Exercise 14. Answer the question on text 3.
Exercise 15. Read text 4 and translate it into Russian in written form.
TEXT 4. PROCEDURE OF PASSING BILLS
A law passing through Parliament is called a bill. It becomes a law, an Act of Parliament, when it is passed by Parliament.
Preparing a bill for submission to Parliament may take many months, and it may be preceded by other government publications. A Green Paper sets out various alternatives or discussion. Pressure groups make their views known. Government departments concerned are also consulted. The Government then issues a White Paper containing its definite proposals for legislation. Any member of the House of Commons may introduce a bill. When the bill is introduced it receives its formal “first reading”1 after which it is printed2 and circulated to members. The first reading of a bill is scarcely3 objected to as there is no debate or amendment allowed at this stage, but a date is fixed for the second reading.
At the “second reading” the bill is debated. When this second reading takes place, the member who has introduced the bill makes speech explaining the proposed new law and his reasons for bringing it forward4. Some members may support the bill, but others may oppose it. There may be a discussion. If the bill passes this stage it is sent to a Committee where details are discussed and amendments generally made.
Finally the bill is given a “third reading”. The House of Commons may be unanimous in favour of5 the bill or not. The Speaker must then call for a division6. If the bill has a majority of votes it will go before the House of Lords.
The House of Lords can not reject bills passed by the House of Commons. The Lords can merely delay7 bills which they don’t like.
A bill becomes an Act of Parliament when the Queen signs it.
Notes:
1 “first reading” – «первое чтение» (законопроекта)
2 to print – печатать
3 scarcely – редко
4 bringing forward – выдвижение
5 in favour of – в пользу
6 call for a division – призвать к голосованию
7 to delay – отсрочить
Exercise 16. Answer the question on text 4.
Exercise 17. Read text 5 and translate it into Russian in written form.
TEXT 5. POLITICAL PARTIES OF GREAT BRITAIN
Britain has a two-party system. From 1832 to 1918 the dominant parties were the Conservatives on the one hand and the Whigs1 or Liberals on the other. Later the Labour party backed by the trade unions replaced the Liberals as the main party of reform, and since 1924 the political scene has been dominated by the Conservative and Labour parties.
The Conservative party or the Tories is the party supported traditionally by the rich and the privileged – the monopolists and landowners. It expresses the interests and views of the propertied class.
The formation of the Labour party at the beginning of the century was a victory of the labour movement. But Labour Government showed no radical change in policy from the Tories. From the very beginning there were two main trends within the party – the left socialist trend represented by the party’s rank-and-file members2 and the right-wing trend represented by the party’s top leadership. In fact, it’s sometimes extremely difficult to tell the difference between the Labour and the Conservative policies.
The present day political scene is a combination of various political parties: the Conservatives, the Labour, the Liberal-Democratic party. The membership and parliamentary representation of the Liberal-Democratic party today is almost insignificant, although it does play a certain role in tipping the scales between the two largest parties: the Labour and the Conservatives.
The main way in which people exert influence over government is through political parties. These parties organize opinion on national issues, formulating policies which they feel will meet the wishes of as many people as possible.
Notes:
1 the Whigs – виги (историческое название Либеральной партии)
2 rank-and-file members – рядовые члены
Exercise 18. Answer the question on text 5.
1. What are the main political parties in Great Britain?
2. What are the dominant parties in modern Britain?
3. Is the role of the Liberal party today insignificant?
4. There is little difference between the Labour and the Conservative policies, isn’t there?
5. What is the ruling party in Great Britain now?