The UK government (1, 800)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a parliamentary monarchy. This means that the power of the British monarch is limited by Parliament, in other words, the monarch reigns with the support of Parliament.

The organs of government in the United Kingdom are:

- the legislature, which consists of the Queen in Parliament, and is the supreme authority of the state;

- the executive power, which consists of: a) the Cabinet and other ministers of the Crown, who are responsible for initiating and directing national policy; b) Government departments, most of them under the control of ministers, and all staffed by civil servants, who are responsible for administration at the national level; c) local authorities, who administer and manage many services at the local level; and d) statutory boards, which are responsible for the operation of particular nationalized industries or public services;

- the judiciary, which determines common law and interprets statutes.

So, the legislative power belongs to Parliament which consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The main function of the Parliament is law-making. The party that obtains the majority of seats in the House is called the Government, and the others are the Opposition.

The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party that has a majority in the House of Commons. All the affairs of the state are conducted in the name of the Queen (or King), but it is the Prime Minister, who is the ruler of the country. He is responsible for every measure submitted to Parliament. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and ministers.

Any Member of Parliament (M.P.) may introduce a Bill and ask permission to bring it to the notice of the House. When permission has been obtained, the Bill is brought before the House for the first reading. There is no debate after the first reading. When the second reading takes place, the Member who has introduced the Bill makes his speech, explaining the proposed new law and his reasons for bringing it forward. Other Members may support the Bill or oppose it.

After the third reading the Bill goes before the House of Lords. If the Lords agree to the Bill, it will be placed before the Queen for signature. The Queen having signed it, it becomes an Act of Parliament.

Notes

1) bring to the notice – давать на рассмотрение;

2) it is the Prime Minister, who is the ruler of the country – именно премьер-министр правит страной;

3) make speech – произносить речь;

4) statutory boards – законодательные власти.