Annual ceremonies and daily routine

Numerous functions and ceremonial duties make the Monarch's every day very busy.

In compiling the Queen's diary of engagements for any one year her Private Secretary will invariably first fill in a number of fixed dates around which the year's program will be arranged. The New Year begins with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in residence at Sandringham, the Queen's private home in Norfolk, where the official work will be combined with time for riding and reading.

The Easter break, preceded by giving out Maundy coins' and by Maundy Service at one of the country's cathedrals, is spent at Windsor Castle. The Queen, whose actual birthday is in April, celebrates her "official" birthday in June, with the splendour of Trooping the Colour which draws many thousands of spectators to London. The celebrations, always held on Saturday, are followed two days later by another historic display of pageantry when at Windsor Castle a service for the Knights of the Garter is preceded by a splendid procession from the Castle itself to St. George's Chapel. All in all annually the Queen presents some 3000 orders, decorations and medals.

Then come three days of horse racing at the nearby racecourse at Ascot — Royal Ascot, before July brings an annual period of residence in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. There, among other engagements, the Queen holds the first of each summer's garden parties; three more are held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. In all some 40000 people from all sections of the community, including guests of the country, attend these parties each year.

A summer break at the Queen's private home in Scotland — Balmoral Castle is usually preceded by a cruise in the Royal yacht "Britannia", followed by the regular autumn schedule — the State Opening of Parliament and the events marking Remembrance Weekend at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

A day in December is always set aside for the Queen to record her radio and television Christmas broadcasts, the one occasion each year when she speaks personally to the Commonwealth as Opposed to other, official occasions, when her speeches reflect the views other government.

Around these fixed dates go the official engagements: investitures, meetings with ministers, ambassadors and other officials, visits around the United Kingdom, official state visits overseas and tours of Commonwealth countries, time devoted to welcoming and entertaining visiting heads of state as the Queen acts as a host to the heads of states of Commonwealth and other countries when they visit the United Kingdom. When a state visit is involved, guests stay at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Their entertainment includes banquets, receptions, often a special ballet or opera performance and visits to places of particular interest throughout the country. On the many other occasions when heads of state visit the United Kingdom, either privately or for official purposes, they are nearly always entertained or received by the Queen and often by other members of the Royal Family as well. Receptions or luncheons are frequently held for other distinguished visitors from overseas.

The Private Secretary also has to allow time — many hours each week — for the Queen to deal with her regular and routine business, the many and varied letters, papers and documents that land on her desk with relentless regularity from literally around the world. Each private secretary knows too that time will be needed for the charitable activities which engage all the members of the Royal Family.

Dedicated work for the Save the Children Fund has earned Ann, the Princess Royal, the respect of the nations. Charles, Prince of Wales, made it his business to be familiar with the social and economic ills of the nation. He is a most caring and knowledgeable person on the issues of homelessness, housing, inner city decay, small business enterprise among the unemployed and architecture. Princess Diana, before her tragic death, could be seen sitting with AIDS victims in hospital or shaking hands with lepers during an overseas tour. Through direct financial support and charitable functions like film premieres or fund-raising dinners and, in contrast, visits to the "front line" among the homeless, the hungry, the sick and refugees royal involvement clearly raises public awareness and popularity of the Royal Family.

 

 

Vocabulary

secular – светский

offspring – наследник, отпрыск

accession – вступление (на престол)

to annexe – присоединять

to cede – сдавать (территорию)

refugee – беженец, эмигрант

UNIT10

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

HISTORY AND STRUCTURE

Like the Monarchy, Parliament in Britain is an ancient institution dating from the beginning of the 13th century, though officially it was established in 1265 by Simon de Montfort. It is the third oldest parliament in the world in action (it was preceded by Althing of Iceland and the Parliament of the Isle of Man).

Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom. The overriding function of Parliament is legislating bills, making bills lawful. But Parliament is not only law-making body, it is also a law-enforcing body, i. e. it has judicial functions. British Parliament is free to make any laws it wishes. It could even prolong its own life if it chose to do so. The only guarantee against parliamentary tyranny is the sense of tradition and reasonableness of its members.

Other functions of Parliament are to raise money through taxation so as to enable the government to function, to question and examine government policy and administration, particularly its financial programme, and to debate or discuss important political issues.

British Parliament is composed of two houses — the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords appeared first as King's council of the nobility. The House of Commons originated later, in the second half of the 14th century. "Commons" were the representatives of different local communities who were summoned to provide the King with money. The more money demanded, the more the Commons questioned its use. Because of its financial power, its ability to raise or withhold money, the House of Commons gained power not only in matters of finance but also legislation over both the monarch and also the Lords. So the dynamic power of Parliament lies in the House of Commons.

The Houses work in different places, in the opposite parts of Westminster palace, but their debating Chambers are shaped in the same way which is vitally important. The arrangement of seats in both is of great significance, reflects and maintains the two-party system of Britain. Both the Houses are rectangular(not semicircular as most European Chambers) in shape with rows of benches on either side and a raised platform for the throne in the House of Lords, which is a joint present of Australia and Canada, and the Speaker's Chair in the House of Commons.

To the right of the Speaker are the seats for the Government and its supporters, to his left — for the Opposition. So the debates are face to face debates, not figuratively facing the Speaker there are cross benches for Independent members, for those who do not belong to either of the two leading political parties.

There are 5 rows of benches in the House of Commons (4 — in Lords') on both of its sides. Front benches on either side are the seats of the Government (Cabinet members) and the Opposition (Shadow Cabinet members), hence the division of MPs into front-benchers and back-benchers.

Each of the Houses enjoys certain rights and immunities to protect them in carrying out their duties. They are: freedom of speech in debates, freedom from arrest, the right of access to the Crown (collective privilege for the Commons and individual for peers). The Commons have the right to exclude (disqualify) a MP and declare his seat vacant.

The proceedings in both the Houses are public and visitors are admitted into the Strangers' Gallery The number of visitors is limited to about 200, no cards or passes are required, but metal-control check is necessary. "First come, first go" — this principle works in both galleries. Since 1803 the proceedings of Parliament have been published the following day as "Hansard". (Luke Hansard was the first to publish reports on Parliamentary procedures. Since 1943 then the paper carries the name.) Proceeding of both Houses are also now televised, the Lords since 1984 and the Commons since 1989.

 

THE WORK OF PARLIAMENT

Each parliamentary session begins with the State Opening of Parliament, a ceremonial occasion when the Queen announces the program of the work of Parliament for the coming session. Routine working day of MPs begins in the afternoon (2.30) and lasts until about 10.30 p. m. though sometimes it may be beyond midnight. Lord's working day begins in the morning lasting till afternoon, they do not work on Friday.

The general way and details of conducting business in Parliament is governed by "standing orders" which resulted from custom and precedent.

After brief opening formalities the working day of Parliament begins with Question Time, lasting about an hour. Ministers are asked from 40 to 70 questions on any points MPs choose. But questions should be handed to the officials of the House at least 48 hours beforehand. The answer to the question is prepared for the ministers by civil servants. There is no means of compelling a minister to give a truthful answer. Answers are often given without supplying any information at all. An ex-civil servant defined it as follows: "It might be said cynically but with some measure of truth that the perfect reply to an embarrassing question is one that is brief, appears to answer the question completely, if challenged can be proved accurate... and discloses nothing".

Naturally, both the Government and the Opposition use this period to reveal the weaknesses of their opponents. So after a minister's formal answer supplementary questions may be asked. A minister and his staff preparing answers should anticipate what questions may be asked. The aim of supplementary questions is to outmaneouvre a minister and reveal a weakness in the Government policy or to persuade the Government to modify or change its course of action. On two afternoons each week the Prime Minister is to answer questions on general policy matters. These occasions are usually the most lively.

After the question-time the House of Commons goes on to the main debate of the day to which it can give 6 hours or more. It often concerns a broad issue of foreign or home policy, or it may be the examination of the contents of a bill, as Parliament's unique and overriding function is the making of laws. The starting point is the drafting of a bill. The preparation of the text of-the bill takes many months with long consultations involving civil-servant and legal experts.

Proposals of a bill sometimes take the form of "white papers", stating government policy; which can be debated before a bill is introduced. "Green papers" are published when the Government wants a full public discussion before it formulates its own proposals. When at last the draft receives approval of the Cabinet it is ready to be submitted to Parliament. It should pass through both Houses and it may begin its journey in either of the Houses, but usually the bills are introduced first in the House of Commons.

The procedure of passing a bill is similar in both Houses. The first stage of the bill's progress is still known as "reading", although the bill is no longer read aloud. This is a remainder of the days when printed copies were not generally available and the two Houses had to be informed of the contents of the bill by hearing a clerk read it aloud. Nowadays the first reading stage is a formality. It is during the second reading that crucial debates take place perhaps about a week later. The Minister or MP in charge of the bill explains to the House the whole purpose of the bill and the means proposed for putting it in effect. Then the main debates begin. Some MPs may support the bill, others may oppose it.

When various speeches have been made for and against the bill, the Speaker will then ask whether the bill is to pass the second reading and to go on to the next stage. If the House is not unanimous in favour of the bill, if there is disagreement the Speaker (or the Lord Chancellor) calls for a division. The members leave their seats and pass into the lobbies through "Aye" (yes) or "No" doors thus showing which way they are voting. Two tellers — one on each side — count the votes as the MPs go through the doors and secretaries put down their names. Before the lobby doors close, a bell rings throughout the House 6 minutes to enable MPs, wherever they may be in the House, to vote. Party Whips stand outside the door of the lobby into which they expect their MPs to pass. Unless it is a free vote, members who ignore party policy risk the strong displeasure of the party leadership. Because of this British parliamentary system has been termed by a long-serving member of both Houses a form of "elective dictatorship".

When the numbers have been taken the members return to their seats and the Speaker (the Lord Chancellor) reads out the results of the voting. If the bill has a majority of votes, it has passed the second reading. It is then usually sent to a committee for detailed, clause by clause, word by word examination. Large committee rooms on the upper floor of Westminster Palace (the Committee Corridor) constitute one of the busiest parts of the palace. After days or weeks in a committee the bill then comes back to the House. When the committee reports to the House the conclusion of its work, there may be further discussion.

On the third reading the final text of the bill — perhaps rather different from that originally printed — is then approved or rejected. After that the bill goes through the same stages in the House of Lords. There it can be delayed but not rejected. Then it returns to the House of Commons and if the Commons accept the amendments, in case there are any, the bill is ready for its last stage, the final approval given on behalf of the Queen. Her signature will enact the bill, that is turn it into an Act of Parliament. Royal assent has not been refused since 1707.

Besides the Government bills, there are the Opposition and Private Members' bills. Any MP has the right to propose his bill. Mostly they are business bills. Only 10 days in each session are allowed for the debates on these bills. And those 10 days are Fridays, short working days. So putting forward private bills is not encouraged. There are 20 opposition days each session which allow the opposition to choose the subject for debate.

Parliament is not only a law-making body, it is also a law-enforcing body, that is it has judicial functions. The main judicial work of Parliament today is that carried out daily by the House of Lords. This House serves as the final Court of Appeal for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Appeals may be heard either in the Chamber of the House or in the Appellate Committee. Judgement is always given in the House itself— normally at a morning sitting specially held for this purpose. Only peers who hold or have held high judicial office sit to hear appeals, and they are sometimes presided over by the Lord Chancellor, who is the head of the English judicial system.

 

Vocabulary

 

to compel – заставлять, принуждать

to outmaneouvre – получить преимущество более искусным маневрированием, перехитрить

to be submitted – быть в подчинении

UNIT 11