Text 3.

Task 1. Read and translate the text

The Governmental Model in the uk

The governmental model that operates in Britain today is usually described as constitutional monarchy, or parliamentary system. While a monarch still has a role to play on some executive and legislative levels, it is Parliament, which possesses the essential power, and the government of the day, which governs by initiating and controlling political policy and legislation. The correct constitutional definition of Parliament is “Queen-in-Parliament”, and all state and governmental business is therefore carried out in the name of the monarch by the politicians and officials of the system.

In constitutional theory the British people hold the political sovereignty to choose their government, while Parliament, consisting partly of their elected representatives in the Commons, possesses the legal sovereignty to make laws.

The various branches of this political system, although easily distinguishable from each other, are not entirely separate. The monarch is formally head of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

The legislature, which consists of both Houses of Parliament and formally the monarch, is for most purposes the supreme law-making body.

The executive comprises the sitting government and its Cabinet, together with government ministers of departments headed by ministers or secretaries of state, who all act formally in the name of the monarch.

The judiciary is composed mainly of the judges of the higher courts, who determine the common law and interpret Acts of Parliament. The judiciary is supposed to be independent of the legislative and executive branches of government.

Task 2. Answer these questions in a written form

1. What role does the Sovereign play in constitutional monarchy?

2. Why are the branches of the British political system not entirely separate?

3. What are the functions of the three branches of power?

Text 4.

Task 1. Translate the text

Members of Parliament in Great Britain

Each Member of Parliament (MP) represents one of 650 constituencies in the UK. British elections are usually fought between political parties, not individuals. Therefore, people who want to be elected to Parliament need to be nominated by one of the main political parties.

There is nothing to stop unconventional candidates from standing for election, however. A candidate has only to put down a deposit of 500 pounds and collect ten signatures from residents in the constituency where he wants to stand. A candidate who gets less than 5 per cent of the total votes loses his deposit. For somebody who is standing for election for publicity purposes, this is a small price to pay.

Although MPs will support a particular party, they are not controlled by that political party and theoretically do not have to vote with their party in Parliament. MPs represent everyone in the constituency, not just the people who voted for them.

A lot of MPs’ work has nothing to do with voting in Parliament. There are hundreds of things MPs have to deal with in the day-to-day business of constituency life, such as housing or health care. MPs are there to help people and to try to make sure their rights under the law are not violated.

Some MPs hold an advice bureau in their constituencies where people can go for advice. Anyone who feels that he has been unfairly treated by the central government can complain to their local MP who will do his best to see that the problem is solved. Members of Parliament have been paid salaries since 1911. The rate has lately been nearly twice the average industrial worker’s wages. Since 1965 the allowances for travel, living in London and paying part-time secretaries and research assistants have all been increased. Still many MPs insist that they need to have outside earnings through journalism work in the law courts or business, to enable them to live up to the standard they expect.

Task 2. Match Russian phrases with their English equivalents

- участвовать в избирательной компании в рекламных целях

- баллотироваться в своем избирательном округе

- выдвинуть свою кандидатуру от партии

- собирать подписи

- средняя зарплата рабочего

- нарушать права

- обращаться за советом

Task 3. Choose the right variant

1.The United Kingdom is divided into 650 parliamentary………

a. opposition

b.classes

c. constituencies

2. A candidate who gets less than 5% of the total loses his ….

a. vote

b. deposit

c. power

3. A person who gas been unfairly treated by the central government can …. To his/her local MP.

a. complain

b. help

c. ask for advice

4. It is impossible for MPs to help people and try to make sure their rights under the law are not …..

a. followed

b. violated

c. treated

Task 4. Make the sentences

1. British elections/ fought/ political parties/ not.

2. Candidate/ put down/ pounds/ signatures/ residents/ to stand.

3. Represent/ in / constituency/ people/ voted.

4. There/ hundreds/ to deal / day-to-day/ constituency/ life.

5. Parliament/ have/ paid/ since.

Task 5. Are these statements true or false?

1. People who want to be elected to Parliament need to be nominated by three political parties.

2. A candidate who gets less than 5% of the total votes loses his deposit.

3. Mps represent people who voted for them.

4. MPs try to make sure their rights under the law are not violated.

5. Anyone who feels that he has been unfairly treated by the central government can complain to the Queen.

6. Many MPs insist that they need to have outside earnings.

Task 6. Make up the questions that correspond to the following answers

1. Each Member of Parliament (MP) represents one of 650 constituencies in the UK.

2. There is nothing to stop unconventional candidates from standing for election.

3. MPs will support a particular party.

4. MPs have to deal with housing, health care, and other of day-to-day business.

5. Some MPs hold an advice bureau in their constituencies.