Контроль читання з англійської мови 2 семестр 10 клас ("Political system of the UK")

Reading II term, 10^th form

Read the text and do the tasks.

The political system of Great Britain

The political system of Great Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. This means that while there is a monarch (currently King Charles III), political power largely lies with the elected government, which is headed by the Prime Minister.

The monarch is the head of state but plays a largely ceremonial role in the UK's political system. The monarch's powers are mostly symbolic, with real political authority resting with Parliament and the government. Constitutional Monarchy means that the monarch’s powers are limited by law and by Parliament, and they cannot make or change laws independently.

The UK Parliament is made up of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The House of Commons is the lower house of Parliament and is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the public in general elections. There are 650 constituencies, each represented by an MP. The House of Commons holds significant legislative power, as it is where most laws are proposed, debated, and voted on. The party (or coalition) with the most seats in the House of Commons forms the government.

The House of Lords is the upper house of Parliament and is not directly elected. Its members include life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers. The House of Lords plays a more limited role in the legislative process. It can review, amend, and delay legislation passed by the House of Commons, but it cannot ultimately block a law indefinitely.

The Prime Minister is the head of government in the UK and is usually the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is responsible for running the government, making policy decisions, and representing the UK both domestically and internationally.

The Prime Minister appoints Cabinet Ministers from among the MPs (and occasionally from the House of Lords), who head various government departments, such as the Home Office, Treasury, Ministry of Defence, and more.

The Cabinet is the collective decision-making body of the government, and it helps the Prime Minister formulate and implement policy.

The major political parties in the UK include: the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party (SNP).There are also smaller parties, including the Green Party and regional parties in Wales, Northern Ireland, and other parts of England.

The judiciary in the UK is independent of both Parliament and the government. Courts interpret laws, rule on legal disputes, and ensure that laws are applied fairly.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the UK and handles constitutional matters, including disputes over laws and human rights issues. Before its creation in 2009, the House of Lords served as the highest court in the UK, but it was replaced by the Supreme Court to separate the legislative and judicial functions.

The UK political system is based on long-standing traditions, conventions, and the rule of law, with an emphasis on democracy, parliamentary sovereignty, and a strong respect for the separation of powers.

I.Choose the correct variant.

1.The political system of Great Britain is…

a) absolute monarchy          b) parliamentary democracy          

 c) representative democracy 

2. Who is the head of state in Great Britain?

a) the Monarch                     b) the Prime Minister                      c) the President

3. What does the Constitutional Monarchy mean?

a) that the monarch’s powers are limited by law and by Parliament

b) the monarch and the Parliament can make laws independently

c) the Parliament’s powers are limited by law

4. The UK Parliament is made up of…

a) the House of Ministers and the House of Lords

b) the House of Commons and the House of Lords

c) the House of Conservatives and the House of Liberals

5. How are the Members of Parliament elected?

a) they are appointed by the Prime Minister      b) they are appointed by the monarch

c) are elected by the public in general elections

6. Which members are not include in the House of Lords?

a) life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers        b) life peers and hereditary peers        c) Anglican priests

7. Who is the head of government in the UK?

a) the Monarch                    b) the Prime Minister                c) the President

8. The major political parties in the UK include…

a) the Conservative Party and the Labour Party      b) the Whigs and the Tory       

c) the Democratic Unionist Party

9.What does the judiciary in the UK depends on?

a) on the both Parliament and the government        b) it is independent   

c) on the Monarch

10. The highest court in the UK is…

a) the Court of Appeal              b) the Supreme Court                    c) the Crown Court

II. Answer the questions.

1.Who is the head of the state of the Great Britain?

2. What does the Constitutional Monarchy mean?

3. What is the House of Commons made up of?

4.What is the Prime Minister of the UK responsible for?

5.What are the functions of the courts in the UK?

6.When was the Supreme Court of the UK established?