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Political System
The political system of the United Kingdom has provided stability and consistency (послідовність; логічність) since the 19th century through a structure that has evolved (розвивати(ся); еволюціонувати) rather than been designed (обдуманий, навмисний; призначений;). The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy dominated by the monarchy which links the executive ([ɪg'zekjʊtɪv] виконавчий), legislature (['leʤɪsleɪʧə] 1) законодавча влада), judiciary ([ʤuː'dɪʃ(ə)rɪ] суд; судова влада (система), armed forces, and Church of England.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. Its constitution is partly unwritten and is flexible (поступливий, податливий). Its basic sources (джерело) are parliamentary and European Union legislation, the European Convention on Human Rights, and decisions by courts of law. Matters for which there is no formal law follow precedents that are always open to development or modification (зміна; коригування).
Although in practice almost all responsibilities (обов'язок, зобов'язання) are deferred (відстрочений; відбракований, перенесений на пізніший строк (термін)), the monarch and the royal family are a source of unity and national spirit. The reigning (царюючий) monarch is permanent (незмінний) head of state. The United Kingdom is governed (керований)by Her Majesty's Government in the name of the Queen. Royal powers are largely honorific (почесний, шанобливий); for instance, the right to veto (забороняти) legislative acts has not been exercised (виконувати) since the early 18th century. But there are still many important acts which require the participation (участь) of the Queen. The Queen summons (скликати), prorogues ([prə(ʊ)'rəug] призначати перерву в роботі парламенту) and dissolves (розпускати) Parliament. Normally she opens the new session with a speech from the throne which outlines her Government's programme. The Queen confers (надавати, ступінь,обговорювати; радитися,порівнювати) peerages, knighthoods (['naɪthʊd] лицарське звання) and other honours (відзнаки). She makes appointments (призначення) to many important state offices (держ.служби). An important function of the sovereign (держава) is the appointment of a Prime Minister.
Legislative power is vested (закріплений, належить) in Parliament, which comprises (охоплювати) the monarch, the mainly appointive House of Lords (палата лордів), and the elected House of Commons (палата громад).
The members of the House of Commons are elected to five-year terms, although the Prime Minister may call general elections at any time. Each member of the House of Commons (member of Parliament; MP) represents an individual constituency (district) by virtue of winning a plurality of votes in the constituency (виборці, виборчий округ).
There are 650 members in the House of Commons (most of them are professional politicians, lawyers, etc.) Important members in the House of Commons are the Speaker who is the Chairman (голова) of the House of Commons and arranges (приводити до ладу) each day programme in Parliament, and the so-called party whips. The Speaker sits in the Speaker’s Chair at the end of the Table of the House. The Government sits to the Speaker's right and the Opposition to the Speaker's left. It is the Speaker's duty to keep order in debate and to call MPs to speak. The MP selected must address the Chair, and must refer to other MPs by their constituency or to Ministers by their office. “Whips” are party organizers who enforce party discipline and secure the attendance of party members at important sessions. There is seating accommodation (including the side galleries) for only 437 MPs, which is why you may see MPs standing around the Speaker’s Chair during major debates and statements.They come and go because they are often wanted on business in other parts of the building, but during important debates they remain in the House, and the sittings may go on until late at night.
The House of Commons examines and passes proposals for new laws known as "bills" presented to Parliament by the Government. The Government cannot simply legislate on its own - it requires the approval (схвалення) of the House of Commons and the House of Lords for new laws (though the House of Lords has no say in financial measures).
Bills are usually amended (змінений, виправлений, із внесеними поправками) during their passage through both Houses; the main stages of the bill's progress in each House are known as "readings". Nowadays the first reading is a formality. Only the title of the bill is mentioned, and then it is printed in full for members of the House of Commons to read and think before the second reading. On the second reading if the House is not unanimous in favour of the bill, a vote has to be taken. A bell is rung so that all the members may come and vote. The members leave their benches and walk out into the appropriate "Aye" or "No" lobby. As they walk out, they are counted by four tellers - two for each side - and it may take 10 or 15 minutes before the tellersannounce the results of the division (vote) to the Speaker or Chairman.
After passing the second reading stage the bill (законопроект) must go to a committee (комітет) for a detailed examination mostly carried out in Standing Committees. After proposals and amendments (виправлення) are made, the bill is ready for the third reading. If the majority(більшість) of MPs is for the bill, it is sent to the House of Lords for discussion. When the Lords agree, the Queen signs, and the Great Seal (печатка.клеймо) is fixed. The bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
A major role of the House of Commons is to subject (підпорядковувати) the policies and actions of the Government to public scrutiny (публічний огляд). The Government runs the country but Parliament holds the Government to account. When Government Ministers make statements (звітувати) in the House of Commons, they are interrogated by the Opposition and by individual Members of all parties. MPs can also question Ministers directly during the periods given over to question time in the House of Commons. Written questions are also put to Ministers and the answers are included in the published Official Report of proceedings.
MPs spend some time each week working in their constituency and dealing with constituents' problems. An MP will often be able to advise on how to address a particular issue and may write to the relevant (доречний, актуальний) authority or Minister on behalf of a constituent (заради виборця). MPs can also raise local or personal issues in a variety of ways in the House of Commons
One of the most familiar images of the House of Lords is the State Opening of Parliament by Her Majesty the Queen. This is a splendid and colourful ceremonial occasion. The Queen's Speech (written by the Government) sets out Parliament's working agenda (порядок денний) for the coming year.The House has existed (існувати) as a separate chamber of Parliament since the 14th century, and is part of the oldest parliamentary democracy in the world. It is also one of the busiest, second only to the House of Commons in the number of days and hours it sits.
Until 1999 the House of Lords consisted mainly of hereditary peers (спадкові пери). In October 1999 decision was made to decrease the number of peers to participate (брати участь) in lawmaking, to abolish (відмінити) hereditary peers, and to introduce elected peers and new powers for the Lords to hold Cabinet ministers to account. The number of elected peers is to be about 100. Existing life peers will remain until their death. The historic representation of the Church of England in the Lords will be maintained but the number of bishops will be cut to 16. Unlike MPs, Lords are unelected and unpaid, except for certain allowances to cover attendance which is voluntary. There is no upper limit on the total number of members. Currently there are about 760 members
The House plays a key role in revising legislation sent from the Commons. The Lords spends about two-thirds of its time revising (перевірка) or initiating (прийняття) legislation (законодавство). It acts as a check on the Government. Members question the Government orally or by written questions, they debate policy issues and scrutinize (старанно досліджувати) secondary legislation. It acts as a final Court of Appeal (апеляційний суд).
The Chairman of the House of Lords is Lord Chancellor who sits on a special seat called the Woolsack, which is stuffed with wool (шерсть) from England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the countries of the Commonwealth. Lord Chancellor is also a Cabinet minister and Head of the Judiciary. Lord Chancelloris the Speaker of the House but, unlike the Speaker of the House of Commons, has no power to control proceedings. The House regulates itself under the guidance of the Leader of the House who, as well as leading the party in government, has a responsibility to the House as a whole.
The sovereign is now restricted to the mere formal act of inviting the head of the Parliament's majority party to form a government. The Queen appoints the leader of this party as Prime minister. Executive power is wielded by the Prime Minister and the cabinet chosen by the Prime Minister from MPs in his or her party. The prime minister ultimately determines government policy, and all measures decided upon at meetings of the Cabinet must be approved by him. Finally, it is the prime minister who advises the sovereign to dissolve Parliament in preparation for a general election, a step necessary if his legislative programs are decisively defeated in the House of Commons.
The Cabinet is a kind of “Inner government” within the Government. The prime minister must put together a cabinet that represents and balances the various factions within his own party (or within a coalition of parties). Most cabinet ministers are heads of government departments. The cabinet plans and lays before Parliament all important bills. While the cabinet thus controls the lawmaking machinery, it is also subject to Parliament; it must expound and defend its policy in debate, and its continuation in office depends on the support of the House of Commons. Cabinet members must all be members of Parliament, as must the prime minister himself. The members of a cabinet head the principal government departments, or ministries, such as home affairs, foreign affairs, and the Exchequer (treasury). Cabinet members can freely disagree with each other within the secrecy of cabinet meetings, but once a decision has been reached, all are obligated to support the cabinet's policies, both in the Commons and before the general public. The loss of a vote of confidence or the defeat of a major legislative bill in the Commons can mean a cabinet's fall from power and the collective resignation of its members. The cabinet usually meets in the prime minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street in London.
Policies are carried out by government departments and executive agencies staffed by politically neutral civil servants. They serve the government of the day regardless of its political complexion. About 295,000 civil servants work in over 75 executive agencies.
The second largest party forms the official Opposition, with its own leader and 'shadow cabinet'. The Opposition has a duty to challenge government policies and to present an alternative programme.
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