The British MonarchyThe British Monarchy

By Dominova KateBy Dominova Kate

Contents:Contents:

• Introduction;Introduction;

• The Queen Elizabeth II;The Queen Elizabeth II;

• The Royal family;The Royal family;

• The British Parliament;The British Parliament;

• The House of Commons;The House of Commons;

• The House of Lords ;The House of Lords ;

Introduction:Introduction:

• The United Kingdom is a The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. This constitutional monarchy. This means that it has a monarch means that it has a monarch (a king or a queen) as its (a king or a queen) as its Head of State. The monarch Head of State. The monarch reigns with support of reigns with support of Parliament. The British Parliament. The British Parliament consist of the Parliament consist of the House of Lords and the House of Lords and the House of Commons. House of Commons.

• There is the Coat of Arms of There is the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. The UK the United Kingdom. The UK include Great Britain and include Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland.

The Queen Elizabeth II:The Queen Elizabeth II:

• The QueenThe Queen is the Head of is the Head of Commonwealth. It includes Commonwealth. It includes many countries such as many countries such as Ireland, Burma, the Sudan, Ireland, Burma, the Sudan, Canada, Australia, New Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others.Zealand and others.

• The Queen is very rich as are The Queen is very rich as are other members of the royal other members of the royal family. In addition, the family. In addition, the government pays for her government pays for her expenses as Head of State, expenses as Head of State, for royal yacht, train and for royal yacht, train and aircraft as well as for the aircraft as well as for the upkeep of several palaces. upkeep of several palaces. The Queen’s image appears The Queen’s image appears on stamps, notes and coins. on stamps, notes and coins.

The Royal family:The Royal family:

• Prince CharlesPrince Charles is the sonis the son of of the Queen Elizabeth II.the Queen Elizabeth II.

• Princess Diana was his wife. Princess Diana was his wife. She perished in the auto-She perished in the auto-disaster some years ago.disaster some years ago.

• Their elder son Prince William Their elder son Prince William is heir-in-waiting to British is heir-in-waiting to British throne and on top of that is throne and on top of that is set to inherit millions of set to inherit millions of pounds.pounds.

• Prince Charles is going to Prince Charles is going to married again. His mistress married again. His mistress Camilla will be the second Camilla will be the second prince’s wife. prince’s wife.

The British Parliament:The British Parliament:

• The British Parliament consist of The British Parliament consist of the House of Lords and the House the House of Lords and the House of Commons and the Queen as its of Commons and the Queen as its head. The House of Commons head. The House of Commons plays the major role in lawmaking. plays the major role in lawmaking. It consist of Members of It consist of Members of Parliament, each of whom Parliament, each of whom represents an area in England? represents an area in England? Scotland? Wales or Northern Scotland? Wales or Northern Ireland.Ireland.

• Parliamentary elections must be Parliamentary elections must be held every five years, but the held every five years, but the Prime Minister can decide on the Prime Minister can decide on the exact date within those five years. exact date within those five years. The minimum voting age is 18, The minimum voting age is 18, and the voting is taken by secret and the voting is taken by secret ballot.ballot.

The House of Commons: The House of Commons:

• The House of Commons is made up of 650 elected members, The House of Commons is made up of 650 elected members, known as Members of Parliament. The House of Commons is known as Members of Parliament. The House of Commons is presided over by the Speaker, a member acceptable to the whole presided over by the Speaker, a member acceptable to the whole House. Members of Parliaments sit on two sides of the hall, one House. Members of Parliaments sit on two sides of the hall, one side for the governing party and the other for the opposition. The side for the governing party and the other for the opposition. The first two rows of seats are occupied by the leading members of first two rows of seats are occupied by the leading members of both parties, the back benches belong to the rank-and-file both parties, the back benches belong to the rank-and-file Members of Parliament. Each session of the House of Commons Members of Parliament. Each session of the House of Commons lasts for 160-175 days. Parliament has intervals during its work. lasts for 160-175 days. Parliament has intervals during its work. Members of Parliament are paid for their parliamentary work and Members of Parliament are paid for their parliamentary work and have to attend the sitting. Members of Parliament have to catch have to attend the sitting. Members of Parliament have to catch the Speaker’s eye when they want to speak , then they rise from the Speaker’s eye when they want to speak , then they rise from where they have been sitting to address the House and must do where they have been sitting to address the House and must do so without either reading a prepared speech or consulting notes. so without either reading a prepared speech or consulting notes.

The House of Lords:The House of Lords:

• The other House of Parliament is the House of Lords. The House of The other House of Parliament is the House of Lords. The House of Lords has more then 1 000 members, although only about 250 take an Lords has more then 1 000 members, although only about 250 take an active part in the work of the House. This House consist of those lords active part in the work of the House. This House consist of those lords who sit by right of inheritance and those men and women who have who sit by right of inheritance and those men and women who have been given life peerages which end with the life of their possessors. been given life peerages which end with the life of their possessors. Members of this Upper House are not elected. They sit there because Members of this Upper House are not elected. They sit there because their rank. The chairman of the House of Lords is the Lord Chancellor their rank. The chairman of the House of Lords is the Lord Chancellor and he sit on a special seat called the Woolsack. The members of the and he sit on a special seat called the Woolsack. The members of the House of Lords debate a bill after it has been passed by the House of House of Lords debate a bill after it has been passed by the House of Commons. Changes may be recommended, and agreement between Commons. Changes may be recommended, and agreement between the two Houses is reached by negotiations. The Lords’ main power the two Houses is reached by negotiations. The Lords’ main power consist of being able to delay non-financial bills for a period of a year, consist of being able to delay non-financial bills for a period of a year, but they can also introduce certain types of bill. The House of Lords is but they can also introduce certain types of bill. The House of Lords is the only non-elected second chamber in the parliaments of the world, the only non-elected second chamber in the parliaments of the world, and some people in Britain would like to abolish it. and some people in Britain would like to abolish it.