Vocabulary

apply the law v применять закон

cabinet n кабинет (министров)

check n препятствие

confidence n доверие

by convention по соглашению, обычно

dismiss v увольнять

enforce laws v обеспечивать соблюдение и исполнение законов

entirely adv всецело, вполне, совсем, совершенно

essential adj существенный

execute v исполнять, выполнять (закон)

executive adj исполнительный

general election всеобщие выборы

govern v управлять

government of the day существующее правительство

higher court n вышестоящий суд

highest judges n верховные судьи

initiate v предлагать

interpret the law v толковать закон

invalid adj 1 юридически недействительный; 2 не имеющий силы

judicial adj судебный

judiciary n 1 отправление правосудия; 2 судопроизводство

law-making adj законодательный, нормоустановительный

legislative adj законодательный

misbehaviour n дурное, недостойное поведение

monarch n монарх

monarchy n монархия

overpowerful adj обладающий чрезмерной властью

Queen-in-Parliament «королева в парламенте», законодательная власть

(в Великобритании)

resign v уходить в отставку

Secretary of State n министр (для большинства министров, входящих в кабинет)

separation of powers n разделение властей

Reading tasks

A Answer these questions.

1. What type of government operates in Britain?

2. Why aren’t the branches of the British political system entirely separate?

3. What does each branch consist of?

4. Why was it necessary to adopt the principle of separation of powers?

5. What are three main functions of the state?

6. Why are the legislature and executive interdependent in Britain?

7. Are the judges separate in Britain?

B Mark these statements T (true) or F (false) according to the information in the text.

1. The branches of the British government are entirely separate.

2. The principle of separation of powers existed from time immemorial.

3. The balance between separate institutions carrying out different functions is necessary.

4. The legislative, the executive and the judicial powers in Britain are separated.

5. The executive government includes ministers and judges.

6. The House of Commons and the government are interdependent.

7. The Queen can dismiss the highest judges after the legislature’s demand.

8. The judges in Britain are as independent as in the USA.

Language focus

Complete these sentences with the comparative or superlative forms of adjectives in brackets.

1. It is not easy to give a comprehensive description of the term “government”. Still _______ (difficult) is to understand the structure and operation of the whole machinery of the executive government.

2. There are no _______ (little) than two major British institutions that are involved in the executive process.

3. The French political philosopher Montesquieu developed _______ (important) principle of the formation of any government.

4. The _______ (high) judges are members of the House of Lords.

5. The independence of judges in Britain is _______ (little) important than it is in the USA.

6. One can’t say which of the three branches is _______ (powerful) in Britain.