Task 1. Read and translate the text.

Britain is a multiparty democracy (state system). It's complex and unique as it is the product of a long period of historical development which resulted in the Glorious Revolution and establishment of the Crowned Republic in 1688. The absence of a revolutionary upheaval since then, i.e. for more than 300 years, the lack of a document known as a written constitution, the tendency to preserve outward forms when the inner substance is changed — all this makes the English polity both complex and unique.

Officially Great Britain is a state of the constitutional monarchy. That means that at the head of the state is monarch (Queen or King). But the power of the Queen is not absolute, it is greatly limited by Parliament.

British polity comprises three main ruling bodies — monarchy, parliament and government. The oldest of the three institutions is monarchy. In many countries their constitution enforce a strict separation between the three branches of power — the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Britain has some separation but not very much. The legal system is independent to a large degree: although the government of the day appoints judges, it cannot interfere with their work and it cannot get rid of those appointed by the previous government. But the executive and the legislature are not separate at all. In fact, the former is part of the latter, because government is formed within Parliament. Judiciary is also performed by Parliament.

Notes to the text:

Glorious Revolution – «Славная революция» (1688-1689)

upheaval – переворот

polity – государственное устройство, форма правления

the former – первый (из двух названных)

the latter – последний (из двух названных)

Task 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: многопартийный, учреждение (основание), быть ограниченным, включать, органы правления, исполнительный, законодательный, судебный, законодательство (2 выражения), независимый, в большей степени, назначать, мешать чему-либо, выполнять.

Task 3. Find synonyms from the text to the following words: total, to include, to make obligatory, legislature, autonomous, to carry out, division.

Task 4. Answer the questions:

1. Why is the British state system considered complex and unique?

2. How is the British state system defined officially?

3. What are the main ruling bodies in Great Britain?

4. What are the three branches of power in Great Britain?

5. Are these branches strictly separated?

UNIT 2

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