The British Parliament

Содержание ( maintenance)

Введение (introduction)

U.K. Political system

  1.2 The British Parliament

2. The flag and the national emblems of Great Britain

3. Tows, industry and agriculture

4. British institutes

  5. Education in Britain

6. Traditions and holidays of Great Britain

7. Sports in Great Britain

 8. British Literature

9. Places of Interest in Great Britain

The British police

 

Transport in Britain

Заключение (final)

Список литературы (list literatures)

 

Introduction

Object mine work – study experience life and traditions of Great Britain.

I leave today for small journey.

                       And why do we learn the English language?

I learn English because I understand that I can use it. For example, if I go to England I’ll be able to speak English there. If I go to the USA and the Great Britain, I’ll speak English too. English is used not only in England but also in other parts of the world.

I learn English because I want to read foreign literature in the original.

I like to travel but it is difficult to visit countries, when you don’t know the language spoken there.

For example, if we have a journey in Great Britain.

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.

The UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupies the territory of the British Isles. It consists of 4 main countries which are England, Scotland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff and Belfast.

 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which is sometimes referred to as Great Britain or Britain (after it major island), England (after its major historic part or the British Isles.

 The UK is an Island state it is composed of some 5.500 islands, large and small. The two main islands are: Great Britain to the east and Ireland to the west. They are separated by the Irish Sea.

 The area of the UK is 244,100 square kms. It is situated off to the northwest coast of Europe between the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the North Sea on the east and is separated from the European continent by the English Channel (or La Manche) and the Straits of Dover (or Pas de Calais).

 The population of the UK is over 57 mln.  people. The UK is inhabited by the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish who constitute the British nation. English is not the only language. Scottish, Welsh and Irish are also used.

 The flag of the UK is known as the Union Jack. It has its history. It all began in 1603 when Scotland was joined to England and Wales. The flag is made up of 3 crosses. The upright cross is the Cross of St. George the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross is the cross of St.Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. All of them are on the blue background.

 The national anthem is “God Save the Queen”. The national currency is pound.

 Geographically the island of Great Britain is subdivided into 2 main regions: Lowland Britain and Highland Britain. Lowland Britain comprises southern and eastern England. Highland Britain consists of Scotland, most of Wales, the Pennines (or the Pennine Chain) and the Lake District.

 The highest mountain top is Ben Nevis in Scotland. The chief rivers of Great Britain are: the Severn, separating England and Wales, the Thames (the longest and the deepest one). The swiftest flowing river is the Spray. Also the Tweed is famous (the woolen fabric is made here).

 There are many lakes in Great Britain. The Lake District is the most beautiful.

 The largest are London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff.

 The capitals are: London in England, Edinburgh in Scotland, Cardiff in Wales and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

 Every country has its own national emblem. The red rose is the national emblem of England the thistle is the national emblem of Scotland the daffodils and the leek are the emblems of Wales and the shamrock (a kind of clover) is the emblem of Ireland.

 

 

U.K. political system

 

The U.K of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch, Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The organs of government are: Parliament, the executive and the judiciary. The legislature, Parliament, is the supreme authority. It comprises 2 chambers - the House of Lords and House of Commons - together with the Queen in her constitutional role.

 The executive consists of the central Government - that is the Prime-Minister and Cabinet and other ministers who are responsible for iniating and directing the national policy, government departments, local authorities, and public corporations. The judiciary determines common I am and interpret status and is independent of both the legislature and executive.

 The Government derive its authority from the elected House of Commons. A general election. For all seats in the House of Commons, must be help every 5 years. The Government is normally formed by the political party which is supported by the majority in the House of Commons. The Party’s leader is appointed Prime-Minister by the Queen. He chooses a team of ministers of whom 20 or so are in the Cabinet. The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and Shadow Cabinet. The House of Commons comprises members from the constituencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who represent people whose history and traditions differ.

 The House of Lords is a hereditory Chamber.

 

The British Parliament

 

There are four countries in the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Laws in Great Britain are made by Parliament. It consists of two Chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The House of Commons is more important as it governs the country. The members of the House of Commons are elected by secret ballot. They belong to different political parties. The main parties are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. The chief executive is the Prime minister. He heads the Government but is not the Head of State.

Great Britain is a monarchy and the Head of State is a monarch whose power is limited by Parliament. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the Party that has a majority in the House of Commons. Each new Prime Minister can make change in his cabinet, appoint new ministers and make other changes.

The Prime Minister takes policy decisions with the agreement of his ministers. He often holds Cabinet Meetings at his official residence at No10 Downing Street which is very near the Hoses of Parliament in Westminster.

The power of the Cabinet is controlled by Parliament.

There are two chambers in the British Parliament and they are called Houses – the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

In the House of Lords one can see the throne on which the Queen sits when she opens Parliament. One can also see the woolsack on which the Lord Chancellor sits. The fact is that for hundred of years wool had been known as one of the most important exports of Great Britain.

The House of Commons does not look as splendid as the House of Lords with its beautiful red benches.

Each Chamber has galleries. Seats in the galleries are reserved for the use of the public. In the language of the Parliament they are called “strangers”.

The Stranger’s gallery is in the House of Commons.

The Speaker sits on the green chair given to the Commons of Australia. On the Speaker’s chair there is a switch that puts on the light in the Clock Tower above “Big Ben” to tell Londoners that Parliament is in session.

The Prime Minister’s seat is on the Government front bench which is on the Speaker’s right. On the Speaker’s left one can see the Opposition front bench.