英语国家概况Chapter 3 Government and the Commonwealth.pptVIP

20140922 Origin of the Commonwealth ~ is the successor of the British Empire: Colonies, self-governing dominions The subject territories’ Independent movements to gain a greater degree of autonomy forced the British to reshape the relationship with its member states, transforming itself into the British Commonwealth. In 1949, the word “British” was dropped from the title of the “Commonwealth”. Characteristics and Functions It is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, all of which acknowledge the British monarch as symbolic head of the association. It is not a political union and its member states have full autonomy to manage their own internal and external affairs. It is primarily an organization in which countries with diverse economic backgrounds have the opportunity to closely interact as equals after gaining independence. The primary purpose of the Commonwealth is to advocate democracy, human rights, and to promote economic cooperation and growth within its members. 戴维·卡梅伦（ David Cameron ）（1966年10月9日－）出生于英国的一个贵族家庭，具有纯正的英国王室血统，是英国保守党的政治明星，2001年成为英国上议院议员，2005年在年仅39岁时成为英国保守党领袖，2010年起成为英国第53任首相. /view/3372064.htm Chapter 3 Government and the Commonwealth Constitution The British Constitution is made up of three main parts: Statutory law, Common law and Conventions. a. Statutory law(成文法) ~~is the most important and takes precedence over the other s if there is a clash. Statutes are laws that have actually been passed by parliament. b. Common law(判例法) It has never been precisely defined. It’s deduced from customs or legal precedents and is interpreted in court cases by judges. c. Conventions(习惯法) ~are rules and practices which are not legally enforceable, but are regarded as vital to the working of the government. The British government is characterized by a division of power among the legislature, the executive and the judiciary . Government The Legislature Parliament is the law-making body of Britain. It consists of the Crown, the House