The Executive Power in Great Britain

The British democratic system depends on political parties and there has been a party system of some kind since the seventeenth century. The political parties choose candidates in elections.

The leader of the party which obtains the majority of seats at the general election is appointed Prime Minister and is formally asked by the Sovereign to recommend a group of ministers to form a government.

The Prime Minister chooses about twenty members of the government heading the most important departments to become cabinet ministers. Ministers in charge of Government departments are known as “Secretaries of State” or “ministers”. For example, the Minister of Defense is responsible for defense policy, while the Home Secretary is responsible for law and order, both of them are, of course, members of the Cabinet. All the administration of national affairs is conducted in the name of the Queen (King), but in fact the Prime Minister is a virtual ruler of the state. Each new Prime Minister can make changes in the size of his Cabinet, appoint new ministers and make other changes.

Framing the foreign and home policies is one of the main functions of the Government. It is also responsible for supervising finance, different social services, etc. The Prime Minister takes policy decisions with the agreement of his ministers. He often holds the Cabinet meetings at his official residence at No. 10 Downing Street which is very near the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The power of the Cabinet is controlled by Parliament. It is a political convention for the cabinet to act as a single person, which means that a minister who disagrees about a cabinet decision must resign.

The largest minority party becomes the Royal Opposition which forms a Shadow Cabinet. The leader of the opposition also chooses MPs to take responsibility for opposing the government; they are known as shadow ministers.

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

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

1. The British democratic system depends on political parties.

2. The candidates who obtain the majority of seats at the general election comprise the largest minority party.

3. The Sovereign recommends a group of ministers to form the Cabinet of Ministers.

4. Prime Minister cannot make changes in the Cabinet.

5. All the administration of national affairs is conducted in the name of the Queen.

6. In fact the Queen is a virtual ruler of the state.

7. The main function of the Government is to oppose the Sovereign.

8. There are a lot of arguments and debates in the Cabinet.

9. Ministers who disagree about any cabinet decision must resign.

10.The government enjoys the support of the Shadow Cabinet.

6. Match the following English and Russian equivalents:

1) to choose candidates in elections 2) about twenty members of the government 3) to become cabinet ministers 4) to conduct affбirs in the name of the Queen (King) 5) the main functions of the government 6) to appoint new ministers 7) It means that… 8) to form a Shadow Cabinet 9) shadow ministers 10) to oppose the government 11) must resign

a) главная функция правительства b) быть в оппозиции к действую­щему правительству c) формировать теневой кабинет d) назначать новых министров e) должен уйти в отставку f) вести дела от имени королевы (или короля) g) около 20 членов правительства h) стать министрами Кабинета министров i) Это значит, что... j) выбирать кандидатов для уча­стия в выборах k) министры «теневого кабинета»

7. Answer the following questions:

1. What does the British executive power depend on?

2. Who chooses candidates in elections?

3. Who comprises the majority party?

4. What does the majority party form?

5. What is the main function of the government?

6. Who is a virtual ruler of the state in the UK?

7. How many MPs does the Prime Minister recommend to form his Cabinet of Ministers?

8. In what way does the Cabinet of Ministers act?

9. Who must resign from the Cabinet of Ministers?

10.Which party becomes the Royal Opposition?

11.What political body takes responsibility for opposing the government?

8. Read the text «The British Political Party System» for further information. Match the underlined words and their Russian equivalents given below:

стоять у власти; по традиции; система с двумя преобладающими партиями; создать союз (альянс); конструктивная критика; эффективность; партия большинства; при чрезвычайных обстоя­тельствах; сместить правительство; отношения между правитель­ством и оппозиционными партиями; вынести вотум “недоверия”.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14