I. Read and translate the text. Use the dictionary if necessary.

Introductory article.

The politics of the United Kingdom, one of the oldest democracies in the world, take place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by Her Majesty's Government, on behalf of and by the consent of the Monarch, as well as by the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales, and the Executive of Northern Ireland. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as in the Scottish parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The highest national court is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

The UK political system is a multi-party system. Since the 1920s, the two largest political parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. Before the Labour Party rose in British politics the Liberal Party was the other major political party along with the Conservatives. Though coalition and minority governments have been an occasional feature of parliamentary politics, the electoral system used for general elections tends to maintain the dominance of these two parties, though each has in the past century relied upon a third party to deliver a working majority in Parliament.

Support for nationalist parties in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales led to proposals for devolution in the 1970s though only in the 1990s did devolution actually happen. Today, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each possess a legislature and government alongside that of the United Kingdom, responsible for devolved matters. However, it is a matter of dispute as to whether increased autonomy and devolution of executive and legislative powers has contributed to a reduction in support for independence. The principal pro-independence party, the Scottish National Party, won an overall majority at the 2011 Scottish parliament elections and now forms the Scottish Government administration, with plans to hold a referendum on negotiating for independence. In Northern Ireland, the largest Pro-Belfast Agreement party, Sinn Féin, not only advocates Northern Ireland's unification with the Republic of Ireland, but also abstains from taking their elected seats in the Westminster government.

Unique throughout the world, the British constitution is not codified: it is a collection of legislation going back to medieval times.

Vocabulary:

1. politicsn – политическая жизнь, политика

2. within the framework – врамках

3. executive power – исполнительнаявласть

4. on behalf of and by the consent – отименииссогласия

5. devolve v - передавать полномочия

6. vest in v – облекать, возлагать

7. Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies – НациональныеСобранияУэльсаиСевернойИрландии

8. thejudiciary – судебная ветвь власти

9. thelegislature – законодательная ветвь власти

10. the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom – ВерховныйСудСоединенногоКоролевства

11. minority governments – правительстваменьшинства

12. maintainthedominance – поддерживать превосходство

13. a matter of dispute – спорныйвопрос

14. holdareferendum – проводить референдум

15. negotiatingforindependence – голосование за независимость

16. unification n - объединение

17. advocate v - защищать

18. abstainv(from) – воздерживаться от ч-л

19. codifyv, codified – кодифицировать, кодифицированный

20. medievaltimes – средние века

Assignments.

I. Read and translate the text. Use the dictionary if necessary.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the political and state system of the UK?

2. Is the Monarch the head of state or the government?

3. What bodies exercise the executive power?

4. What institutions is legislative power vested in?

6. What is the highest national court of the UK?

7. What are the largest political parties of the UK?

8.Are there any nationalist parties in the UK?

Text 1.

Vocabulary

1. govern v – управлять, править

2. politician n – политик

3. refertov – (зд.) относиться к

4. monarch n – монарх

5. responsibility n – ответственность, поручение

6. rankn – (зд.) служебное положение

7. singlepartygovernment - однопартийное правительство

8. coalition n – коалиция

9. minority / majoritypartygovernment – правительство партии меньшинства / большинства

10. resignv – уйти в отставку

11. run v – (зд.) управлять

12. criticize v – критиковать

13. manage v – управлять, руководить

Assignments to Text 1

I. Practice the pronounciation of the following words:

- politician, coalition, responsibility, the House of Commons, majority, minority, junior, private, electoral, monarch, media

- to refer, to criticize, to govern, to manage, to involve, to happen, to concern, to resign

II. Form the nouns and adjectives from the following verbs, using suffixes: -ment, -tion, -ive

- to govern

- to appoint

- to limit

- to elect

- to involve

- to form

- to resign

- to collect

III. Translate the following sentences from the text into Russian. Define the type of clauses. Pay attention to the Tense and the Voice of the verbs:

1. The term “the government” can be used to refer to all of the politicians who have been appointed by the monarch to help run government departments.

2. Although there are various ranks, each with their own titles members of the government are usually known as “ministers”.

3. Unlike in the USA and in some other countries in Europe, it is rare for a person outside Parliament to become a minister.

4. The habit of single-party government has helped to establish the tradition known as collective responsibility.

5. Individual government members may hold different opinions, but they are expected to keep these private.

6. Partly as a result of the electoral system, Britain, unlike much of western Europe, normally has ‘single-party government’.

7. Since the formation of modern political parties in the nineteenth century, Britain has had a total of twenty-one years of coalition government.

8. By convention, no member of the government can criticize government policy in public.

9. And when this does happen, the person concerned is quickly found a seat in one of the two Houses.

IV. Open the brackets using the verbs in proper tense and voice according to the text (according to the text):

1. The other meaning of the term ‘the government’ (to be) more limited.

2. There (to be) normally about a hundred members of ‘the government’.

3. British politicians (to regard) coalition government as a bad idea.

4. The person concerned (to find) quickly a seat in one of the two Houses.

5. Even when, for brief periods of time, no single party had a majority of seats in the House of Commons, no coalition (to form).

6. There (to be) a ‘minority government’ instead a coalition one.

7. Who (to govern) Britain?

8. All members of the government (to belong) to the same political party.

9. The term ‘the government’ (can, to use) to refer to all of the politicians who (to appoint) by the monarch.

10. The habit of single-party government (to help) to establish the tradition known as collective responsibility.

V. Find the English equivalents in the text to the following Russian words and word combinations:

1. относится к политикам, кто …

2. управлять департаментами

3. деятельность парламента

4. влиятельные политики

5. место (в парламенте)

6. средства массовой информации

7. выборная система

8. критиковать

9. публично

10. главы департаментов

11. в отличие от США

12. придерживаться различных мнений

13. формировать коалицию

14. уйти в отставку

VI. Insert prepositions if necessary:

1. The term ‘the government’ can be used to refer … all of the politicians who have been appointed … the monarch.

2. Who governs … Britain?

3. … the formation … modern political parties in the 19-th century, Britain has had a total … only twenty-one years of coalition governments.

4. Every member of the government shares the responsibility … every policy made … the government.

5. No member of the government can criticize government policy … public.

6. All members of the government belong … the same political party.

7. All ministers come … the ranks of Parliament, most … them … the House of Commons.

8. When the media talk … ‘the government’ they usually mean … one of two things.

9. Unlike … the USA and in some other countries … Europe, it is rare … a person … outside Parliament to become a minister.

10. Every member of the government did not play any part … making policies made … the government.

VII. Match the following words to form word combinations from the text:

 

1. Various 2. Powerful 3. The heads of 4. Single-party 5. Political 6. “miniority” 7. collective 8. a majority of 9. electoral 10. different

a. seats b. special responsibilities c. government d. party e. government f. responsibility g. government departments h. politicians i. opinions j. system

VIII. Answer the following questions:

1. What do the media mean when they talk about ‘the government’?

2. Who can the term ‘the government’ be referred to?

3. How many members of ‘the government’ are there in this sense?

4. Where do all ministers usually come from?

5. What happens when a person from outside Parliament becomes a minister?

6. Why is the other meaning of the term ‘the government’ more limited?

7. Who are the most powerful of these politicians?

8. Does Britain normally have ‘single-party government’?

9. Were there any periods of coalition governments in British history?

10. Who shares the responsibility for every policy made by the government?

IX. Say whether the following statements are true or false.

1. The term ‘the government’ usually has one meaning when the media talk about it.

2. All ministers come from the ranks of Parliament.

3. It is usual for a person from outside Parliament to become a minister.

4. The other meaning of the term ‘the government’ is more limited.

5. There are strict rules about the number of members in the cabinet.

6. Usually most of the cabinet members are the heads of the government departments.

7. British politicians have regarded coalition government a good idea.

8. In British history there are long periods of coalition governments.

9. By convention no member of the government can criticize government politicy in public.

10. Members of the government do not share the responsibility for every policy made by the government.

X. Read the following definitions of the words. Find the corresponding words in the text:

- a position in a series of different levels

- a temporary alliance, especially of two or more political parties in order to form a government

- a government comprising members of only one party

- to give up a job or a position

- to be in charge of smth.

- something for which a person is responsible

- the group of people who are in charge of the public affairs of a country

- to choose a person for a job

- a person who is involved in politics

XI. Find a “key-sentence” in each paragraph.

XII. Give a summary of the text. Try to answer to the question ‘Who governs Britain?’

XIII. Translate into English:

 

1. Термин «правительство» может быть применен к влиятельным политикам, назначаемым монархом для управления департаментами.

2. Большинство министров, как правило, являются членами парламента, в основном палаты общин.

3. Самые влиятельные политики во главе с премьер-министром формируют кабинет.

4. В однопартийном правительстве все его члены принадлежат одной и той же политической партии.

5. Британские политики не признают коалиционное правительство.

6. Коллективная ответственность в британском правительстве означает, что каждый ее член разделяет ответственность за любое решение своих коллег.

7. Любой член правительства, публично критикующий его политику, должен уйти в отставку.

8. Начиная с 19-го века коалиционное правительство в Великобритании существовало в общей сложности 21 год.

9. Bеликобритания вследствие избирательной системы и в отличие от большинства стран Западной Европы обычно имеет однопартийное правительство.

10. Кто управляет Великобританией?

XIV. Topics for discussion:

 

Text 2.

Vocabulary

1. be concerned with – касаться, относиться

2. conductn – (зд.) ведение (дел), руководство

3. affect v – воздействовать, влиять

4. rangefromv – колебаться в пределах, диапазоне

5. execute v – исполнять, выполнять

6. staff, personnel (n) – штат, персонал, кадры

7. involvev – (зд.) включать (в себя)

8. flexible a – гибкий

9. deployment n – размещение

10. gain v – получать, приобретать

11. experience n – опыт

12. appropriatelyadv. – соответствующее, нужным образом

13. fitsmb. forsmth. v – делать кого-то соответствующим чему-либо

14. unified – объединенная, единая

15. permanent secretary – постоянный заместитель министра

16. under secretary – заместитель министра

17. grading system – система степеней

18. background (n) – зд. образование, опыт

19. occupational groups – профессиональные группы

20. surveyor n – топограф, землемер

21. marine a - морской

22. to negotiate v – вести переговоры

23. toadministerv – управлять, заведовать

24. onloan – (зд.) по договору

25. attachment n – прикомандирование

Assignments to Text 2

I. Practice the pronunciation of the following words:

 

- conduct, staff, surveyor, advantage, recruitment, architect, research, exports, category, requiring, individual, statistician, personnel

- to execute, to design, to administer, to negotiate, to ensure appropriately, qualified, comparable, consular, marine

 

II. Form nouns from the following verbs using suffixes and translate them into Russian:

-ment, -tion, -(s)ion

 

to manage to require to appoint to execute to provide

to recruit

to negotiate

to act

to protect

to organize

III. Translate the following sentences from the text into Russian. Try to define a clause type.

 

1. The Civil Service is concerned with the conduct of the whole range of government activities as they affect the community.

2. The structure of the Home Civil Service is designed to allow for a flexible deployment of staff so that talent can be used to the best advantage.

3. Although work requiring specialist skill is always done by appropriately qualified individuals, personnel management policies are designed to ensure that people with the necessary qualities gain suitable experience.

4. At other levels the structure is based on a system of categories and occupational groups, which are the basic groupings of staff.

5. Civil Servants are responsible to the minister in whose department they work.

6. The advisers are paid from public funds, but their appointments come to an end when the Government's term of office finishes.

7. Despite their background and duties staff at the top level share the same pay and grading system.

8. The day-to-day running of the government and the implementation of its policy continue in the hands of the same people that were with the previous government – the top rank of the civil service.

 

IV. Find the English equivalents to the following words and word combinations:

 

постоянное управление правительством

быть связанным с проведением широкого диапазона управленческих мероприятий

государственное управление

отвечать перед парламентом за политику

советники

общественные фонды

приобрести необходимый обширный опыт

политика управления персоналом

статистик

обработка информации

топографы

обеспечение британского экспорта

 

V. Insertprepositionsifnecessary:

 

1. The Civil Service is concerned … the conduct … the whole range … government activities.

2. Civil Servants are responsible … the Minister … whose department they work.

3. The structure of the Home Civil Service is designed to allow … a flexible deployment … staff.

4. … very few exceptions, staff … the top level share the same pay and grading system.

5. The Diplomatic Service provides the staff … the Foreign and Commonwealth office.

6. Functions of the Diplomatic Service include advise … policy, negotiating … overseas governments.

7. The basic groupings of staff include … the General Category, the Science Category, the Professional and Technology Categories, etc.

8. … the top levels … the Civil Service there is an open and unified structure.

9. At lower levels the structure of the Civil Service is based … a system … categories and occupational groups.

10. Ministers alone are answerable … Parliament … their policies and the actions … their staff.

VI. Complete the following sentences:

 

1. The Diplomatic Service, a separate service, provides ….

2. The structure of the Home Civil Service is designed to allow for ….

3. Civil Servants are ….

4. The Civil Service is concerned with ….

5. A change of minister for whatever reason, ….

6. At the top levels of the Civil Service there is ….

7. The day-to-day running of the government and the implementation of its policy ….

8. With very few exceptions, staff at the top level share ….

9. The Diplomatic Service's functions include ….

10. Ministers sometimes appoint ….

11. Governments come and go, but ….

VII. Match the following words to form word combinations from the text:

 

1. The day-to-day 2. Public administration 3. Special policy 4. Term of 5. Flexible 6. (a) unified 7. an occupational 8. (a) general 9. deputy 10. personnel management 11. wide

a. demands b. deployment c. running of the government d. group e. advisers f. office g. structure h. secretary i. category j. experience k. policies

 

VIII. Answer the following questions:

 

1. Does the day-to-day running of the government continue in the hands of the same people that were there with the previous government?

2. What is the Civil Service concerned with?

3. Civil servants are servants of the Crown, aren't they?

4. Who are civil servants responsible to?

5. Does a change of minister involve a change of staff?

6. What is the aim of personnel management policies?

7. What is there at the top levels of the Civil Service?

8. Is the structure at other levels based on a system of categories and occupational groups?

9. Who do categories and occupational groups include?

10. What does the Diplomatic Service provide for?

11. Who does the top rank of the civil service include?

IX. Read the following definitions of the words. Find the corresponding words in the text:

 

- the people employed by a firm or other large organization

- able to be changed or adapted

- placement

- a person who recommends something to somebody

- an expert in statistics

- an expert in inspection of an area, building, etc.

- what you ought to do or must do

 

X. Comment on the following sentences from the text:

 

1. Governments come and go, but the civil service remains.

2. The structure of the Home Civil Service is designed to allow for a flexible deployment of staff so that talent can be used to the best advantage.

3. Members of the Home Civil Service and the armed forces, and individuals from the private sector, may serve in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and at overseas posts on loan and attachment.

XI. Find a “key-sentence” in each paragraph.

XII. Give a summary of the text.

XIII. Comment on professional duties of the following positions mentioned in the text:

 

- an economist

- a statistician

- an information officer

- a surveyor

- a graphics officer

- an architect

- marine services staff

- a research officer

- a librarian

- data processing staff

 

What categories do all these civil servants belong to?

XIV. Translate into English:

 

1. Госслужащие подотчетны тому министру, в департаменте которого они работают.

2. Снятие с должности министра по каким-либо причинам не влечет за собой смену сотрудников департамента.

3. Британские министры иногда назначают специальных советников, как правило, не из числа госслужащих.

4. Кадровая политика Британии проводится так, чтобы служащие, обладающие нужной компетенцией и необходимыми знаниями, смогли занять высшие должности.

5. Верхние уровни госслужбы в Великобритании строятся по единому образцу.

6. Дипломатическая служба обеспечивает персоналом офис Министерства иностранных дел и по делам Содружества.

7. Функции Дипломатической службы включают: ведение переговоров с иностранными правительствами, обеспечение британского экспорта, защиту государственных интересов за рубежом.

8. Структура государственной службы в Великобритании базируется на том, чтобы позволить гибкое размещение персонала.

9. Правительства приходят и уходят, а структура стструктурасссуктурагосударственной службы остается.

10. Работа госслужащих на высших должностях, оплачивается, за некоторым исключением, одинаково, несмотря на их опыт и обязанности.

XV. Topics for discussion:

 

1. Speak about the structure of the civil service in Great Britian in general.

2. Compare the structure of the civil service in Great Britain and Russia. Are there any differences?

3. Speakabouttheproblemof a flexibledeploymentofstaffinthestructureofcivilservicewithregardtoGreatBritainandRussia.

Introductory article.

The politics of the United Kingdom, one of the oldest democracies in the world, take place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by Her Majesty's Government, on behalf of and by the consent of the Monarch, as well as by the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales, and the Executive of Northern Ireland. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as in the Scottish parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The highest national court is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

The UK political system is a multi-party system. Since the 1920s, the two largest political parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. Before the Labour Party rose in British politics the Liberal Party was the other major political party along with the Conservatives. Though coalition and minority governments have been an occasional feature of parliamentary politics, the electoral system used for general elections tends to maintain the dominance of these two parties, though each has in the past century relied upon a third party to deliver a working majority in Parliament.

Support for nationalist parties in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales led to proposals for devolution in the 1970s though only in the 1990s did devolution actually happen. Today, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each possess a legislature and government alongside that of the United Kingdom, responsible for devolved matters. However, it is a matter of dispute as to whether increased autonomy and devolution of executive and legislative powers has contributed to a reduction in support for independence. The principal pro-independence party, the Scottish National Party, won an overall majority at the 2011 Scottish parliament elections and now forms the Scottish Government administration, with plans to hold a referendum on negotiating for independence. In Northern Ireland, the largest Pro-Belfast Agreement party, Sinn Féin, not only advocates Northern Ireland's unification with the Republic of Ireland, but also abstains from taking their elected seats in the Westminster government.

Unique throughout the world, the British constitution is not codified: it is a collection of legislation going back to medieval times.

Vocabulary:

1. politicsn – политическая жизнь, политика

2. within the framework – врамках

3. executive power – исполнительнаявласть

4. on behalf of and by the consent – отименииссогласия

5. devolve v - передавать полномочия

6. vest in v – облекать, возлагать

7. Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies – НациональныеСобранияУэльсаиСевернойИрландии

8. thejudiciary – судебная ветвь власти

9. thelegislature – законодательная ветвь власти

10. the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom – ВерховныйСудСоединенногоКоролевства

11. minority governments – правительстваменьшинства

12. maintainthedominance – поддерживать превосходство

13. a matter of dispute – спорныйвопрос

14. holdareferendum – проводить референдум

15. negotiatingforindependence – голосование за независимость

16. unification n - объединение

17. advocate v - защищать

18. abstainv(from) – воздерживаться от ч-л

19. codifyv, codified – кодифицировать, кодифицированный

20. medievaltimes – средние века

Assignments.

I. Read and translate the text. Use the dictionary if necessary.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the political and state system of the UK?

2. Is the Monarch the head of state or the government?

3. What bodies exercise the executive power?

4. What institutions is legislative power vested in?

6. What is the highest national court of the UK?

7. What are the largest political parties of the UK?

8.Are there any nationalist parties in the UK?

Text 1.