Read the following text. Following the title of the text brainstorm words you expect to find in it. Write the vocabulary list of possible words that you could find in that text. Draw a vocabulary spider gram (mind map). Add any new words you find in the text.

Make sure you understand the meaning of the following words and word-combinations:

a constitutional monarchy

the official head of the State

to hold receptions and State banquets

to give audiences to the Prime Minister

to award various titles and orders

the supreme legislative body

the House of Commons

the House of Lords

to summon and dissolve Parliament

hereditary and life peers

compulsory

to oversee the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies

to be involved in politics

Political System in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the official head of the State is the monarch (a king or a queen) but his or her powers are limited by the constitution. The Monarch is only a formal and symbolic head of State.

The Monarch holds receptions and State banquets, visits various parts of Britain every year, gives audiences to the Prime Minister and other important persons, pays state visits and undertakes tours in other countries of the Commonwealth, formally summons and dissolves Parliament.  „The Queen’s (or King's) speech“, with which the Monarch opens each session of Parliament is prepared by the government and read by the Monarch. Besides the Monarch is commander-in-chief of all armed forces and the head of the Church of England. The Monarch also awards various titles and orders, etc.       

The Constitution of the UK is unwritten. It is based on custom, tradition and common law.

The Parliament is the supreme legislative body and the highest authority in the UK. It consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. British parliamentary system is one of the oldest in the world, it developed slowly during the 13th century after King John´s signature of Magna Carta in 1215. The two Houses of Parliament share the same building, the Palace of Westminster on the left bank of the Thames. The Monarch formally summons and dissolves Parliament and opens each new session with a „speech from the throne“.

The House of Lords is made up of hereditary and life peers and peeresses, two archbishops and 24 bishops of the Church of England. Its main function is law-making.
The House of Commons consists of 650 paid members (MPs) who are elected  at a General Election, which must be held every five years. Voting is not compulsory and is from the age of 18.

Another important parliamentary task is answering the questions. From Monday to Thursday all ministers must answer MPs´questions for one hour (questioning time). Two days a week the Prime Minister must answer MPs´questions.

All speeches in the House of Commons are addressed to the Speaker who is elected at the beginning of each new Parliament to preside over the House. In the House of the Lords it is the Lord Chancellor.

The Government is formed by the party which has the majority in Parliament and the Monarch appoints its leader as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is the executive organ of government. It´s made up by the leading ministers and heads of government departments (about 20 people). So the Government is a larger body (about 80 people)
The second largest party forms the official Opposition with its own leader and „shadow cabinet“.

The Prime Minister is head of the UK government and is ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government. As head of the UK government the Prime Minister also: oversees the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies; appoints members of the government; is the principal government figure in the House of Commons.

In present-day Britain there are two big political parties, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. In foreign policy, the Conservatives and Labourists usually agree on the main issues and there is not much difference between the two parties.

Questions to discuss:

1. Who is the official head of the State in the UK?
2. What was the Queen’s full title?
3. What are the duties of the Monarch?
4. What is the British constitution based on?
5. What is the supreme legislative body and the highest authority in the UK?
6. What are the houses of the UK’s parliament?
7. What are the main tasks of the Parliament in the UK?
8. Who forms the UK’s government?
9. What is the UK’s government responsible for?
10. What are the duties of the Prime Minister in the UK?
11. What are two big political parties in the UK?