Great Britain (Political Definition)

The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy. The Queen is the official head of the state. But it is more a tradition than a real fact. In practice the country is ruled by an elected parliament. The legislative power in the country belongs to the British Parliament, which consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The seats are partly hereditary in the House of Lords, but the members of the House of Commons are elected every 5 years.

In Great Britain there are three main political parties: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal. Every five years a general election is held. The party which receives the majority in the House of Commons becomes the party in power and its leader is appointed Prime Minister by the Monarch.

The great disadvantage of Britain’s industry is that it has very few raw materials. Only offshore petroleum and natural gas reserves are significant. Nevertheless the United Kingdom is a highly developed industrial country. Major manufactures include motor vehicles, aerospace equipment, electronic data-processing and telecommunication equipment, petrochemicals. Shipbuilding, fishing and publishing also are important economic industries.

Great Britain is a birthplace of many famous poets, novelists, scientists and politicians: R. Burns and Ch. Dickens, C. Doyle and L. Caroll, Ch.Darwin and I. Newton, Admiral Lord Nelson and W. Churchill.

Answer the following questions.

1. What kind of state is the UK?

2. Who rules Britain officially? Who rules Britain in practice?

3. What party won the last general election? Who is the PM now?

4. Great Britain isn’t rich in mineral resources, is it?

5. Do you know any famous Englishmen?

Ask your group-mates:

1) how many chambers Parliament consists of;

2) what the main political parties of Great Britain are;

3) if the Queen rules the country in practice;

4) if he (she) knows her name;

5) what Great Britain produces and exports.

Lexical Exercises

Exercise 1. Choose the right word (raw materials, legislative, election, the majority, birthplace, to appoint).

1. Parliamentary … must be held every five years.

2. In reality, the House of Commons is the only one which has true … power.

3. The party which wins … of seats forms the government.

4. He was … Prime Minister last year.

5. Offshore petroleum and natural gas are major… … of Britain’s industry.

6. The … of Shakespeare is Stratford-upon-Avon, a small English town.

Exercise 2. Arrange a) and b) in pairs of synonyms.

a) main, general, legislative, official, receive, disadvantage, oil

b) formal, get, chief, shortcoming, petroleum, common, law-making.

*Exercise 3. Fill in the blanks with prepositions if necessary.

1. The UK's form … government is a constitutional monarchy … a parliamentary system.

2. … the USA a large amount … legislative power belongs … State governments.

3. Scotland is known … coal and oil production, forestry and marine fishing.

Exercise 4. Read the sentences translating the words in brackets into English.

1. The UK (управляется избранным парламентом).

2. Members of the House of Lords (не избираются народом).

3. The Prime Minister (назначается королем или королевой).

4. The party of power (получает большинство голосов в палате общин).

5. A general election (проводятся каждые 4 года).

6. The seats in the House of Lords (передаются по наследству).

7. Iron, coal, oil belong to (сырьевые ресурсы).

8. The UK is (высокоразвитая индустриальная страна).

9. (Кораблестроение) one of the most important (отраслей).

Exercise 5. Finish the sentences:

The Queen is the official head of the UK, but in practice… The British Parliament, which consists of … Members of the House of Commons… There are three main political parties… Every four years… The Prime Minister is… Great Britain is not rich in… The UK exports…

Grammar Exercises

Exercise 1. Use the Present Perfect Tense. § 8.4.1.

1. Everyone (to hear) of a real English breakfast. 2. … you (to have) your lunch yet? 3. Here is your watch. I just (to find) it. 4. I (not to go) boating since last Wednesday. 5. … you (to see) John lately? 6. Where is your key? – I (to lose) it. 7. The police (to arrest) two men in connection with the robbery. 8. Peter failed in the exam. – He (not to work) hard this term. 9. Who is absent? – Ann. She (to be) ill for a week. 10. What time is he leaving? – He (to leave) already.

*Exercise 2. Use the Present Simple or the Present Perfect. § 8.2, 8.4.

1. Normally I (to have) breakfast at 9 in the morning. 2. I (to have) just my breakfast. 3. He (to write) letters to his mother once a week. 4. He (to receive) three letters this week. 5. We (to work) hard lately. 6. I (not to see) much of her for the last few days. 7. Students (to take) exams at the end of each term. 8. You ever (to visit) your relatives? 9. It (to rain) every Sunday since we arrived here. 10. They (to be) friends since childhood. 11. It long (to be) my dream to visit the Bolshoi Theatre. 12. She (to dream) of becoming a teacher.