How Bills Go through Parliament

The System of Government

Ex. 5. Study the list. Choose one of the persons and prepare the report about his (her) activities. Use any information you will be able to find.

The Prime Minister of Great Britain

Ex. 6.Write down 10 questions you could ask about “British Constitutional Law”. Begin each question differently:

Did ...?; Are ...?; Do ...?; Who ...?; When ...?; What kind of ...?; How many ...?; Why ...?

Ex. 7.Speak on the British Constitution.

1. The Constitution itself as the supreme law: the political and ideological structure, to make and enforce laws, to reflect the national soul, to protect the values, to contain, to make up, to alter a convention, to prevent, to vest with powers, to be the supreme authority, to put into effect, to constitute, to interpret laws, to apply laws.

2. Parliament: to require for legislation, to pass laws, to adopt, to sign, to introduce a bill, the first reading, to debate, to give detailed consideration, to amend, to reject.

3. Government: to hold office, to be responsible for, to create, to abolish, to transfer, to be composed of, to have the last word, the Cabinet sanction, the Court of Appeal.

4. Judiciary: to be independent, judgements, control, to recommend, the Lord Chancellor, legal system, administration of courts, judicial appointments, the appointment of magistrates.

Ex. 8. Render the following text into English:

Британская Конституция

В Великобритании не существует единого документа, который был бы официально провозглашен Основным Законом (Fundamental Law). Однако существует неписаная конституция, состоящая их трех категорий: норм статутного права; норм прецедентного права; норм, представляющих собой конституционные обычаи. Статутом в Великобритании принято называть законодательный акт, принятый или одобренный в соответствии с установленной процедурой (procedure) обеими палатами парламента и подписанный главой государства. К статутам, имеющим конституционное значение, британские правоведы относят Великую хартию вольностей (the Magna Carta) 1215 г., Билль о правах 1689 г., Закон о престолонаследии (the Act of Settlement) 1701 г., Закон о парламенте 1911г. и другие.

Билль о правах (the Bill of Rights) закрепил режим конституционной монархии. Этот документ ограничивал (to restrict) исполнительную власть короля.

Хабеас Корпус (the Habeas Corpus Act) – закон о неприкосновенности личности, принятый в 1679 г. и ставший впоследствии важным элементом Британской конституции.

Новой вехой (landmark) в развитии Британской конституции стал принятый парламентом в 1701 г. Акт о престолонаследии. Королевская власть объявлялась ограниченной законами, которые вправе издавать только парламент. Описанные законодательные акты составляют так называемую Библию (the Bible) британской конституции.

Text B Monarchy in Britain

Task: read the text and get ready to discuss its main points.

Great Britain is a monarchy, but the British Queen is not absolute, her powers are limited by Parliament. The power is hereditary and not elective. The Queen is not only head of state, but also an important symbol of national unity. In law she is head of the executive, an integral part of the legislature, head of the judiciary, commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the Crown and the supreme governor of the established Church of England. Today she is only a formal ruler and does not actually govern. Whatever she does must be done on the advice of the Prime Minister who is politically responsible for the Royal act.

The duties of the Queen are numerous. The Queen summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament, as a rule she opens each session with a speech from the throne. She must give Royal assent before a bill which has passed all its stages in both Houses of Parliament becomes legal. It is her duty to make appointments to all important state offices, including those of judges, officers in the armed forces, governors and diplomats, and to all leading positions in the church of England. The Queen has the power to conclude treaties, to cede or annex territory, to declare war and make peace. All these matters are conducted in her name by Ministers and their officials.

In reality the Queen has almost no power at all. When she opens Parliament each year the speech she makes has been written for her. She makes no secret of this fact. She very obviously reads out the script that has been prepared for her, word for word. If she strongly disagrees with one of the policies of the government, she might ask the government minister to change the wording in the speech a little beforehand, but that is all. She cannot actually stop the government going ahead with any of its politics.

The Queen has her own Privy Council. The Cabinet developed from this Council which used to be a body of advisers of English monarchs and was the chief source of executive power in the state. As the system of Cabinet developed, the Privy Council declined in importance. It consists of members of the Royal family, the Arch-bishops, colonial governors and all senior Ministers, together with others to whom membership has been given as an honour. There are about 400 Privy Counsellors. There are a number of advisory Privy Council committees. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council established in 1833 is the final Court of Appeal. The Judicial Committee hears appeals from certain Commonwealth countries, from the Channel Islands, from the General Medical Council and other professional bodies. The Commonwealth appellate jurisdiction was formerly regarded as an important unifying influence: it has now dwindled significantly as an increasing number of Commonwealth countries have abandoned the appeal. For example, Canada and India abolished appeals in 1949, Sri Lanka in 1971, Malaysia in 1985, Australia (effectively) in 1986 and Singapore in 1994. The New Zealand government proposes their abolition, and appeals from Hong Kong ended with the territory’s reversion to China in 1997. The Committee’s decision takes the form of advice to the Queen. It is binding on the relevant Commonwealth courts. Cases heard by the Privy Council raise questions of constitutional interpretation. Apart from the appellate jurisdiction, the Judicial Committee may entertain an application for a declaration that a person purporting to be a member of the House of Commons is disqualified by the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975. Finally, Her Majesty may refer any matter to the Judicial Committee for hearing or consideration.

Ex. 1.Here are the answers to some questions. What are the questions?

1. Queen’s powers are limited by Parliament.(What ...?)

2. The Prime Minister is politically responsible for the Royal act. (Who ... ?)

3. Yes, she summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament. (Disjunctive)

4. The duties of the Queen are numerous. (Alternative)

5. Yes, today she is only a formal ruler and does not actually govern. (General)

Ex. 2.Complete the following sentences.

1. The Queen is not only head of state but ... .

2. Today the Queen is only a formal ruler and ... .

3. The duties of the Queen are ... .

4. All the matters are conducted in her name in the state by ... .

5. The Privy Council used to be ...

6. As the system of Cabinet developed, the Privy Council ... .

7. The Privy Council consists of ... .

Ex. 3. Points for discussion.

1. Today the Queen is only a formal ruler.

2. The Privy Council and its Judicial Committee.

Ex. 4. Write about the British monarchy as you see it. Use additional information from p.p. 283-285. Reflect the following facts:

– the historical background and origin;

– the inheritance to the throne;

– the general atmosphere within the family;

– rank-and-file people's and officials' attitude;

– the view on the monarchy as a social institution from “inside” and “outside”.

Text C Political Parties

Task: read the text, get ready to compare the policy of the Conservative and Labour Parties.

The main political parties in Great Britain are the Conservatives, the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats. The most powerful parties are Conservative and Labour parties. These parties as a rule control Parliament. In this context there is a two-party system in Britain. Since 1945 these parties have held power.

The Conservatives (the official name the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations) have always been the party of the Right. The name of the party reflects its aims to conserve and maintain established institutions and practices. It is the party supported traditionally by the rich and the privileged. The origins of the party go back to the 17^th century when it was called the Tory party organized on the basis of political groups of the English landed aristocracy. The Conservative party has no official permanent programme. On the eve of general elections the party issues a pre-election manifesto which states the main aspects of the home and foreign policies of the future Conservative government if the party wins the elections. Tories favour radical policies, they welcome privatization of sections of the national industries, the state's withdrawal from direction of the economy, they stress the pursuit of the national interest and priority for defence of law and order. To this very day it remains a major rightwing party receiving support from middle-and upper class or Establishment circles, traditionally in rural areas. Donations from individuals and companies make up the party’s largest source of income.

The Labour Party was founded in 1900 by the Trade Union Congress on the initiative of socialist organizations to win working-class representation in Parliament. This was initially reflected in the name of the party – Labour Representation Committee. In 1906 the Committee officially adopted the title of the Labour Party. The Party believes that private ownership and free enterprise should be allowed to flourish, but not at the expense of their traditional support of public services. Labour’s origins are important in explaining the way it makes policy. In general, the party has no long term political programmes which would determine the ways and means to attain common goals. Instead, the party endorses current political issues containing measures which the future Labour government intends to implement if the party takes office as a result of a majority in the general elections. Labour remains committed to maintaining the state’s role in such areas as health, education and provision for those in need. Using the state mechanism the party attempts to do away with inequalities in opportunity and develop greater social equality in general. Though today many claim that the Labour Party shows no radical change in policy from the Tories, nevertheless most people recognize Labour as being on the left of the political scene, and the party continues to receive electoral support from amongst the less well-off in society. Despite the fact that Labour was established to support the working class, it is now clearly a middle-class party. Membership of the Labour Party is provided by trade-union members, cooperative organizations, working class and petty bourgeoisie. Nearly two thirds of its members are professional (the ‘salariat’), and less than a quarter work in manual occupations.

The Social and Liberal Democrats (SLD) or simply the Liberal Democrats are the result of alliance in 1988 of the two parties – the Liberal party (the Whigs), which could frame its origins to the XVII century, and was one of the main political parties in the XIX century, and the Social Democratic party created in 1981 as a result of the split in the Labour Party. Liberal Democrats are strongly associated with their policies for better education, environmental protection and constitutional reform to guarantee individual freedom. The Party established itself as a new third force in British politics. The Liberal Democrats are quite often referred to as a “centre” party – a party which in ideological terms plays upon the differencies between the two major parties.

There are some other political parties in Great Britain represented in Parliament. They are regionally based in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The nationalist parties the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru of Wales have become a significant force since the 1970s. The political parties of Northern Ireland are: the Ulster Unionist party (UUP) and its other unionist allies; the Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP); Sinn Fein (SF).

Ex. 1.Explain and expand on the following:

1. There is a two-party system in Britain.

2. The Conservatives have always been the party of the Right.

3. On the eve of general elections the Conservative Party issues a pre-election manifesto.

4. The Labour Party was formed to win working-class representation in Parliament.

5. Today the Labour Party shows no radical change in policy from the Tories.