UNIT 4
THE UK: FOLLOWING THE DEMOCRATIC TRADITION
Communication: British political life
Grammar Focus: the Gerund
Language use: Making suggestions
4.1. BRITAIN ON THE POLITICAL SCENE
Part A
READING AND SPEAKING
Think ahead
Answer the following questions.
Does Britain have a written constitution?
Why is the United Kingdom thought to be a democracy?
Do you think the British political system has a long history?
Who has more power: the monarch or the Prime Minister?
Do you know any famous British politicians?
Ex.1. Study the description of the British constitution. Note all the unique aspects of the British constitutional process.
On british constitution
As is known, a constitution, in politics, is a fundamental system of law, written or unwritten, of a sovereign state. It is commonly established or accepted as a guide for governing the state. A constitution fixes the limits and defines the relations of the legislative, judicial, and executive powers of the state. In this fashion, constitutions set up the basis for government and provide guarantees of certain rights to the people.
As regards constitutions, tradition varies in different countries. For instance, the United States has a written constitution. Unlike the USA, the United Kingdom has an unwritten constitution rooted in historic traditions and principles of liberty. It embodies numerous documents and customs defining the relationship of the Crown, the Parliament, and the courts to the citizens.
Not being a systematic written statement of law, the English constitution nevertheless consists of a body of law, customs, and judicial interpretations. As an example, English law makes no provision for so essential a feature of the British government as the cabinet. The cabinet originated in the XV century as an advisory council to the king, and developed, in connection with the rise of representative government, to its present status as the executive branch of the government.
Moreover, unlike constitutions that make explicit provision for their amendment and are often difficult to change, the English constitution may be changed easily. It may be altered, and it has been altered, through the slow accretion of custom, by an act of Parliament, or by judicial interpretation.
Historians emphasize the antiquity and flexibility of the English constitution. Its uninterrupted development may be traced over a period of more than 900 years, from the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Throughout this period it remained adaptable, serving in turn the needs of medieval society and the rule of the bourgeoisie who established representative government and the former British Empire. It is now compatible with such recent liberal measures as comprehensive social insurance and the nationalization of basic industries.
Ex.2. Skim the text and explain the message of the title.
The mother of parliaments
British Parliament is the supreme legislature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists, technically, of the Crown, the House of Lords, and House of Commons, but in common usage only of the last two. Today the main part is the House of Commons; its members alone are called members of Parliament or MP's. Parliament is the legislative branch of government.
No statute may become law or be altered without its consent. Thus, all powers of local government derive from Parliamentary acts. Cabinet members, including the prime minister, are members of one house or the other and are collectively responsible to the House of Commons.
The House of Commons has 659 members, elected from equal-size districts by British citizens at least 18 years old. The maximum life of a Parliament is five years. The House of Lords, with about 1200 members, is made up of the bishops of the Church of England and the hereditary and life peers, all of whom are appointed by the Crown. Its power, once equal to that of the Commons, was later limited.
Parliament is one of the oldest and most honored parts of the British government. Britain’s legislature, sometimes called the Mother of Parliaments, has been the model for legislative assemblies in many other countries. Its name, from the French word parler (“to talk”), was given to meetings of the English king’s council in the mid-13th century. It was a device resorted to by the medieval kings to help them run their governments and it reflected the idea that the king should consult with his subjects. Yet it was only in the 19th century that the House of Commons became democratic. Various Acts created equal electoral districts and weakened the House of Lords. Moreover, after a long and bitter struggle suffrage also became universal.
Ex.3. Read and role-play a conversation with a British activist. Explain the role of such campaigns in political life.
A. How do you do? I suggest we start with the name of your organization and what it is involved in.
B. That’s a good idea! Well, the name is Waste Watch. In fact, it is an environmental charity that inspires people to waste less.
A. Is it such a pressing issue?
B. It certainly is. Waste is one of the sources of environmental pollution. In a perfect world, there should be no waste.
A. Let’s talk about how your campaign works. Is it a registered organization?
B. Surely. It is a registered charity that was founded more than twenty years ago. It works with community groups and other not-for-profit organizations. It encourages people to waste less.
A. Wouldn’t it be better just to let the local government do the job?
B. Sounds like a good but very unpractical idea. The government can’t have everything under control. Sometimes it is necessary to lobby the Parliament to make certain steps in the right direction. Moreover, this problem concerns people’s way of thinking. That is why Rethink Rubbish campaign was started, for example.
A. What is the aim of the campaign?
B. The aim is to reach as many people as we can. Our activists visit schools and arrange performances. These involve story-telling with theatrical props and quizzes, and follow-up activities for the school. They show pupils how they can put reducing, reusing and recycling into practice at home and at school.
A. Thank you very much for this conversation.
Ex.4. Study the names of some political parties active on the British political scene. What do the names say about their activities? Give reasons.
British Labour Party Conservative Party
Democratic Unionist Party Green Party
Referendum Party Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish National Party UK Independence Party
Ex.5. Survey the extract from a political speech by the Speaker for the Green Party of Great Britain. Define the most important ‘green’ problem for Britain.
You may probably know that the British Government has admitted it will fail to meet its target to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010. The Government is sleepwalking into a climate disaster, and we need strong leadership and radical action to avoid its worst impacts. If we are to stand any chance of preventing devastating climate change we must cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 90 per cent by 2050. To do that we'll need a revolution in the way we run our economy, the way we measure human welfare, and the way we produce and consume. The Government's climate change review is expected to call for individuals to take greater personal responsibility for reducing emissions to help close the gap. The admission of failure breaks a commitment made in each of Labour’s last three election manifestos, and comes in the context of carbon dioxide emissions having actually risen since Labour came into office in 1997. The Labour government likes to talk about doing something about climate change while pursuing the very policies that produce such emissions – road-building, airport expansion and encouraging low-cost airlines, private transport and free international trade. Yet the climate change is a disaster which, like most disasters, will hit the poorest hardest. Individuals can't be expected to take responsibility for reducing the UK's carbon dioxide emissions unless the Government establishes regulations to encourage them to do so. The Government must take steps to improve the affairs in the aviation sector – the fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gas emissions – and promote energy demand reduction, better public transport and massive investment in renewable energy generation.
Ex.6. Survey the text. Speak about the attitude of British people towards European integration.