9 The Sovereign

The Queen is the official head of State and for many people a symbol of the unity of the nation. The Queen has a central role in state affairs, not only through her ceremonial functions, such as opening Parliament, but also because she meets the Prime Minister every week and receives copies of all Cabinet papers. However, she is expected to be impartial or “above politics”, and any advice she may offer the Prime Minister is kept secret.

Functions of the Sovereign:

• opening and closing Parliament

• approving the appointment of the Prime minister

• giving her Royal Assent to bills

• giving honours and medals

• Head of the Commonwealth

• Head of the Church of England

• Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (600)

Notes to the text:

Cabinet papers – документы Кабинета министров

she is expected to be impartial – от нее ожидают, что она беспристрастна

is kept secret – держится в секрете

giving her Royal Assent to bills – дает королевскую санкцию законопроектам

giving honours – раздает почести

Commonwealth – Британское содружество наций

Commander-in-chief – главнокомандующий

10 Political Parties

The main parties in the UK are the Conservative party (right wing), the Labour party (left wing) and the Liberal Democrats (centre).

The Conservative party goes back to the Tories, or Royalists, who originated in King Charles’ reign (1660-1685). The Tories were the party that supported Church and King. The other main party at that time was the Whigs, who were a group eager for political reform.

The Tory party gave way to its successor, the Conservative party in around 1830. The Conservative party believes in free enterprise and the importance of a capitalist economy, with private ownership preferred to state control.

In 1899 the Trade Union Congress summoned a special conference of trade unions and socialist bodies to make plans to represent labour in Parliament. The conference met in February 1900 in London and has always been looked at as the foundation of the Labour Party. The Labour party believes that private ownership and enterprise should be allowed to flourish, but not at the expense of traditional support of the public services.

The Liberal Democrats believe that the state should have some control over the economy, but that there should be individual ownership.

There are some other parties in the UK, like the Green party or the Scottish Nationalist party or the Welsh Nationalist Party. They also try to play some role in the policy of the government. (1200)

Notes to the text:

goes back to – берет начало от

originated – возникли

the Tories – Тори

the Whigs – Виги

eager for – стремящиеся к

free enterprise – свободное предпринимательство

trade union – профсоюз

socialist bodies – социалистические организации

not at the expense – не за счет

Part II

The United States of America