The Commonwealth

Since 1945 Britain has given independence to about 50 countries. Nearly all are now members of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 46 states accounting for about a quarter of the world’s population. Commonwealth members share a common language, similar systems of law, and close professional, academic and commercial links.

They also represent a cross-section of mankind in all stages of political and economic development, their peoples being drawn from practically all the world’s main races and from all continents. The Queen is recognized as head of the Commonwealth, and head of State in 17 member countries.

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1. A permanent member of the Security Council, Britain doesn’t make support for the United Nations a central feature in pursuit of its foreign police objectives.

2. A permanent member of the Security Council, Britain makes support for the United Nations a central feature in pursuit of its foreign policy objective.

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The Political Party System

The present system relies upon the existence of organized political parties. Most candidates in elections, and almost all winning candidates, belong to one of the main parties.

For the last 150 years a two-party system has operated and since 1945 either the Conservative Party, which can trace (проследить) its origin (происхождение) to the eighteenth century, or the Labour Party, which emerged (появиться) in the decade of the nineteenth century, has held power. A new party – the Social and Liberal Democrats (now known as the Liberal Democrats) – was formed in 1988 when members of the Liberal Party (which could trace its origins to the eighteenth century) merged (слиться) with members of the Social Democratic Party, which was itself formed in 1981.

Other parties include two nationalistic parties, Plaid Cymru (founded in Wales in 1925) and the Scottish National Party (founded in 1934). In Northern Ireland there are a number of parties; the largest of those represented in the House of Commons is the Ulster Unionist Party, which was formed in the early part of this century, and the Democratic Unionist Party, founded (основывать) in 1971 by group which broke away from the Ulster Unionists.