《英语国家社会与文化》课程教学资源（课本重点）THe government of the UK

Britain is arguably the oldest representative democracy in the world.with roots that can be traced over a thousand years.Other countries also have ong politica histories but thes nistories are marked by periods of sudden,and often violent,change.Although Britain toc has had its periods of political instability,in contrast to say.France or the United States,the process of state-building has been one of evolution rather than revolution.This long. unbroken history is still apparent in britain's current political institutions and in its political culture. The Monarchy The oldest institution of government is the Monarchy(rule by the king).This dates back to the Saxons who ruled from the 5th century AD until the Norman Conguest in 1066.The esent Queen,Elizabeth ll,is directly descended from King Egbert,who united England under The power of the monarchy was largely derived from the ancient doctrine of the "divine right of kings".It was held that the sovereign derived his authority from God.not from his subjects.Because of this divine right.although there were sometimes battles between the lea ey oihehrone,heactualexste of the monarchy has seldom been questioned.For a thousand years Britain has had a hereditary king or queen as the head of state,although there was one brief excepton.In the 17th century there was a civil war in England between republican Roundheads"(so-called because the men defied popular fashion and wore their hair cut very short led by Oliver omw anted toa olish the ontinue.The Roundheads succe ded inousting the monarch.Charles .7 in164 2 and rulec dfor just 18 years before the monarchy was restored. While the King in theory had God on his side.in practice even in medieval times it was thought that he should not exercise absolute power.8 Instead,the sovereign should be willing to receive advice n prominent men.The mo willingness to do this led to man battles between the king and other powerful groups like the Church and powerful.land- ownina feudal barons. It was a gang of feudal barons and the church which opposed some of king ohn's (1199 1216)nolicies This vas so po them acharter of liberty and political rights.stll known by its medieval Latin name of Magna Carta.Magna Carta placed some limits on the king's ability to abuse his royal power.This is still regarded as Britain's key expression of the rights of citizens against the Crown The Role of the Monarchy Today The role of the monarchy today is primarily to symbolise unity of the Brtish state.Obviously the prime minister and governing party at any given time will only represent the part of the population that voted in their favour.32 The Queen,however,because she is non-political,belongs to everybody.Under the terms of the Constitution her other roles are

Britain is arguably the oldest representative democracy in the world, with roots that can be traced over a thousand years. Other countries also have long political histories but these histories are marked by periods of sudden, and often violent, change. Although Britain too has had its periods of political instability, in contrast to say, France or the United States, the process of state-building has been one of evolution rather than revolution. This long, unbroken history is still apparent in Britain’s current political institutions and in its political culture. The Monarchy The oldest institution of government is the Monarchy (rule by the king). This dates back to the Saxons who ruled from the 5th century AD until the Norman Conquest in 1066. The present Queen, Elizabeth II, is directly descended from King Egbert,who united England under his rule in 829. The power of the monarchy was largely derived from the ancient doctrine of the “divine right of kings”. It was held that the sovereign derived his authority from God, not from his subjects. Because of this divine right, although there were sometimes battles between different families who insisted they were the legitimate heirs to the throne, the actual existence of the monarchy has seldom been questioned. For a thousand years Britain has had a hereditary king or queen as the head of state, although there was one brief exception. In the 17th century there was a civil war in England between republican“Roundheads” (so-called because the men defied popular fashion and wore their hair cut very short) led by Oliver Cromwell, who wanted to abolish the monarchy, and royalists who wanted it to continue. The Roundheads succeeded in ousting the monarch, Charles I,7 in 1642 and ruled for just 18 years before the monarchy was restored. While the King in theory had God on his side, in practice even in medieval times it was thought that he should not exercise absolute power.8 Instead, the sovereign should be willing to receive advice from prominent men. The monarch’s willingness to do this led to many battles between the king and other powerful groups like the Church and powerful, land￾owning feudal barons. It was a gang of feudal barons and the Church which opposed some of King John’s (1199 – 1216) policies. This opposition was so powerful that the king finally granted them a charter of liberty and political rights, still known by its medieval Latin name of Magna Carta.9 Magna Carta placed some limits on the king’s ability to abuse his royal power. This is still regarded as Britain’s key expression of the rights of citizens against the Crown. The Role of the Monarchy Today The role of the monarchy today is primarily to symbolise the tradition and unity of the British state. Obviously the prime minister and governing party at any given time will only represent the part of the population that voted in their favour.32 The Queen, however, because she is non-political, belongs to everybody. Under the terms of the Constitution her other roles are

as follows:she is legally head of the executive.an integral part of the legislature.head of the judiary,ommander in chief of the armed forces and 'supreme governor"of the Churc of England A less well known role of the Queen,which is nevertheless very important to British politics is that of a confidante to the Prime Minister. The Parliament The word "parliament comes from the verb to parley,that is.to discuss or talk.The term was first used offically in 1236 to describe the gathering of feudal barons and representatives from counties and towns which the king occasionally summoned if he wanted to raise money.Traditionally.medieval kings were supposed to meet their own royal expenses out of their own wealth.If extra resources were needed-for example.if a king wanted to wage a wa ch he fre equently did -he would ry to le the Gre gathering of leading.wealthy barons which met several times a year.to give him some extra money.By the 13th Century,kings found they could not make ends meet by asking for money from this quite small group.and so they widened the Great Council to include representatives of counties.cities and towns.to get them to contribute to his projects.It was in this way that me to inclu ad"hy (the Hous )and representatives of communities(the e House of Commons).The two house exist today and collectively we call them the Parliament.The Commons quickly gained in political strength.They were willing to help the King by raising taxes and passing laws,but in return they wanted an increasing say in what the king was doing.In recognition of this.Henry Iv decreed in 1407 that all m Commons be nts should be considered and approved by the ore being con ords, which is almos t the ame toda The Commons also acquired law-making powers by the 15th century.a prerogative which had once belonged only to the Kina and his Councllors. The civil war which brought the Roundheads to power in the 17th century was rooted in a ute ver the p the ki -vis Parlia and his or Charles both insistedon their divine right as kings.They felt Parliament had no real political right to exist,but only existed because the king allowed it to do so.It was the effort to reassert the rights of Parliament that led to the civil war.The royalist armies were defeated and King Charles Iwas executed in 1649.But by 1660.CharlesI'sson was restored to the throne as c The next King.James ll having apparently leamed little from the experience of the previous decades.also tried to govern without the consent of Parliament.Leading politicians and church authorities asked lames'son-in-law william of orange to reolace him In return William promised these representatives that he would declare governing without arliame consent t to be gal.This might have led to r,but James ra away and William took over.In 1689 Parliament passed the Bill of Rights which ensured that the King would never be able to ignore Parliament The functions of Parliament

as follows: she is legally head of the executive, an integral part of the legislature, head of the judiciary, commander in chief of the armed forces and “supreme governor” of the Church of England. A less well known role of the Queen, which is nevertheless very important to British politics, is that of a confidante to the Prime Minister. The Parliament The word “parliament” comes from the verb “to parley”, that is, to discuss or talk. The term was first used officially in 1236 to describe the gathering of feudal barons and representatives from counties and towns which the king occasionally summoned if he wanted to raise money. Traditionally, medieval kings were supposed to meet their own royal expenses out of their own wealth. If extra resources were needed － for example, if a king wanted to wage a war, which he frequently did － he would try to persuade the Great Council, a gathering of leading, wealthy barons which met several times a year, to give him some extra money. By the 13th Century, kings found they could not make ends meet by asking for money from this quite small group, and so they widened the Great Council to include representatives of counties, cities and towns, to get them to contribute to his projects. It was in this way that the Great Council came to include both those who were summoned “by name” (the House of Lords) and representatives of communities (the House of Commons). These two houses exist today and collectively we call them the Parliament. The Commons quickly gained in political strength. They were willing to help the King by raising taxes and passing laws, but in return they wanted an increasing say in what the king was doing. In recognition of this, Henry IV decreed in 1407 that all money grants should be considered and approved by the Commons before being considered by the Lords, a formula which is almost the same today. The Commons also acquired law-making powers by the 15th century, a prerogative which had once belonged only to the King and his Councillors. The civil war which brought the Roundheads to power in the 17th century was rooted in a dispute over the power of the king vis-a-vis Parliament. James I and his successor Charles I both insisted on their divine right as kings. They felt Parliament, representing the community, had no real political right to exist, but only existed because the king allowed it to do so. It was the effort to reassert the rights of Parliament that led to the civil war. The royalist armies were defeated and King Charles I was executed in 1649. But by 1660, Charles I’s son was restored to the throne as Charles II. The next King, James II, having apparently learned little from the experience of the previous decades, also tried to govern without the consent of Parliament. Leading politicians and church authorities asked James’ son-in-law, William of Orange, to replace him. In return, William promised these representatives that he would declare governing without parliamentary consent to be illegal. This might have led to another civil war, but James ran away and William took over. In 1689 Parliament passed the Bill of Rights which ensured that the King would never be able to ignore Parliament. The functions of Parliament

Parliament has a number of different functions.First and foremost,it passes laws.Another oing for taxation.8 tsother roles are to scrutinise expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day. Parliament is supreme in the British state because it alone has the power to change the terms of the constitution 29 for example.the decision for britain to join the European union(EU reguredaconstuionalchangebecausetmeantreognisingthatEUlawwouldinpartioulE cases be more important than British law There are nolegal restraints upon Parliament.It can make or change laws.change or overtum established conventions or even prolong its own life without consulting the electorate.30 However.it supremacy.but bears mmon law in mind and acts House of Lords and the House of Commons.These three institutions must all agree to pass any given legislation. However,most everyday referencesto Parliamentrefer to the workings of the Lords and/or the Co ns,with the mo narchy regar ded as a separate instit is be cause though the Queen must consent to pass a law,this consent is given as a matter of course.31 The last roval refusal was in 1707 The Birth of the Prime Minister and Cabinet To ensure good relations between Crown and Parliament.the king or queen met regularly with a group of important Parliamentarians,a group which became known as the Cabinet While Cabinet ministers were appointed by the sovereign,they had to have enough support in the House of Commons to enable them to persuade Parliament to pass laws and vote for taxes.In 1714,the ruling Queen died without producing an heir to the throne and so Britain had to impor a member of the royal family from Germany torule.The new King Georg I spoke English very badly and was not very interested in politics anyway,so he left the job of chairing cabinet meetings to one of his ministers.In time he came to be called the prime minister. was slowly becoming more powerful,especially as it became more organised.In 1832.wher a system for choosing the House of Commons by popular election replaced the monarch's job of appointing representatives,the modern political system was born.Members of Parliament(MPs)assembled themselves into groups which eventually would become political Parties, ised groups which presented their polides and ideas to the elector ate for approval.21 The party with the most supporters in the Commons forms the government.and by tradition,the leader of that party becomes Prime Minister. The British Government Today

Parliament has a number of different functions. First and foremost, it passes laws. Another important function is that it provides the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation.28 Its other roles are to scrutinise government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day. Parliament is supreme in the British state because it alone has the power to change the terms of the Constitution.29 For example, the decision for Britain to join the European Union(EU) required a constitutional change because it meant recognising that EU law would in particular cases be more important than British law. There are no legal restraints upon Parliament. It can make or change laws, change or overturn established conventions or even prolong its own life without consulting the electorate.30 However, it does not assert its supremacy, but bears the common law in mind and acts according to precedent. Strictly speaking, the Parliament today consists of the Queen, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. These three institutions must all agree to pass any given legislation. However, most everyday references to Parliament refer to the workings of the Lords and / or the Commons, with the Monarchy regarded as a separate institution. This is because even though the Queen must consent to pass a law, this consent is given as a matter of course. 31 The last royal refusal was in 1707. The Birth of the Prime Minister and Cabinet To ensure good relations between Crown and Parliament, the king or queen met regularly with a group of important Parliamentarians, a group which became known as the Cabinet. While Cabinet ministers were appointed by the sovereign, they had to have enough support in the House of Commons to enable them to persuade Parliament to pass laws and vote for taxes. In 1714, the ruling Queen died without producing an heir to the throne and so Britain had to “import” a member of the royal family from Germany to rule. The new King George I spoke English very badly and was not very interested in politics anyway, so he left the job of chairing cabinet meetings to one of his ministers. In time he came to be called the prime minister. While a king or queen who was interested in politics remained very influential, the Parliament was slowly becoming more powerful, especially as it became more organised. In 1832, when a system for choosing the House of Commons by popular election replaced the monarch’s job of appointing representatives, the modern political system was born. Members of Parliament (MPs) assembled themselves into groups which eventually would become political parties, organised groups which presented their policies and ideas to the electorate for approval.21 The party with the most supporters in the Commons forms the government, and by tradition, the leader of that party becomes Prime Minister. The British Government Today

from this brief history we can see that british government today is deeply influenced by its the official head of state is the Queen,her powers are largely traditionl and symbolic.The government at national and local levels is elected by the people and governs according to British constitutional principles. Because of Britain's imperial past when many other comers of the globe were ruled from London.we find similar systems of government in many former colonies.Other countrie which are governed according to the principles of British parliamentary democracy are Australia,Canada.New Zealand and India.All but India recognise the Oueen as their head of state.and a representative of the Crown,called the Governor-General,is present in sudh constitutional monarchies in order to fulfill the role of the monarch. The Constitution British governance today is based upon the terms and conditions of the constitution.Israel and Britain are the only two countries without written constitutions of the sort which most countries have.instead of having one particular document which lists out the basic principles of how a ed.the fou undations of the British state re laid out in statute law,that is,laws passed by he common laws.which are laws which hav been established through common practice in the courts,not because Parliament has written them;and conventions.which are rules and practices which do not exist legally,but are nevertheless regarded as vital to the workings of government

From this brief history we can see that British government today is deeply influenced by its long past. Britain is both a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. While the official head of state is the Queen, her powers are largely traditional and symbolic. The government at national and local levels is elected by the people and governs according to British constitutional principles. Because of Britain’s imperial past, when many other corners of the globe were ruled from London, we find similar systems of government in many former colonies. Other countries which are governed according to the principles of British parliamentary democracy are Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India. All but India recognise the Queen as their head of state, and a representative of the Crown, called the Governor-General, is present in such constitutional monarchies in order to fulfill the role of the monarch. The Constitution British governance today is based upon the terms and conditions of the constitution. Israel and Britain are the only two countries without written constitutions of the sort which most countries have. Instead of having one particular document which lists out the basic principles of how a country should be governed, the foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law, that is, laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws which have been established through common practice in the courts, not because Parliament has written them; and conventions, which are rules and practices which do not exist legally, but are nevertheless regarded as vital to the workings of government