2015-05-26
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The House of Lords or the Upper House is composed of Church of England bishops and archbishops, peers who have inherited titles and peers who are appointed for life. Those members, who are qualified in the law, also sit as a court of law – the Supreme Court of Appeal in the United Kingdom. Half the present House of Lords hold peerages created during the 20th century. Peers are created by the monarch on the advice of Prime Minister of the day. Sometimes a prominent politician would be elevated; sometimes a leading civil servant who had served the ruling class well. More often sheer wealth has been the determining factor. It is thus not surprising that one-third of the Lords today are company directors. They include bankers, steel magnates, newspapers proprietors and industrialists of all kinds. The most powerful monopolies have their representatives in the House of Lords.
Once the House of Lords possessed the right of absolute veto over any legislation of which it disapproved. The Act of 1911 abolished the final veto. It left the Lords with one year’s delaying power. This means that the Lords can only reject a Bill once; if it then passes through the Commons in a second Session it can receive the Royal Assent.
At one end of the Chamber stands the Throne. In front of the Throne there is the Woolsack, where the Lord Chancellor sits as Speaker of the House of Lords. In front of the Woolsack are two red divans, where the Judges sit at the opening of Parliament. The Peers’ benches, covered in red leather, are arranged in five rows on either side of the House, Members of the Government and their supporters sitting to the right of the Throne, those of the Opposition to the left. The Bar of the House is at the north end of the chamber, opposite the Throne. The Commons with their speaker stand behind the bar on ceremonial occasions.
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Notes
1) on either side – по обе стороны;
2) the Supreme Court of Appeal – Высший апелляционный суд.
Learn the key words and expressions.
abolish – отменять
advice – совет
archbishop – архиепископ
be appointed for life – быть назначенным на всю жизнь
be composed of – состоять из
bishop – епископ
church – церковь
inherit – унаследовать
judge – судья
occasion – случай
possess – владеть
prominent – выдающийся
proprietor – владелец
receive – получать
representative – представитель
row – ряд
