The Legislative Power in the UK

Parliament is the supreme legislative authority in Great Britain. It consists of three separate elements: the Sovereign, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Queen’s role is now only formal while the House of Commons has gained supremacy over the House of Lords recently. The House of Commons is a popular assembly elected by almost universal adult suffrage for a term of 5 years. There are 659 members of Parliament (MPs); each MP represents one of the 659 geographical areas called constituencies into which the country is divided for electoral purposes. If an MP dies, resigns or is made a peer, a by-election is held to elect a new MP. The House of Commons is presided over by the Speaker.

Leaders of the Government and Opposition sit on the front benches of the House of Commons, they are called frontbenchers, and their supporters sit behind them (backbenchers).

The session of Parliament lasts about 180 working days. The main function of Parliament is to make laws or legislate, but it is the House of Commons that has true power. It is here that new bills are introduced and debated. Most bills are introduced by the government, and party members almost automatically pass whatever is put before them.

The House of Lords is presided over by the Lord Chancellor. It is the only upper House in the world whose members are not elected. It is made up of the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal. The former consists of the representatives of the Church of England (archbishops of York and Canterbury and 25 Bishops). The latter comprises all hereditary and life peers. The life peers are made by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister and they cannot pass on their title to their children.

The House of Lords can revise bills sent to it by the House of Commons but it can only delay a bill from becoming a law for a maximum of six months.

5. Read the text and say if the following statements are true or false:

Agreement	Disagreement
It is quite so. It is true. You are right. No doubt. Exactly. That’s right. I quite agree with you. Yes, certainly	I’m afraid it is not true You are not right in saying so. You are wrong here. Far from that. Quite on the contrary. I can’t agree.

1. Parliament is the supreme legislative authority in Great Britain.

2. It consists of two separate elements: the Sovereign and the House of Commons.

3. The Queen’s role is now only formal.

4. The House of Lords has gained supremacy over the House of Commons.

5. The House of Commons is a popular assembly elected by almost universal adult suffrage

6. New bills are introduced and debated in the House of Lords.

7. The main function of Parliament is to make laws.

8. The House of Lords is presided over by the Speaker.

9. The House of Lords is the only upper House in the world whose members are not elected.

10.The House of Lords is presided over by the Speaker.

6. Match the following English and Russian equivalents:

1) a formal head of legislature 2) a popular assиmbly elected by people 3) has gained supremacy over 4) separate elements 5) to have true power 6) to introduce and debate bills 7) the House is made up of… 8) can revise bills 9) to become a law 10) members of the House are not elected

a) представлять и обсуждать законо­проекты b) члены палаты не избираются c) может вносить исправления в за­конопроект d) формальный глава законодатель­ной власти e) добилась верховенства f) иметь действительную власть g) народное собрание, избираемое гражданами h) стать законом i) отдельные элементы j) палата состоит из …

7. Answer the following questions:

1. What body is the supreme legislative authority in Great Britain?

2. What elements does Parliament consist of?

3. What is the Queen’s role in the legislature?

4. Which of the Houses is elected?

5. What is the balance of power between the Houses of Parliament?

6. Which House has true power to make laws?

7. Which of the Houses introduce and debate new bills?

8. Who is the House of Commons presided over by?

9. What are the functions of the House of Commons?

10.Who is the House of Lords made up of?

11.Who is the House of Lords presided over by?

12.What is the role of the House of Lords in the British legislature?

8. Match the following words and phrases with their definitions:

1.parliament	a) additional elections
2.constituency	b) a leading MP
3. by-election	c) not important MP
4. frontbencher	d) electoral district
5. backbencher	e) speaker of the House of Lords
6. MP	f) universal election rights
7. suffrage	g) supreme legislative body
8. peer	h) rank of nobility
9. Speaker	i) chairman of the House of Commons
10. Lord Chancellor	j) Member of Parliament

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14