The political system of Great Britain презентация

The Political System of Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. It has a either a king or a queen – as its head of state, but the power of the monarch is limited by the country’s constitution. In practice, the monarch reigns, but does not rule.

The present Sovereign of the UK is Queen Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth II was born in 1926, was ascended the throne on 6th February 1952, was crowned on 2nd June 1953. Her official title in UK is: “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and territories Queen, head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

As Head of State, the Queen is informed and consulted on every aspect of national life, on the advice of her Ministers, she performs certain important acts of government. She is the centre of much of the nation’s ceremonial and, by ancient tradition, the leader of society. The Queen is the Head of the Church of England. She is Commander-in-chief of the armed forces. She makes treaties and declares war and peace. In international affaires the Queen, as the Head of State, has the power to recognize foreign states and governments.

The legal authority (the passing of acts) is given to Parliament and executive authority (the carrying out of laws) to the government. All real power lies with Parliament and the existing government.

Nowadays the main functions of Parliament are to pass laws regulating the life of the country and to scrutinize government policy and administration.

Bill and Law. In the British Parliament a bill is usually produced by the Government, and discussed in the House of Commons. Then it goes to the House of Lords. Finally, it receives the Royal assent (it is signed by the Queen) and becomes law.

The House of Commons, the lower house of the British Parliament, consists of 650 elected MPs: 523 for England 72 for Scotland 38 for Wales 17 for Northern Ireland. The main purpose of the House of Commons is to make laws of the land by passing various Acts (of Parliament), as well as to discuss current political issues. All speeches in the House of Commons are addressed to the Speaker.

The Speaker is elected at the beginning of each new Parliament to preside over the House of Commons and enforce the rules of order. The Speaker must be a person with a rare mix of qualities: s/he has to be able to cope with the difficult task of conducting debates; be respected for impartiality; possess a sound knowledge of parliamentary procedure; have tact and judgment in handing debates; and have a firmness of command in controlling the House.

The House of Lords, the upper house of the British Parliament, consists of over 1000 non-elected members: 1.All peers and peeresses who have inherited their titles, and distinguished men and women who have been made peers or peeresses for their life-time and whose titles cannot be inherited. 2.Certain clergy of the Church of England. 3.Some judges (called “the Law Lords”). The work of the House of Lords is largely complementary to that of the House of Commons, and includes examining and revising bills from the Commons, and discussing important matters which the commons cannot find time to debate. The House of Lords does not have the same power as the House of Commons. It can: - pass Bills sent from it the House of Commons; - amend Bills and send them back to the Commons for approval; - delay Bills for a limited time; - start it own Bills, but it must send them to the Commons for approval.

The Lord Chancellor is the Speaker of the House of Lords. During the debates he sits on the Woolsack.

In front of the Throne is the Woolsack, which is stuffed from wool from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is the symbol of the source of medieval England’s prosperity. It’s in Parliament to symbolize the importance of wool to the British Economy at that time.

The UK is governed by the Government – a body of ministers who are responsible for the administration of national affairs. The ministers are the leading members of the political party which wins a majority of seats in Parliament. The party which wins the second largest number of seats in Parliament becomes the official Opposition. The most senior Ministers (usually about 20 in number) compose the Cabinet, which meets regularly (once or twice a week) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to decide government policy on major issues, exercise supreme control of government and co-ordinate government departments. Ministers are responsible collectively to Parliament for all Cabinet decisions; individual ministers are responsible to Parliament for the work of their departments. The opposition party, which is not currently in power, under the direction of its leader forms the “Shadow Cabinet”. The ministers in the Shadow cabinet deal with the same matters as the Cabinet of Ministers in the current government.

The Prime Minister, the leader of the party with a majority, is appointed be the Queen. (The Queen appoints, but does not select the Prime Minister. She has no choice.) All other Ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Tony Blair

Gordon Brown

Margaret Thatcher (born 1925) was the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th century. In 1979 she was elected as Britain’s 1st woman Prime minister. From the start, her autocratic style earned her the nickname of the “Iron Lady”.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) became a major political figure during the 2nd World War. In 1940 he became both Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Churchill was gifted orator and his radio speeches did much to boost the nation’s morale at time of crisis and deprivation.

Princess Diana (Diana Spencer)

Prince Charles (Charles Philip Arthur George)

Henry VII

Henry VIII

Victoria

Elizabeth I