A Parliament has a maximum duration of five years, but in practice general elections are usually held before the end of this term. Parliament is dissolved and rights for a general election are ordered bythe Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. The life of a Parliament is divided into sessions. Each usually lasts for one year – normally beginning and ending in October or November. The number of " sitting" days in a session is about 168 in the House of Commons and about 150 in the House of Lords. At the start of each session the Queen's speech to Parliament outlines the Government’s policies and proposed legislative programme.

The House of Commons. The House of Commons is elected and consists of 651 Members of Parliament (MPs). At present there are 60 women, three Asian and three black Mps. Of the 651 seats, 524 are for England, 38 for Wales, 72 for Scotland, and 17 for Northern Ireland. Members are paid an annual salary of £ 30, 854. The chief officer of the House of Commons is the Speaker, elected by the MPs to preside over the House. The House of Commons plays the major role in law making.

MPs sit on two sides of the hall, one side is for the governing party and the other is for the opposition. Parliament has intervals during its work. MPs are paid for their parliamentary work and have to attend the sittings. MPs have to catch the Speaker's eye when they want to speak, then they rise from where they have been sitting to address the House and must do so without either reading a prepared speech or consulting notes.

The House of Lords. The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal. The Lords Spiritual are the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the 24 next most senior bishops of the Church of England. The Lords Temporal consist of all hereditary peers of England, Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom; all other life peers. Peerages, both hereditary and life, are created by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister. In 1992 there were 1, 211 members of the House of Lords, including the twoarchbishops and 24 bishops. The Lords Temporal consisted of 758 hereditary peers and 408 life peers.

The House is presided over by the Lord Chancellor, who takes his place on the woolsack as the Speaker of the House.

The division of Parliament into two Houses goes back over some 700 years when feudal assembly ruled the country. In modern times, real political power rests in the elected House although members of the House of Lords still occupy important cabinet posts.

Her Majesty's Government: Prime Minister, the Cabinet. Her Majesty's Government is the body of ministers responsible for the administration of national affairs. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen, and all other ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Most ministers are members of the Commons, although the Government is also fully represented by ministers in the Lords. The composition of governments can vary both in the number of ministers and in the titles of some offices. New ministerial offices may be created, others may be abolished and functions may be transferred from one minister to another.

The Cabinet is composed of about 20 ministers chosen by the Prime Minister. The functions of the Cabinet are initiating and deciding on policy, the supreme control of government and the co-ordination of government departments. The exercise of these functions is affected by the fact that the Cabinet is a group of party representatives, depending upon majority support in the House of Commons. The Cabinet meets in private and its proceedings are confidential. Its members are bound by their oath as Privy Counselors not to disclose information about its proceedings, although after 30 years Cabinet papers may be made available for inspection.

4. Answer the questions. / Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What type of government is there in the Great Britain? Who is the head of the state and what are his/her authorities?

2. What can you say about British constitution?

3. What are the three elements, which make up the British Parliament? On what significant occasions do they meet?

4. Characterize the House of Commons. Who is the head of this chamber?

5. Characterize the House of Lords. Who is the head of this chamber?

6. What are the main functions of the British Parliament?

7. What is a maximum duration of the Parliament? How long do “sitting” days last there?

8. What is Her Majesty's Government? How many members are in the Cabinet?

9. What are the duties of the Prime Minister?

10. Where and in what way does the Cabinet gather? By what are the members of it bounded? In how many years Cabinet papers may be made available for inspection?