The Political System of the UK

1.

The Political System of the UK
The United Kingdom (UK) has a unique political system that has developed over many centuries. It is a limited
monarchy, which means that the monarch ['mɔnək] — the king or queen — is the official Head of State. However,
their power is limited by laws and institutions. In practice ['præktis], the real power does not lie with the monarch but
with the elected government.
The UK’s political system is based on the principles of a parliamentary democracy. This means that the legislative
and executive powers are exercised by a parliament and the government, but the monarch still reigns. The monarch
rules, but all real power is limited and lies with the elected representatives.
The UK Parliament consists of two main parts: the Houses of Parliament. These are the House of Commons and the
House of Lords. The House of Commons is made up of elected members called Members of Parliament (MPs). They
are elected from constituencies at general elections, which are held every five years. The political party with the most
MPs usually becomes the government. The leader of the party then becomes the Prime Minister (appointed by the
monarch).
The Prime Minister supports the government and appoints the rest of the Cabinet — a group of senior ministers who
help run the country. The Cabinet is supported by the majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister and
the Cabinet are responsible for the executive branch of the government. All the ministers must be members of one or
the other House of Parliament. They are individually and collectively responsible to the Crown and Parliament.
The House of Lords is the upper chamber. It consists of hereditary peers who inherit their titles, life peers, and
bishops of the Church of England. The House of Lords reviews laws made by the House of Commons and proposes
changes. It does not have as much power as the House of Commons, but it helps make laws better. In order tobecome
a law, a new bill proposed by the Cabinet must be approved by both Houses of Parliament. The Lords may not veto a
bill, but they may delay it for a maximum of one year. Financial bills cannot be delayed by the House of Lords
The judiciary — the judicial power — is exercised by the courts. The judiciary branch of the government is
independent of both the legislative and the executive branches.
The political parties in the UK include the Conservative Party (also called the Tories), the Labour Party, and others.
The Conservative Party is generally more supportive of free markets. The Labour Party focuses on social equality
and public services.
The UK has no written constitution like many other countries. Instead, it relies on traditions, conventions, and laws
passed by Parliament. This written constitution sets the rules of the political system.
In conclusion, the UK’s political system is a mix of tradition and modern democracy. The monarch reigns, but the
real power lies with elected representatives in Parliament.

2.

Phonetic exercises ([dʒ]/[t∫])

3.

Vocabulary
political system – политическая система
monarch ['mɔnək] – монарх
limited monarchy ['mɔnəki] – конституционная, ограниченная монархия
Head of State – глава государства
power – 1) власть; 2) полномочия
to be limited by smth. – быть ограниченным чем-либо
Parliament ['pα:ləmənt] – парламент
the Houses of Parliament – британский парламент
the House of Lords – палата лордов (верхняя палата британского парламента)
the House of Commons – палата общин (нижняя палата британского парламента)
in practice ['præktis] – на практике, на деле
to reign [rein] – царствовать
to rule [ru:l] – править; господствовать, властвовать
all real power – вся полнота власти, реальная власть
to lie with smb. – находиться у кого-л.; относиться к кому-л.
legislative ['ledʒislətiv] power – законодательная власть
executive [ig'zekjutiv] power – исполнительная власть
judiciary [dʒu:'di∫(ə)ri] power – судебная власть
to exercise the legislative power – обладать законодательной властью
the legislative power is exercised by … – законодательная власть принадлежит …
government ['gʌv(ə)nmənt] – правительство; форма правления; руководство
government body – орган власти
chamber ['t∫eimbə] – палата
to sit for five years – заседать в течение пяти лет
to consist of smth./smb. – состоять из чего-л/кого-л

4.

Vocabulary
to compose [kəm'pəuz] – 1) сочинять, писать; 2) составлять
to be composed of smth./smb.- состоять из чего-л/кого-л.
hereditary [hi'redit(ə)ri] – наследственный, передаваемый по наследству
to inherit [in'herit] smth. – наследовать; получать в наследство что-либо
heir [εə] – наследник, преемник
peer [piə] – пэр
peeress ['piəris] – пэресса
hereditary peer – наследственный пэр
to elect [i'lekt] – избирать, выбирать
constituency [kən'stitjuənsi] – избирательный округ
real governing ['gʌv(ə)niŋ] body – орган, обладающий реальной властью
the Prime Minister – премьер-министр
the Cabinet ['kæbinit; 'kæbinət] – кабинет министров
to support [sə'pɔ:t] – поддерживать
supported by the majority [mə'dʒɔrəti] – поддерживаемый большинством
to appoint [ə'pɔint] – назначать, утверждать (в должности)
the rest of the Cabinet – другие, прочие, остальные члены кабинета
responsible [ris'pɔnsəbl] for smth. – ответственный, отвечающий за что-л.
to be individually [͵indi'vidjuəli] and collectively [kə'lektivli] responsible to
smb. – нести личную и коллективную ответственность перед кем-л.
the Crown [kraun] – 1) корона, престол; королевская власть; король, королева
the Conservative [kən'sə:vətiv] Party (the Tories) – Консервативная партия (Тори)
the Labour ['leibə] Party – лейбористская партия
bill – законопроект, билль
to approve [ə'pru:v] a bill – одобрять законопроект
to be approved by smb. – быть одобренным кем-либо
to veto ['vi:təu] a bill – налагать вето на законопроект
to delay [di'lei] a bill – откладывать законопроект

5.

Answer the questions
1. What type of monarchy does the UK have?
2. Who is the Head of State in the UK?
3. What are the two houses of Parliament?
4. How are members of the House of Commons
chosen?
5. Who becomes the Prime Minister?
6. What is the role of the House of Lords?
7. What is the main function of the Prime Minister?
8. How often are general elections held in the UK?
9. Name two main political parties in the UK.
10. What is the highest court in the UK?

6.

Question Types
Question Type
Structure / Example
Purpose / Use
Notes
Do you like apples?
To get general
information /a yes or no
answer
Usually start with
auxiliary
( do, does, is, are, can,
etc.)
Special (Wh) Questions
Where do you live?
To ask for specific
information
Start
with who, what, where, w
hen, why, how
Alternative Questions
Do you want tea or
coffee?
To choose between
options
Often use or in the
question
To confirm information
Use a statement + a short
question at the end;
usually the opposite
auxiliary verb
General (Yes/No
Questions)
Tag Questions
You're happy, aren't you?

7.

Ask questions
1. The executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.
2. The House of Lords is composed of about 1200 hereditary and life peers and
peeresses.
3. The House of Commons consists of 651 elected members.
4. All the ministers must be members of one or the other House of Parliament.
5. The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Houses of Parliament.
6. The judiciary branch of the government is independent of both the legislative and the
executive branches.
7. There is no written constitution in Great Britain, only precedents, traditions and
conventions.
8. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the United Kingdom.
9. Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of
Commons.
10. The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and
the Shadow Cabinet.

8.

Translate into English. Make up sentences of
your own using the phrases
Палата общин; назначается королевой; заседает пять дней
в неделю; власть монарха ограничена парламентом;
законодательная ветвь власти; наследственные и
пожизненные пэры; наложить вето на законопроект;
втораяпо величине партия; поддерживается большинством;
несут индивидуальнуюи коллективную ответственность
перед монархом и парламентом; судебнаяветвь власти;
реальная власть принадлежит парламенту и правительству;
может продолжаться до поздней ночи; предложенный
кабинетом законопроект; должен быть одобрен обеими
палатами; отложить законопроект максимум на один год;
исполнительная ветвь власти.

9.

Match the sentence parts

10.

Topics for reports/presentations
1. The legislative power in the UK
2. The executive power in the UK
3. The judiciary branch in the UK
4. Parliament in the UK
5. The Conservative party in the UK
6. The Labour party in the UK
7. The House of commons
8. The House of Lords
9. The Monarchy in the UK

11.

Numerals

12.

Numerals
1) four – fourth thirteen – thirteenth
six – sixth seventeen – seventeenth
2) five – fifth (v - f) Read the fifth word in the line.
twelve – twelfth. December is the twelfth month of the year.
3) eight – eighth
His birthday is on the eighth of April.
4) nine – ninth
We celebrate V-Day on the ninth of May.
5) twenty – twentieth (y - ie) My friend will celebrate his twentieth anniversary.
celebrate her fortieth anniversary.
6) twenty-one – twenty-first She will celebrate her twenty-first birthday.
celebrate his thirty-eighth birthday.
forty – fortieth Her mother will
thirty-eight – thirty-eighth He will
7) The first sitting usually starts at half past ten. The second sitting can start in the afternoon.
8) the first part = part one the fifth chapter = chapter five
page = page twenty–one
the ninth paragraph = paragraph nine the twenty–first
9) No article is used in the following situations: Let’s go to classroom № 15. Should I take tram № 5? At what
address does he live? – His address is 10 Pushkin Street, apartment 9. He lives in apartment 9.
10) We can read dates in everyday language or in official one:
1900 – nineteen hundred 1904 – nineteen (o) four (nineteen hundred and four) 1917 – nineteen seventeen (nineteen
hundred and seventeen) 1945 – nineteen forty-five (nineteen hundred and forty-five) 2000 – two thousand
2006 – two thousand six
11) There are some ways of writing dates: 9th May, 1945 the ninth of May, nineteen forty-five , May 9th, 1945 or
May 9, 1945 May the ninth, nineteen forty-five (Am.)
12) Decades are numerated in the following way:
in the 1970s (in the seventies) – в семидесятые годы
in the early 1980s (in the early eighties) – в начале восьмидесятых годов
in the late 1980s (in the late eighties) – в конце восьмидесятых годов

13.

Numerals

14.

The Queen and her family
Read and translate the text.
The Queen was born in 1926. She married Prince Philip, Duke of
Edinburgh, in 1947. Her coronation was on 2nd June, 1953. Her title is
Queen Elisabeth II. Prince Philip was born in 1921. The Queen and Prince
Philip have four children. They are Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince
Andrew and Prince Edward. Prince Charles was born in 1948. He became
Prince of Wales in 1969. Prince Charles will become the next king as he is
the Queen’s eldest son. He married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Lady
Diana was born in 1961. Their children are William and Henry. William
was born in 1982. Henry was born in 1984. Lady Diana perished in 1997.
Princess Anne was born in 1950. She married Captain Mark Philips in
1973. Mark Philips was born in 1948. They have two children, Peter and
Zara. Peter was born in 1977. Zara was born in 1981. Prince Andrew was
born in 1960. Prince Edward was born in 1964. Queen Elizabeth II passed
away on 8th September 2022 at the age of 96.

15.

Important dates in my family