Government and Political System

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f98HtyjcWxE&feature=youtu.be

Lecture 2.

Government and Political System

“Every country has the government it deserves”

Joseph Marie de Maistre (1753-1821)

(a French-speaking philosopher, writer,

lawyer and diplomat – an ambassador [æm'bæsədə] to Russia)

The system of parliamentary government (далее g.) in B. is not based on a written constitution, but is the result of gradual evolution over many centuries. The Monarchy ['mɔnəki] is the oldest institution of g., dating back to at least the ninth century. Parliament ['pɑ:ləmənt] is one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world. Among the most significant recent developments in g. have been the steps taken to improve management.

The B. constitution, unlike that of most other countries, is not set out in any single document. Instead it is made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The constitution can be altered by Act of Parliament, or by general agreement, and is thus adaptable to changing political conditions.

The organs of g. overlap but can be clearly distinguished. Parliament is the legislature and the supreme authority. The executive consists of:

· the Government – the Cabinet and other Ministers responsible for national policies;

· government departments and agencies, responsible for national administration;

· local authorities, responsible for many local services; and

· public corporations, responsible for operating particular nationalised industries or other bodies, subject to ministerial control.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. A constitutional monarch is one who rules only with the support of Parliament.

The M. is the oldest institution of government. Queen Elizabeth II is herself directly descended from King Egbert, who united England under his rule in 829. The only interruption in the history of the M. was the republic, which lasted from 1649 to 1660.

Today the Queen is not only Head of State, but also an important symbol of national unity. The Q.’s title is ‘Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith’.

Although the seat of the M. is in B., the Q. is also head of state of a number of Commonwealth states.

The title to the crown is derived partly from statute and partly from common law rules of descent.

The Q. personifies the State. In law, she is head of the executive, an integral part of the legislature, head of the judiciary, the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the crown and the supreme governor of the established Church of England. As a result of a long process of evolution, during which the M.’s absolute power has been progressively reduced, the Q. acts on the advice of her ministers. The Q. takes part in some important acts. These include summoning, proroguing (discontinuing until the next session without dissolution) and dissolving Parliament; and giving Royal Assent to Bills passed by Parliament. The Queen also formally appoints many important office holders, including government Ministers, judges, officers in the armed forces, diplomats. She is also involved in pardoning people convicted of crimes; and in conferring peerages, knighthoods and other honours. In international affairs the Q. has the power to declare war and make peace, to recognise foreign states, to conclude treaties.

The Q. continues to play a role in the working of the g. She holds Privy Council ['prɪvɪ 'kauns(ə)l] meetings, gives audiences to her Ministers, read dispatches and signs state papers. She must be consulted on every aspect of national life, and must show complete impartiality.

Privy Council – Royal advisers, the Sovereign’s ['sɔvrɪn’z] own council, consisting of about 300 persons. It originated in Norman times as the council of the highest royal officials. Under the Tudors and the early Stuarts the PC became the chief governing body. It was replaced by the Cabinet of Ministers, who are granted membership in the PC automatically as an honour. Its power is now formal. It is presided over by the Lord President of the Council.

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