State System of Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a parliamentary monarchy. This means that Great Britain is governed by the Parliament and the Queen is the Head of the State.

The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Houses of Parliament. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons, of which the latter with elected members presided over by the Speaker.

The House of Lords is presided over by the Lord Chancellor and is formed partly on a hereditary basis. The House of Lords is composed of hereditary and life peers and peeresses.

In the House of Commons there are 635 members: 516 from England, 71 from Scotland, 36 from Wales and 12 from Northern Ireland. The members of the House of Commons are elected by people. They are elected by secret ballot in each of the geographical areas known as constituencies, by men and women aged 18 and over. Elections must be held at least every five years but may be held more often. They are elected from the constituencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the United Kingdom.

The executive power is exercised by Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The government is usually formed by the political party which is supported by the majority in the House of Commons. Prime Minister is the majority party leader and is appointed by the Queen. Prime Minister chooses a team of ministers from members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords; twenty of the ministers are in the Cabinet.

The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and the Shadow Cabinet. The two leading parties in Great Britain are the Conservative Party (the Tories) and the Labour Party (the Whigs). Since the end of World War I only the Conservative and Labour Parties have held power. The two-party system means that, if one is dissatisfied with the Government, one vote for the Opposition.

The judiciary branch of the government determines common law and is independent of both the legislative and the executive branches.

There is no written constitution in Great Britain, only precedents and traditions.

The Queen does not take part in politics, but the country is governed in her name. She formally summons Parliament and her Royal Assent is needed before any Bill (a measure to change an existing law or make a new one). Queen Elisabeth the Second lives in Buckingham Palace.

Topical Vocabulary

Exercises

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