I. Fill in the blanks with the correct words.

1. And those rules of the Constitution which do exist in writing often differ greatly from ___constitutional practice.

2. There are two kinds of rules by which Great Britain is governed: rules of ___and rules of___.

3. The Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement established that the king did not rule by a ___right from God, but by approval of Parliament.

4. After a general election the monarch would ask anyone but the leader of the majority party to form a new government, for it is a ___to do this.

5. And a departure from custom in such an important matter would be as serious in its effect as ___the law would be.

6. Although the Queen is deprived of ___ power, she has retained many important, though formal, ___.

7. She (the Queen) ___ and ___ Parliament, gives approval to Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament.

8. She (the Queen) gives ___ to her ministers and other officials at home and overseas, receives ___ of Cabinet decisions.

9. Great Britain has been able to maintain close, continuing relations with the Commonwealth, former British ___ , which have become independent both in ___and practice.

10. Conference ___have no legal effect, unless adopted by the individual countries.

II. Complete the sentences with the best answer (a, bore).

1. The Parliament Act of 1911 deprived the Lords of much of their power, so that the House of Lords ceased to be a determining factor in

a) government.

b) legislation.

c) law making.

2. Many principles of the British Constitution by which Britain is governed are principles of the

a) rules of custom.

b) rules of law.

c) precedent.

3. The constitutional history of Great Britain shows growth of individual rights and liberties based not so much on law but on the ideas of

a) traditional freedoms and traditional practices.

b) traditional institutions.

c) traditional habits.

4. She (the Queen) may exercise her powers only on the advice of her ministers, who are responsible politically to the

a) Prime Minister.

b) Crown.

c) Parliament.

5. The Commonwealth does not formulate central policies on

a) political affairs .

b) economic affairs.

c) economic and foreign affairs.

6. The Commonwealth is not a federation, because there is no

a) common Constitution.

b) common legislation.

c) central government.

III. Are the statements true or false? Correct the false statements.

1. Two characteristics of the British Constitution confuse most foreigners: there is no written constitution, it is not contained in any single document.

2. A great majority of these acts were passed by Parliament, but a document like Magna Charta is considered to be a part of the Constitution simply because it represents a great landmark in national history: it stated the principle that the king was subject not to the law but above the law.

3. The British sovereign can marry a Roman Catholic.

4. Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy, and the Crown is a permanent and continuous institution.

5. As head of State the Queen, in international affairs, has no power to declare war and make peace, to recognize foreign states and governments, to conclude treaties.

6. The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth of Nations where she is represented by the Governor-General appointed by her on the advice of the government of the country concerned.

7. The Commonwealth formulates central policies on economic and foreign affairs.

8. The meeting of Prime Ministers is a means of consultation, not a formal organ for reaching decisions.