The Prime Minister and his Cabinet

The national executive organ is the Government. In Great Britain it is formed from the political party which won the nationwide General Election, and has the most members in the House of Commons. The Government makes decisions about the public life of the country. It deals with foreign policy, the level of taxation, maintenance of law and order, expenditure on education, infrastructure, medicine, welfare, etc.

The leader of the winning party becomes Prime Minister. All political power is concentrated in Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Monarch must act on their advice. Ministers of the Government are chosen by Prime Minister from his own political party in Parliament. 20 Senior Ministers (Secretaries of State) compose the Cabinet. Each of them is responsible for a particular aspect of Government. For example, the Foreign Secretary is responsible for foreign policy, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (министр финансов) for money and taxation, the Home Secretary for law and order. There are more than 100 other members of Government called Junior Ministers. All Ministers are assisted in their work by thousands of officials in the Civil Service.

The Cabinet plans, drafts, and passes to Parliament all important bills, including budget. While controlling the lawmaking machinery, the Cabinet is also subject to Parliament as it must defend its policy in debate.

Administrative decisions of the Cabinet are immediately carried out by the entire executive apparatus, both civil and military.

Упр. 5. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту.

1. How is the British Government formed?

2. What are its functions?

3. Who becomes the Prime Minister?

4. How many Senior Ministers is the Cabinet composed of?

5. What are they responsible for?

6. What are the main functions of the Cabinet?

Упр. 6. Переведите словосочетания на русский язык, обращая внимание на суффиксы прилагательных.

-IVE – the executive head of the nation, the executive secretary (при ООН);

a representative body, a representative committee;

legislative power, the highest legislative body;

-ANT – an important decision, an important duty, an important mission;

-ENT – an independent state, an independent branch of power;

-AL – a judicial body, a judicial proceeding;

equal rights, at an equal distance;

legal advice, legal activity, a legal department;

local government, local election, local customs;

general education, general election, general debate, general welfare