БИЛЕТ 3 The Political System in Great Britain

 

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. It means that the sovereign (монарх) reigns but does not rule.

Britain does not have a written constitution, but a set of laws.

 

The House of Commons the only one of the three which has true power. works in during periods called sessions

Parliament is the most important authority in Britain. Technically Parliament is made up of three parts:

 

 

 

 

 

Members of Parliament. 650 members are elected by secret ballot General elections are held every five years

The Monarch serves formally as head of state is expected to be politically neutral should not make political decisions The present sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II (was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1953)

The House of Lords comprises about 1,200 peers is presided by the Lord Chancellor has no real power an advisory council

Lords Spiritual (two archbishops and 26 bishops of the Church of England)  Lords Temporal (include peers by hereditary right, peers by virtue of their office) - they make the highest judicial body

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VOTING: The country is divided into 650 constituencies. All citizens, aged 18 and registered in a constituency, have the right to vote. But voting is not compulsory in Britain. Only persons convicted of corrupt and certain mentally ill patients don't take part in voting.

PARTIES AND ELECTIONS: There are few political parties in Britain thanks to the British electoral system. The main ones are: the Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the Liberal / Social Democratic Alliance.

Each political party puts up one candidate for each constituency. The one who wins the most votes is elected MP for that area.

The party which wins the most seats in Parliament forms the Government. Its leader becomes the Prime Minister. His first job is to choose his Cabinet. The Prime Minister usually takes policy decisions with the agreement of the Cabinet.

The functions of the House of Commons are legislation and scrutiny of government activities. The House of Commons is presided over by the Speaker. The Speaker is appointed by the Government.

It's in the House of Commons that new bills are introduced and debated. If the majority of the members are in favour of a bill, it goes to the House of Lords to be debated. The House of Lords has the right to reject a new bill twice.

But after two rejections they are obliged to accept it. And finally a bill goes to the monarch to be signed. Only then it becomes law.

Parliament is responsible for British national policy. Local governments are responsible for organizing of education, police and many others.

The latest elections were in 2015. David Cameron and his Conservative party won the elections. He is the leader of the executive branch of power. The executive and legislative powers are elected simultaneously.

WHO ARE LOBBYSTS? An important role in British political life is played by lobbying (non-MPs). Lobbyists are people who try to promote the ideas of economy, policy, social life and the like through their MPs.

THE WORK OF PARLIAMENT. The House of Commons works in during periods called sessions. At the end of which Parliament is ‘prorogued’. To prorogue means to make a break in a work of Parliament. It means that all business which hasn’t been completed is abandoned. The beginning of a new session is marked by the State Opening of Parliament. The ceremony takes place in the House of Lords with a few members of the Commons crowded together at the far end of the Lords Chamber. The Queen reads the Queen’s Speech which is prepared by the government which gives a summary of the things the government intends to do during this session. It’s the only day when she is allowed to come. Everybody wears out of date, picturesque costumes. At the end of the process, she gives the Royal assent (соизволение), without it, a Bill, act of Parliament, will never be adopted.

LAWS. The House of Commons together with the House of Lords make laws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FUNDAMENTAL LAW components are:
‘Statute Laws	Common Law	Conventions
include rules of major importance for the history of the country (e.g. The Bill of Rights, The European Community Act (1972) etc.) deal with the composition and functioning the Parliament and some acts relating to monarchy and civil liberties (Habeas Corpus Act).	unwritten law of England based on judges’ decisions. refer to the Royal Prerogative (the right to appoint and dismiss ministers, to dissolve parliament, to assent smth.	rules that have developed during the centuries or may have come into existence recently * E.g. there is no Statute or Common Law that says there must be a Prime Minister or Cabinet. They exist because of Conventions.

 

 

1953 - Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey 1972 - The European Community Act